Page 692 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 28 March 2006
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The government is working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to give them a voice in decisions affecting them through developing some form of formal representative arrangements. Over the past two months the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Consultative Council has coordinated meetings to give the ACT indigenous community the opportunity to express its view on the form this representation should take.
But building a stronger community is not about having a say in what happens in the community and socialising with others. It is also about ensuring that people feel safe and secure within the community. The ACT Human Rights Office, along with the ACT Discrimination Commissioner and 55 community groups, worked tirelessly with the government to develop “Facing up to racism”. This strategy articulates the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that people from all cultural backgrounds, whether Australian born or not, feel safe, secure and welcome in the ACT.
It is with a strong sense of pride that I acknowledge that the vision of everyone in the ACT living together without the threat of racism or unfair discrimination is indeed becoming more of a reality. I am pleased to inform you that a special report card about implementing the “Facing up to racism” plan will be released every two years from mid-2006.
In August 2005 the new Civic Youth Centre Club 12/25 opened. Young people chose the new centre’s name in reference to the age range for which the centre caters. Four separate youth service organisations are accommodated the new three-level standalone building. Young people contributed valuable ideas about the sorts of services and facilities they would most benefit from, so we co-located Club 12/25 with a skate park, basketball court and children’s play area.
While our youth are our city’s future, it is important to provide opportunities for Canberrans of all ages to lead productive and healthy lifestyles. As part of our actively aging program we partner with the YMCA to provide regular physical activities specifically suitable for the elderly. The second Canberra senior sports carnival held during Seniors Week attracted 160 participants from eight aged care organisations competing for medals and a championship trophy in modified sporting activities.
In November 2005 over 90 exhibitors from government, business and community service providers took the opportunity to participate in the inaugural and very successful Canberra Retirement and Lifestyle Expo. The city has also hosted a wide range of major sporting events over the past year catering to a diverse range of interests, including Super 12, international rugby union and national rugby league matches, AFL matches at Manuka Oval, the 2005 women’s hockey champions trophy, the rally of Canberra, the 24-hour cycling race, the inaugural Brindabella cycling classic and, of course, the Capitals.
These events, which contribute to community life as well as the local economy, are only made possible through ongoing partnerships between the government, local business and sporting groups. In striving to make Canberra the best it can be, we need to capitalise on our strengths in research and innovation. We need to build a reputation for
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