Page 832 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2018
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MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Cody for her question. Earlier today I was pleased to announce the outcomes of the latest round of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander grants. The grants support activities that promote and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the ACT. In this round, cultural grants totalling $37,000 were awarded to nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives in Canberra.
Among the successful applicants were the Sisters in Spirit Aboriginal corporation, who received $5,000 for an Aboriginal women’s reconciliation forum called “A voice to be heard”. This is a project to compile, document and publish short stories by Ngunnawal women, which will also incorporate artwork by individual storytellers. Another of the successful applicants will receive $2,500 for a website for artwork and written pieces and a writing course workshop. And a grant will support a film project documenting the 30-year history of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal health service. These grants are part of our ongoing commitment to the aims of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement 2015-2018, aligning with a key focus in the agreement: that of cultural identity.
On 28 May this year, the Reconciliation Day public holiday, the first such public holiday in Australia, will be another opportunity for the Canberra community to come together to promote and celebrate the important place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history in our city and our nation. As part of the ACT government’s commitment to Reconciliation Day, $50,000 in grants is being provided to support activities in the lead-up to Reconciliation Day, enabling grassroots organisations to participate fully in the celebrations, to ensure that Reconciliation Day in Canberra has a strong community focus. The Reconciliation Day grants closed last Friday. I look forward to announcing the successful applicants in the coming weeks.
MS CODY: Minister, how does the government support new leaders within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and champion opportunities for them to develop new skills?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Cody for the supplementary. Earlier today I also announced more than $50,000 in leadership and scholarship grants for 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and one organisation during the most recent grant round. I am proud that the ACT government is able to assist Canberra’s community to pursue further study, build leadership skills and keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures strong in our city.
For the leadership grants, five applications were received. One of the successful applicants will receive $5,000 for a world challenge where students trek to a remote village in Borneo to undertake a community development program. I wish her well in this incredible endeavour.
For the scholarship grants, 12 applications were received. Successful applicants will use the grant to undertake study in a range of educational endeavours, including a Bachelor of Commerce, a certificate IV in photo imaging, a Bachelor of Accounting
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