Communique – October 2024

Message from the Chairperson

It is my pleasure to be reporting to the community on behalf of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB), to share updates from our initial two meetings of this new term.

I would like to encourage the community to reach out to Elected Body members to share their concerns and priorities.

We are here to represent your needs and views, and to hold the Government to account. The Elected Body will be focussing on strengthening our engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and we are looking forward to taking your views forward when we meet with Directorates over the course of this term.

The Elected Body will be based out of Boomanulla Oval, and I encourage you to come and visit, or reach out via email with your views.

Maurice Walker

Chair

ATSIEB announces Directorate allocations

ATSIEB has today announced the allocation of ACT Government Directorate responsibilities across members.

The following allocations will be in place for the coming term, noting that a review of the allocations may occur in due course:

• Maurice Walker (Chair) – Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development, WorkSafe ACT, Canberra Institute of Technology and the Coalition of Peaks
• Bradley Bell (Deputy Chair) – Transport Canberra and City Services and ACT Health
• Billy T Tompkins – Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development
• Deanne Booth – Major Projects Canberra and Education
• Kaylene McLeod – Justice and Community Safety
• Helen Wright – Community Services
• Vicki Bradley – Canberra Health Services

Incoming term critical for closing the gap

ATSIEB has noted that the incoming term will be of critical importance for driving progress to Closing the Gap.

ATSIEB will be embarking on developing the Phase 3 Implementation Plans under the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement, as well as driving the ongoing commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. This will include driving the development of the Transformation Strategies that all Government agencies have been recommended to develop, under the Productivity Commission Review of the National Agreement.

This is an opportunity for ATSIEB to influence outcomes at both a Territory and national level and continue to hold governments to account on their commitments.

Two strategic projects to grow ATSIEB’s capacity

As announced recently, the ACT Government has funded the development of an independent Listening Report, to gather insights and views from the community on the structure and functions of ATSIEB. The process is being led by Craig Ritchie, an Aboriginal man of the Dhunghutti and Biripi nations, of the Ngarra Group, who will be proactively reaching out to organisations and community groups to seek their input.

In addition, the ACT Government has engaged Claire Beattie of Mohandes Pty ltd to deliver capacity building support to ATSIEB members. Ms Beattie is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, who will support ATSIEB members through executive coaching and skills development over the next two years, with the objective of increasing their ability to represent the community and drive outcomes under the ACT and National Agreements.

Next ATSIEB meeting date

The next meeting of ATSIEB will be held on Thursday 5 December 2024 at Boomanulla Oval.

Community members can reach ATSIEB via email at atsieb@act.gov.au