In August the Aboriginal Advisory Council of Western Australia (Council) welcomed nine new members, two reappointed members and two current members to their first meeting as a refreshed Council.
The 13 members that each bring unique and valuable leadership to the group are:
- Ms Jenny Bedford;
- Mr Martin Sibosado;
- Mr Preston Thomas;
- Ms Gail Beck;
- Ms Rowena Leslie;
- Ms Rebecca Blurton;
- Ms Joslyn Eades-Tass;
- Mr Anthony Hansen;
- Ms Maureen Kelly OAM;
- Mr Michael Ogilvie;
- Mr Damien Parriman;
- Ms Rani Randall; and
- Ms Irene Stainton AO.
The appointment of new members followed an expression of interest process that was launched earlier this year. These members were selected to represent a diversity of regions, organisation types, areas of expertise and genders.
The Council came together over three days for a comprehensive Induction Day and subsequent two-day Council meeting which included voting in the new co-chairs, Marty Sibasado and Jenny Bedford.
The Council is established under Section 18 of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 to provide strategic advice and guidance to the Western Australian Government on a range of policy matters relating to Aboriginal people and communities to support better social, economic, health and cultural outcomes. Council members meet approximately six times per year, usually in person.
A key focus for Council has been providing whole of government advice on key initiatives that support the implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in WA. This has included the co-development of the WA Government’s Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy 2021-2029 and co-designing WA’s first Aboriginal Expenditure Review with Treasury. Council also provided advice on the development of the Whole-of-Government Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Strategy, which seeks to increase the proportion of services being delivered to Aboriginal people by ACCO’s and is closely aligned to the State Commissioning Strategy for Community Services.
The Council will now focus on setting its Strategic Priorities for the calendar year ahead which will include alignment to the Governments Commitments to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and delivery of the Culture at the Heart Forums. These Forums will bring Aboriginal Advisory bodies together to drive shared priorities for accountability, shared decision making and whole-of-government coordination.
To learn more about AACWA, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/aboriginal-advisory-council-of-western-australia
