Media Release
For Immediate
Release – 21 September 2007
SNAICC statement from
the third day of the 2007 SNAICC National Conference on the release
of the Indigenous Child Care Services Plan.
Federal plan
for culturally appropriate, quality Indigenous child care welcomed
“The federal government has taken a significant step in recognising
the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s
cultural needs in their development and well being,” Ms Muriel
Bamblett, AM, Chairperson of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal
and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) said today.
“We welcome federal Indigenous Affairs Minister the Hon Mal
Brough’s announcement at SNAICC’s National Conference
today of the federal government’s Indigenous Child Care Services
Plan,” she said. SNAICC’s three-day National Conference
in Adelaide ends today.
“This plan recognises that culturally appropriate, quality
early childhood services are important to meeting the cultural and
development needs of Indigenous children.”
“Such services are instrumental to keeping Indigenous children
connected to their community and their culture, and are not only
places where Indigenous parents can have their children cared for
while they participate in work, training or education.”
“By supporting the development of culturally appropriate early
learning and child care services, the Plan will enhance Indigenous
children’s access to and participation in services to promote
their development, early learning, school readiness and participation
in school. This will help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
children in Australia.”
“Since we first called for a national plan in 2003, SNAICC
has been working with the federal government on the development
of this plan, and we are pleased to see it come to fruition,”
Ms Bamblett said.
“SNAICC also welcomes the emerging federal bi-partisanship
over supporting Indigenous early childhood services, and calls for
it to continue,” Ms Bamblett said.
“We note that the federal Opposition has already committed
to matching the federal government’s spending to expand Indigenous
early childhood services across the country, announced in the 2007
Budget. It was heartening to see the ALP’s first major policy
release this year focused on supporting the developmental needs
and improving the wellbeing of Indigenous children.”
SNAICC is the national non-government peak body for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and their families. Our members
include Indigenous community-run early childhood services and child
and family welfare services.
For media comment:
Ms Muriel Bamblett
– SNAICC Chairperson (03) 9489 8099.
For media inquiries
and information:
Mark Lawrence,
SNAICC Conference Media Liaison: 03 9489 8099
You
can download the full text pdf version of this media release here
(60 KB)
Links and resources
More
information on 2007 SNAICC Conference
Building
a bi-partisan commitment to Indigenous children – 29
May 2007
SNAICC media statement
on the Federal ALP's policy release on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children, and calling for bi-partisan effort to fully
commit to what’s required and to go further.
Key
Commitments Political Parties Must Make to Support Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Children – Briefing Paper
(October 2006)
SNAICC's pre-election briefing paper to inform the policy work
of all the major political parties in federal parliament.
Media
Statement by Indigenous Affairs Minister the Hon Mal Brough on
the release of the Indigenous Child Care Services Plan –
21 September 07 (link to external website)
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