- 10 inaugural Aboriginal Advisory Body members
appointed to provide independent advice to Minister for Education and Director
General
- Members are Aboriginal people with extensive
education and leadership experience
- Shared decision-making will strengthen the
wellbeing, engagement and achievement of Aboriginal students in public schools
The Cook Government today
announced the appointment of 10 Aboriginal people to the State's first system-level
Aboriginal Advisory Body to advise on the Department's progress towards
reconciliation and creating a culturally responsive education system.
The Aboriginal Advisory Body
will provide independent advice to the Minister for Education and Director
General and will inform the strategic and cultural change required to
strengthen education outcomes for Aboriginal students.
This will include supporting
the creation of learning environments where Aboriginal students can succeed,
where their cultural identity, wellbeing and engagement are at the centre of
their learning experience, and where culture can thrive.
The 10 appointed members of the Aboriginal Advisory Body are:
Mrs Latoya Bolton-Black – Operations
Manager at Glass Jar Australia, which supports young Aboriginal girls' wellbeing
and engagement in their schooling. Also has previous board experience in
education.
Ms Daniella Borg – worked
in public education for 19 years and is currently employed with CSIRO as an
Academic Coordinator for Young Indigenous Women in STEM.
Dr Lillian (Lilly) Brown – Executive
Director of First Nations Wellbeing and Engagement at headspace National Youth
Mental Health Foundation, and previously worked in tertiary education.
Mr Dylan Collard – has
worked in various roles in education, including teaching, and is currently a
Noongar Language Teacher in community.
Mr Tyronne Garstone – Chief
Executive Officer of the Kimberley Land Council and has board experience in
Aboriginal business and employment, community empowerment, health, media and
environment.
Ms Regina (Gina) Hill – Executive
Director of Strategic Reform at the WA Department of Justice and has board
experience at a State and whole-of-government level.
Mr Anthony (Tony) Lee – is
a member of a number of boards in the areas of education, training, Native Title
and Indigenous business and has worked in Aboriginal consultancy.
Ms Shannon McNeair – Psychologist
and Director at McNeair Aboriginal Psychological Services and has worked in
child protection, health and WA Police.
Ms Tamara Murdock – Deputy
Chief Executive Officer and Head of Strategy at Aurora Education Foundation and
has previously engaged in consultancy work for Nous Group.
Mr Stephen (Bart) Pigram – Owner-Operator
at Narlijia Experiences Broome and has worked in education and in consultancy roles
with schools.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"As the Minister for both Education and Aboriginal Affairs, I am
excited about the creation of this new advisory body and congratulate each of
the members who have been appointed.
"Their knowledge and experience will ensure that cultural identity is at
the centre of a student's learning experience in Western Australia's public
schools, and that culture thrives to reflect the aspirations of Aboriginal
families and students.
"This is an important step towards strengthening the
Department's connection with the Aboriginal community and I look forward to
seeing, and being a part of, the transformative work to come."
