Page 5442 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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Torres Strait Islander older persons housing project, in line with our election commitment.
The ACT government has been working to improve pathways between education, training and employment and particularly employment within the ACT public sector under the employment and economic independence focus area of the agreement. In 2017, the ACT government established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee support network Murranga Murranga, that is able to bring together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff from across the ACT public service. Another initiative has been the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander career development program. This initiative is aimed at supporting and retaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and promoting diversity in the ACT public service.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff across all non-senior executive levels of the ACT public service were invited to take part in the career development program in May 2017 to build their leadership skills and plan their career path. Participants attended three full-day workshops that included practical exercises, personal development sessions and peer coaching.
The total facilities management contract between the ACT government and Spotless facilities services acknowledges that one of Housing ACT’s key initiatives is encouraging sustainable economic engagement and participation of specific cohorts within the ACT community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. During 2016-17 Spotless substantially exceeded its target of 10 employees and employed a total of 22 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the total facilities management contract.
The theme of connecting the community acknowledges that maintaining connection with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is important for both identity and cultural safety. Connection to community is primarily enabled through strong families, and this is the focus for activities and innovations. To this end, I was pleased to launch the strong families portal in May this year. The portal is a central access point on whole-of-government services, initiatives and events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans. The portal was developed following consultation with the community, who identified a need for a central culturally appropriate communication channel between the ACT government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Members may also be aware of the growing healthy families initiative. Growing healthy families is a community development program delivered out of the three child and family centres in collaboration with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities. The program offers a range of culturally informed health, early childhood development and parenting services which support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. Examples of these groups include Koori Kids, Deadly Bubs, Strong Women’s Group, Ngunnawal Homework Club, Mums and Bubs and Koori Paint and Play. In 2016-17, there was an eight per cent growth in participation rates in growing healthy families, with 176 families and 265 children engaged in programs.
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