The ACT Government Cabinet Ministers today met with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to discuss how to improve outcomes for Indigenous people in the ACT.

ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander Affairs Joy Burch said the Elected Body is a key organisation for ensuring the views and needs of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders living in the ACT are properly heard by government.

“Having an early meeting with the newly-elected members and the Cabinet Ministers sent an important message of the Government’s commitment to improving outcomes for indigenous Australians,” Ms Burch said.

“This Government is proud of its record of working to improve the lives of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders living in the ACT.

“We have targeted recruitment campaigns for employment within the ACT Public Service and focused education programs for Indigenous students in ACT schools, but we are keen to work with the Elected Body to identify how we can do things better.”

The Elected Body discussed several things with Cabinet, including community meetings, aged care and respite services, education, and youth justice.

The current seven-member Elected Body was chosen from a field of 15 candidates following elections in May, and in June Rod Little was elected chair. The other members are Lynette Goodwin, William Hodges, Dianne Collins, Brendan Church, John Paul Janke and Roslyn Brown.

The ACT Government established the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body in 2008 with three year terms for its seven members. Since its election in June 2008, the seven members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Elected Body have been working hard to help improve the lives of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.