Page 5440 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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networks; cultural identity, that values and celebrates the diversity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the ACT; and leadership, recognising the wealth of experience that exists in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the need to pass on the skills and knowledge of today’s elders to tomorrow’s leaders.
The 2017 annual report on the agreement provides the stories behind the government’s programs and initiatives and speaks to how we have made a difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans. There are a number of examples that I would like to highlight from the report. In the interests of time, I will not be covering everything, and I encourage members to read the report for themselves.
Under the focus area of education, there has been an upward trend in the enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in ACT schools. We must continue to focus on ensuring that these children and young people have access to high quality, culturally appropriate and relevant learning experiences. The report includes a number of examples of how schools and CIT are seeking new and innovative ways to ensure that they offer culturally appropriate education and take meaningful steps towards reconciliation.
One of these is the story of Mununja the butterfly. In May 2017, four local primary schools commenced a curriculum project exploring ways to incorporate the Ngunnawal story Mununja the butterfly into learning activities and programs for upper primary students. A beautifully illustrated bilingual text was created, enabling students to experience the Ngunnawal language and culture. The story centred around a young girl who was turned into a butterfly to avoid marrying the evil Gunja, “the clever one”. The story was written by local Ngunnawal—and I should say at this point Nu:nu:wul—elder Don Bell, who passed away in 2008. I am sure he would have wanted me to correct the pronunciation.
During the reporting period, we also saw the first year of the kick start my career through culture program. Under this program, more than 80 students from years 7 to 12 participated, with six year 12 students applying for jobs or further training in the land and conservation area.
Under the healthy mind and healthy body focus area of the agreement, a number of initiatives are working towards improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes and promoting a culturally safe health system that provides focused and effective primary health care across people’s lives.
Working with an advisory board comprising members of UNEC—the United Ngunnawal Elders Council—the elected body and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community groups, the government has worked to establish the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm. This beautiful facility has now started providing culturally appropriate prevention, education and rehabilitation programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recovering from alcohol and other drug problems to help them make positive choices and better respond to life challenges.
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