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Councils Put Indigenous Issues On The AgendaNearly 100 community, government and business representatives attended a community forum today at Wildlife Wonderland in Bass to discuss issues important to the Indigenous community. By Bass Coast Shire Council - 28th November 2006 - Back to News The forum was held by the Inter-Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee (ICACC), which is a partnership between eight local councils, including Bass Coast Shire Council, and the Aboriginal community.
Bass Coast Shire Council’s Community Development Coordinator, Nadine Cranenburgh said the group discussed issues including culture and lifestyle, cultural heritage, events, employment and education, and health and well-being.
"The difficulty of gaining funding for tutoring of aboriginal students across urban and rural areas was one of the important issues raised.
"Health and other service providers also said they found it difficult to link in and communicate effectively with Indigenous community members to let them know what is available.
"ICACC will help to find solutions to some of these issues over the next 12 months," said Ms Cranenburgh.
Cr Gareth Barlow, a representative on ICACC who also attended the day, encouraged residents to get involved.
"There will be another four community forums next year.
"We’d really like to have more community members attending the forums and even getting involved as members of sub-committees to help find solutions to some of the issues raised."
Speaking at the forum today was Margaret Rasa, from the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, and Indigenous artists from across Australia who worked on the Giant Worm at Wildlife Wonderland in Bass.
"The artwork on the worm is the biggest example of Aboriginal art in Australia," said Cr Barlow.
"The Toorong Aboriginal Corporation also travelled from Dandenong and Healesville to give a great demonstration of how stone axes and other Indigenous artefacts were made.
"I would also like to thank the Bass Valley Lions Club for providing food for the day and Wildlife Wonderland for providing such a wonderful venue," continued Cr Barlow.
ICACC involves eight councils, including Bass Coast, Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Kingston and Knox, and eight Indigenous community representatives. It was formed in 1997 to work together and find solutions to the issues that affect Aboriginal people across council boundaries.
For more information about ICACC or Indigenous events across Victoria phone Tracy Vervoot on 9298 8312 or visit www.icacc.org.au
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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