The $286 million committed to Closing the Gap is all about the protection of children and families; improving health outcomes; enhancing community safety; and education and training. These are, in my view, the lynch pins of overcoming the decades of neglect experienced by Indigenous Territorians.

For far too long, Indigenous Territorians have been regarded as “the problem”, instead of valued members of our broader community. Achieving the aims of Closing the Gap will not be easy—many issues that are now seen as intractable will indeed be very difficult to tackle. But the solutions are there, and must come from all Territorians.

But there will have to be an active commitment from Indigenous Territorians—a move away from passive acceptance—in Closing the Gap.

Foremost in this commitment must be in the area of educating our kids. It must be a priority from each family. It is learning and knowledge that makes us strong, and this must be instilled in our children from the earliest years. We must get our kids to school—every day—as part of moving Indigenous Territorians ahead.

While getting our kids to school is an important start, it won’t happen without resources. $70.68 million has already been allocated towards improving education under Closing the Gap. This includes more than 60 extra teaching and support staff, more mobile pre-schools, and expansions in the Clontarf Academy program. In coming months, 128 Indigenous Territorians will be transferred from CDEP to working directly in the education system.

In addition, we have started recruiting the first 50 of the 200 extra teachers promised by the Federal Government in Canberra.

We are also working—as a priority—to working with families to support kids in those vital early years through improved health care and pre-schooling so they will be ready for school when they are old enough. Further programs will be announced soon to enhance parental and community involvement in running our schools, from the towns and cities to the bush.

The safety of our children is paramount. With the recent appointment of a Children’s Commissioner, we are moving to a new era in child protection and family services. The Children’s Commissioner will monitor performance against the recommendations of the Little Children are Sacred report. In addition, we are putting greater resources—$77.36 million—into child protection and family services. This will include the employment of 10 extra child protection workers, 37 additional FACS staff, 40 extra police into remote policing and our child abuse teams, along with a further 23 specialist FACS staff for the Child Abuse Teams.

We have re-aligned the key child and family protection agency, which will come into being on 1 July 2008 as the Department of Health and Families.

Central to this will be the development of skills and staffing in children’s and family services from within the Indigenous community. Again, Indigenous Territorians will be part of the solution over the coming years.

Marion Scrymgour
Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Minister for Indigenous Policy
Minister for Employment Education and Training
Minister for Family and Community Services