Minister for School Education Peter Garrett and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and Duty Senator for Farrer Mark Arbib have welcomed the Cultural Celebration festival held in Broken Hill today.
Mr Garrett said the festival highlights the importance of improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by encouraging them to work hard, stay at school, and complete Year 12.
“More than ever, our communities need an educated and skilled workforce. This festival is a positive way to reinforce to our young people the benefits of engaging fully in learning through school,” Mr Garrett said.
“Students attending the festival will participate in a number of activities, including skills workshops, creative arts activities, discovering future career pathways, talking to role models and learning about the importance of living a healthy, positive lifestyle.
“The Gillard Government provides up to $3.05 million annually under the Community Festivals for Education Engagement program to support these festivals in communities across Australia,” Mr Garrett said.
Senator Arbib said the program was part of the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap strategy to tackle Indigenous disadvantage.
“The strategy aims to close the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for children within a decade and halve the gap for Indigenous students in Year 12 attainment or equivalent by 2020,” Senator Arbib said.
“Closing the Gap also aims to halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.”
"We know that by improving educational standards we are giving Indigenous people the best chance of getting jobs after school.”
For more information visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/communityfestivals.
reff:australia.gov.au
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