June 9, 2014
Health leaders in Lakes Entrance have discussed ways of finding better outcomes for the local Aboriginal population, in a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Alan Tudge.
Mr Tudge, who has been appointed to help Prime Minister Tony Abbott deliver his indigenous affairs reform agenda, visited the region on Friday with Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester to see first-hand the range of support services provided by local health care organisations.
The MPs met with representatives from Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association, Gippsland Lakes Community, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Djillay Ngalu and Victoria Police indigenous liaison officers. This was followed by a visit to Lakes Entrance Secondary College, to see its range of indigenous programs focusing on numeracy, literacy, mentoring and inclusiveness.
Mr Chester said providing easier access to jobs, health and education would empower members of the indigenous community.
“A key message from our meetings was that local indigenous people want to work, but aren’t always, for various reasons, able to get their foot in the door,” Mr Chester said.
“If we can overcome these barriers, we can then unlock the untapped potential of the many local indigenous people who would otherwise be left disengaged from the workforce.”
Mr Chester also said advancements were being made locally in improving education outcomes.
“Lakes Entrance Secondary College staff, students and council members are working in partnership to make sure the school provides students from all backgrounds with every opportunity to achieve their full potential,” Mr Chester said. “I’m proud to have my own children attend the school and it was a good opportunity to show Mr Tudge some of the innovative programs on offer in the classrooms.”
Mr Tudge said the Federal Government had a sharp focus on improving health, education and employment opportunities for Australia’s indigenous population.
“We’ve got three clear priorities – we want to get kids to school, adults into work and ensure the community is healthy and safe,” Mr Tudge said. “And if we get those things right, people’s health will be better, their mental health will improve and families will be able to look after their kids better,” he said.
Mr Tudge said keeping children in school was an important step in moving the indigenous employment rate closer to the non-indigenous employment rate.
“If kids aren’t going to school, they’re not going to learn and it will be so much harder for them to get a job later in life,” he said.
The MPs also met with the board and executives of Gippsland East Gippsland Aboriginal Corporation (GEGAC), people attending a regional leadership workshop, the Clontarf Academy at Bairnsdale Secondary College and Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation in Sale.
CAPTION 1: Therese Tierney, CEO, Bairnsdale Regional Health; Darryl Andy, Chair, Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association; Jeff Wilson, Chair, Gippsland Lakes Community Health; Alan Tudge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Darren Chester, Federal Member for Gippsland; Paula Morgan, Executive Office, Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA); Tony Paganella, sport and recreation co-ordinator at Djially Ngalu; and Sue Medson, CEO, Gippsland Lakes Community Health.
CAPTION 2: Greg Button, Assistant Principal Lakes Entrance Secondary College, Alan Tudge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Daryl Andy, Koorie Engagement Support Office; and Darren Chester, Federal Member for Gippsland.
