Page 269 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
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with child protection; funding for a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts officer to strengthen engagement with local Canberra artists; reopening Boomanulla Oval; and more culturally appropriate homes for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans.
Most recently, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services started delivering health services in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in what I understand is an Australian-first partnership between corrections and an Aboriginal community controlled health service.
ACT government agencies’ annual reports now have a dedicated section reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs, policies, and initiatives. These sections provide the community with far greater clarity on the many ways this government is working to address and overcome disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
It is also important to recognise that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans are doing well and achieving as professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, tradies and leaders in their own communities and more broadly. We have a strong and resilient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The government is determined to build on those strengths and to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to pursue equitable outcomes for all. This requires a concerted and sustained effort, harnessing our resources, and for all of us to remain focused on a long-term, generational commitment that takes advantage of the considerable expertise that exists within both government and the community across the ACT.
The Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs will coordinate a whole-of-government response to the 31 recommendations in the report. The government response will be prepared and tabled in accordance with the provisions of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008.
Madam Assistant Speaker, 2019 will be a busy year in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. The finalisation of a new ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement will build on our achievements, learning lessons from the previous agreement and seeking to address gaps in our services, policies and programs to deliver the goal of strong families and connected communities. We are also continuing to work with the commonwealth on refreshing the closing the gap agenda, in addition to the continued delivery of services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the ACT.
This year will see Canberra as the focus city for national NAIDOC Week celebrations. This year’s theme, “Voice. Treaty. Truth.”, will no doubt stir debate as much as last year’s theme, “Because of her, we can!”, stirred hearts.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT have a voice in the elected body. I thank each and every one of its members for their ongoing commitment to their community. I look forward to continuing the government’s
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