NSWALC Welcomes Premier’s Education Priority

27 June, 2019

27 June 2019

NSWALC Welcomes Premier’s Education Priority

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, as a member of Coalition of Aboriginal Peaks (CAPO) joined the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin today to jointly announce the first Aboriginal specific Premier’s Priority.

It will focus on increasing the number of young Aboriginal people reaching their learning potential while reinforcing and strengthening their cultural identity.  

The priority sets the ambitious target of increasing the number of young people completing their Higher School Certificate by 50% by 2023. 

Currently, around 70% of Aboriginal children do not finish high school. 

NSWALC Acting Chairperson Cr. Anne Dennis gave her strong support to the plan.

“Education is the key to changing futures,” Cr. Dennis said.

“And I am heartened that Aboriginal culture, which supports our overall well-being, will be integral to the priority.”

The announcement follows 10 months of negotiations between CAPO and the State Government following the Beyond Survival March in August 2018.

Premier Berejiklian committed at the time to working with CAPO to develop targets for a Premier’s Priority.

“CAPO looks forward to partnering on this target with a renewed focus on Government closely engaging with the Aboriginal Community Controlled Peaks across NSW, to make sure that we see our young people completing high school,” Cr. Dennis said.

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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