NTEU welcomes the establishment of the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council.
August 6 2004
The NTEU on Friday welcomed the Federal Government’s official establishment of an Indigenous Council to advise the Federal Government on higher education.
“This announcement is timely as there are a number of inquiries and reviews into the Indigenous Education Targeted Assistance Act 2000 and several critically important Indigenous student support programs that are coming to an end and that should have the Councils’ input,” said NTEU Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee (ITEPC) Chair, Maureen Ah Sam.
“While the full Council membership of 16 has not yet been made public, the NTEU understands that it will be represented on the Council. We are particularly pleased about this as we believe the Union has a lot to contribute to improving the participation of Indigenous staff and students in our universities”.
In making the announcement the Minister recognised the work of the NTEU in achieving this important outcome and thanked the Union for its role in the Council’s establishment.
“Indigenous staff and students continue to be seriously under-represented in our public university system. The Council’s instigation is an important step in starting to redress this imbalance,” said NTEU National President, Dr Carolyn Allport.
“The real test of the commitment to addressing Indigenous disadvantage in tertiary education and employment will be measured by the degree to which the Government engages with policy reforms developed and put forward by the Council,” said NTEU National Indigenous Officer Joel Wright.
In publicising the Council’s establishment, the Minister for Education Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson also announced the appointment of Professor Marcia Langton as the inaugural Chair.
The Councils’ primary responsibilities will be to advise and make recommendations to the Minister on Indigenous student and staff issues, as well as to convene an annual conference to discuss policy and research development and directions.
For media comment contact:
Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee, Chair & NTEU National Executive, Maureen Ah Sam - 0405358164
NTEU National Indigenous Officer Joel Wright: 0408525492