Closing the gap for Indigenous Victorians

Accelerating literacy and numeracy programs, reducing truancy and providing individual education plans are the centrepiece of the Brumby Labor Government’s $40.7 million State Budget package aimed at closing the gap for Indigenous Victorians.

Deputy Premier and Chair of the Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs Rob Hulls said the Brumby Labor Government was committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal communities to reduce the 17 year life expectancy gap that existed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians.

“No Victorian would think it acceptable that Aboriginal people have a life expectancy 17 years shorter than the rest of the community. The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to turn this around,” Mr Hulls said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Richard Wynne said improving educational outcomes for Indigenous children was the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage for many Indigenous communities.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to turn around education outcomes for Indigenous students,” Mr Wynne said.

Key initiatives in the package are:

• $25.3 million over five years to improve education outcomes for Indigenous children in school by expanding the number and providing greater training to Indigenous school staff, providing scholarships for high achievers and establishing individual education plans for Indigenous students;
• $4.1 million over four years to enhance care for Indigenous children in the child protection system and their families through more supervision and support for Indigenous children with complex needs in residential care;
• $3.8 million over three years for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to increase management expertise and to increase awareness of their services;
• $2.1 million over four years to establish an Indigenous Youth Employment Program, to deliver flexible employment help to Indigenous young people;
• $590,000 to establish a new Koorie County Court, with the location to be chosen and the new court to open this year;
• $400,000 to support current initiatives and develop a long term strategy to train existing and identify future Indigenous community leaders; and
• $4.4 million over four years towards developing a new Aboriginal Heritage Information System which will provide online access for planners and developers to heritage data and reduce the time and cost for preparation of Cultural Heritage Management Plans.