Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 47:12 to 50:35
Discussion focuses on First Nations participation in employment services like Parent Pathways and the impact of the National Skills Agreement.
Topics: Closing the Gap, Employment, Education
Speakers: Cris Castro, Senator Marielle Smith, Speaker 9, Senator Paul Scarr, Unknown Speaker
Um so when we talk about the targets, um as Mr. Duggan stated, we do share responsibility for those targets, um not just with other Commonwealth agencies but with states and territories uh as well. Um in our employment services space, I've talked about um the parent pathways program, the reconnection engagement and learning uh program as well, which uh this committee has heard a lot about. Yes. Um, took deliberate actions to make sure that that program was designed uh in consultation with First Nations people. Um not just the way that the program's set up to operate, but also uh designing the indicators of what success looks like uh in that program. Um and what we saw there was 15 out of 16 uh organisations engaged to deliver that program, being First Nations owned or abortional and Torres Strait Islander controlled organizations, uh, which is a really great outcome. Um in our skills uh space, uh the National Skills Agreement uh was one of the first agreements that embedded closing the gap as a foundation. Um so what we've seen through the National Skills Agreement is work to develop a new vet policy partnership and other actions to build the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector and their engagement. Um of the examples of what's been done in that space is there's a new indigenous centre of vocational excellence set up. Uh so that's designed to identify best practice and share and grow uh that best practice across the vocational education and training sector. Uh there's also uh First Nations RTO community of practice, which again is about supporting First Nations providers to work together to share their experiences to work together to advocate uh for the sector for First Nations impacts um throughout uh the skills and training sector uh as well. Um states and territories have a bilateral implementation plan uh with the Commonwealth to deliver on closing the gap commitments as well, which is really focused at getting more First Nations people through the skills and training sector as well.
Thank you, Mr. Castro. That's that's a fantastic and a very thorough update for the committee today. Um was there anything else you could add? Uh Mr. Dagan, or is that I think Mr. Thank you.
Thank you, Senator DeLager. Um I note that we have uh meeter in the room requested permission to film and take photographs of the committee's proceedings and the committee. I am taking agrees to this.
Absolutely. I'm enthusiastic about their presence.
And looking lovely and ready to be photographed. I remind the media that this permission can be revoked at any time and the media must follow the direction of Secretary of Staff. If a witness objects to being filmed or photograph, the committee will consider this request, the media reminder that they're not to take images of senators or witnesses' documents or of the audience and media activity cannot occur during suspensions or after adjournment. More details are available to you, as I know you are well aware. Thank you. I'm returning the call to the opposition with Senator Scarr.