Page 3508 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 12 September 2017
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sure our centre can deliver the best possible outcomes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people facing the challenges of substance abuse. That is why the establishment of the centre will be carried out in a phased approach. We need a phased approach because the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm is a new model for the ACT, and few others like it exist nationwide. We need to determine what works, what does not and how best we can continuously improve and support the process of healing.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm working group and also senior Ngunnawal elders, including Aunty Agnes Shea. Most of us sitting in this room have had the privilege of hearing Ngunnawal senior elder Aunty Agnes Shea welcoming us to country at a range of different events. I personally put on record my thanks to Aunty Agnes for delivering a welcome to country at my brother’s funeral three years ago next week, something that my family very much appreciated.
Aunty Agnes also led Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm’s official opening with her traditional welcome to country. But this time Aunty Agnes was not only welcoming us to her country but also opening a project that she and the Ngunnawal people have driven. Opening the bush healing farm was a special day for Ngunnawal elders and the whole Ngunnawal community, who have worked hard to see this project realised. I am pleased that this week our government will legislate to recognise the unequivocal significance of the traditional owners to the ACT by establishing reconciliation day.
In conclusion, our government has taken important steps to provide better and culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by establishing the bush healing farm. With the intention to expand the farm’s program to incorporate residential facilities in the future, I am proud of the action that we have taken to support the wellbeing of vulnerable people in the ACT by working in collaboration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. I hope that by recognising the importance of culturally centred services, the bush healing farm will become an important place of healing in the future.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Active ageing framework
Ministerial statement
MR RAMSAY (Ginninderra—Attorney-General, Minister for Regulatory Services, Minister for the Arts and Community Events and Minister for Veterans and Seniors) (10.36): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to update members on how work is progressing under the ACT active ageing framework 2015-18 to ensure that our city encourages the active participation of seniors.
Many more Canberrans are choosing to spend their retirement years in Canberra. This fact, combined with our relatively high income and education levels, low smoking rates and healthy lifestyles, is thought to contribute to Canberrans now having the longest life expectancies in the nation. The number of people aged 65 years or over
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