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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 3040 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

The ACT Government has, through its response to the Committees report, demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the health of school-age children. I commend the report to the Legislative Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Cornwell ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Paper

Mr Wood presented the following paper:

Indigenous education

Paper and statement by minister

MS GALLAGHER (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (3.38): Mr Speaker, for the information of members and in accordance with the resolution of the Assembly of 24 May 2000, I present the following paper:

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, I am very pleased to present the sixth report on performance in indigenous education. The report covers the period to 28 February 2003. The Labor Party initiated this reporting in 2000 and five reports have been tabled. The government is pleased to continue this reporting.

The continued commitment of the government to improving educational outcomes through indigenous students is reflected in the initiatives and programs in place. The government has a vision for this community that is inclusive of all Canberrans. There is particular recognition of the needs of the most vulnerable, which includes indigenous young people and children in our schools. Many of these young people require targeted support and much is being done to provide it.

It is the government's commitment to ensure that the outcomes for indigenous students are the same as those for non-indigenous students. To this end, we are working towards improved participation, retention and outcomes for indigenous students within the context of family, community and government assistance and support.

There are many examples in the report of schools and their communities working to improve outcomes for their indigenous students. I know that you will be pleased to read in the report of the initiative being shown in our schools to promote cultural awareness, to involve indigenous students in the life of the school and to improve educational outcomes for those children. An example is Canberra High School establishing a

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