The Campbelltown Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, the local arm of a non-profit advisory body, held its first ``cultural immersion'' training for teachers last week.

A group of 25 teachers from Campbelltown schools took part in the three-day program, which aims to close the achievement gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

Consultative group vice-president and assistant principal at Rosemeadow Public School, Tammy Anderson, said if teachers couldn't connect with Aboriginal children they couldn't do their job.

She said Aboriginal pupils comprised a third of the population at her former school, Briar Road Public in Airds.

``Aboriginal education is embedded in everything we do literacy, numeracy, teaching the Dharawal language, little tokenistic things,'' she said. ``I think that's what makes a difference. The training really gets in touch with people's emotions, to tap into what Aboriginal people feel.

``We want teachers in classrooms, at the coal-face, to have a better understanding of where they come from.

``It will improve outcomes for Aboriginal kids, which are far too low.''

The head teacher of Aboriginal education at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, Susan Dawson, said the training opened her eyes. ``We're teaching what's in the curriculum and what we've been taught but it's not the right information,'' she said.

``If you can't connect with these kids then they're lost. They're sitting in your classroom but they're not connected to your world or to the curriculum.''

Miss Dawson believed every teacher from the region should do the training. ``I now understand it's an elder's job to pass the story on,'' she said.

The training will be held each year.

Details: aecg.nsw.edu.au or Mary Chatfield, 46200298.