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Additional Support for Tasmania’s Aboriginal Community

25th May, 2017

Will Hodgman, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

The 2017-18 State Budget reflects a deep respect for Tasmania’s First People, and their history, but also for the role the Aboriginal community can play in Building Tasmania’s Future.

Funding of $278,000 has also been allocated to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania to develop the wukalina cultural walk project as an exciting new tourism venture on the East Coast. The Tasmanian Government is committed to helping to develop indigenous tourism to tell the story of our past, allow visitors to better understand Aboriginal heritage and culture, and provide an exciting new element to Tasmania’s booming tourism sector. The funding will assist with the start-up costs of the project, including infrastructure development.

The Budget provides new, permanent, funding of $250,000 per annum to increase the number of Tasmanian Aboriginal people in the public service.  As part of the Tasmanian State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy Framework, this initiative will deliver specific employment programs that target and affect Aboriginal and young Tasmanians, such as pathway development programs, scholarships, identified roles, mentoring and training programs.  It’s about a whole of Government coordinated approach to get Aboriginal people into jobs and we will work closely with the community, stakeholders, and agencies to develop, implement and monitor these programs.

This new funding is in addition to an investment last year of almost $24 million in existing and new Aboriginal programs and services over four years to support the implementation of services in education, child protection, family violence and joint land management.

Funding will continue to support:

  • An additional two trainee rangers to support the role of the Aboriginal community in joint land management;
  • The recognition of the Aboriginal cultural values of the Tasmanian Wilderness Heritage Area;
  • Aboriginal women and children affected by family violence; and
  • The employment of two Aboriginal Liaison Officers as part of Strong Families Safe Kids, the Government’s commitment to improving the child protection system.

The Government remains committed to closing the gap in education, health and community outcomes for Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and advancing reconciliation through important reforms such as the formal recognition of our First People in Tasmania’s Constitution.