Page 357 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 1 March 1994
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however, that a number of awareness programs have been established in many government agencies, for members of the Australian Federal Police, magistrates and school principals. It is encouraging to see that the awareness program involving school principals has been so popular that it has been extended to be available to teachers in government schools.
Another national emphasis for the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples was increasing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as part of our unique national heritage. The allocation of $2.5m from the casino premium for the establishment of a keeping place and cultural centre is perhaps the most obvious contribution made by the ACT towards achieving this objective. Also worthy of note, however, is the establishment of the Department of Education and Training's departmental advisory committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, which brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, students, community members, departmental representatives and Aboriginal education workers. I believe that the establishment of this committee is an important initiative, which no doubt aims to achieve a successful school experience for Aboriginal students in the ACT.
Madam Speaker, I would now like to briefly address the Government's stated achievements during 1993, the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, to redress disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our ACT community. The Chief Minister stated in her speech on this matter:
A joint Commonwealth-ACT funding package was announced in recognition of the need for action in the areas of health and housing for people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
The package included funding for a number of initiatives - a coordinator for the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, an Aboriginal drug and alcohol worker, an Aboriginal mental health worker, an Aboriginal hospital liaison worker, training for mainstream health workers and the promotion of immunisation services. Under this strategy the Government is also committed to jointly fund an Aboriginal emergency accommodation project to ensure the adequate provision of housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Earlier this year the Chief Minister said that she had announced, as part of the 1993-94 ACT budget, funding for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment initiative and an equity training allowance, these programs being aimed at increasing the opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in employment programs. Other budget initiatives were an Aboriginal officer in the Office of Sport and Recreation in the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning, and $500,000 for the upgrading of facilities at Boomanulla Oval.
Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister, in her speech, goes on to say that the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody by ACT government agencies aims to redress many aspects of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I think it is worth recalling, members, that the ACT Government responded to the report of the royal commission in 1992.
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