The anniversary comes a week after a recent major review of the Closing the Gap agreement where the Productivity Commission warned that policies meant to improve life for First Nations people will fail without fundamental government changes. 

The government is scheduled to table their annual report today on the progress of the policies and programs tied to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. This report will analyse progress from 2023. The government will also present the next Closing the Gap Implementation plan to outline the new actions they’re taking to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. 

“The entrenched inequality experienced by many Indigenous Australians is completely unacceptable,” said Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney. “And unfortunately, actions so far have not led to the change needed.”

“The first Productivity Commission Review on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap makes it clear that all governments need to do better– states, territories and the Commonwealth,” she said. “We’ll work with the Coalition of Peace and across governments to consider the findings of the report.”

Marking today’s significant anniversary, Burney met with members of the Stolen Generations and their families in Canberra.

Post by @lindaburneymp

View on Threads

The national program amplifying the voices of the Stolen Generation– The Healing Foundation– has said that as the government’s annual progress report on Closing the Gap policies is handed down today, “we must recognise that Stolen Generations survivors are a ‘gap within the gap’, a statistical indicator of truth not reconciled.”

As Stolen Generations survivors age, urgency grows,” the Foundation said in a statement. 

“We must ensure consistent and adequate compensation is seen by survivors in their lifetime. And with many survivors sadly passing away, there is no time to waste.”

“We invite Australians to stand alongside Stolen Generations survivors as we renew our call for the counting of actions, not anniversaries.”

Labor announces $707m job program for Indigenous Australians

The Albanese Government has also announced it will invest $707 million in a new Remote Jobs program that will create 3,000 jobs over the next three years.  

This new program is meant to replace the widely-criticised Community Development Program (CDP). 

Speaking to these developments, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy told the ABC that the CDP is currently the sole employment opportunity for most First Nations people in remote areas, but over the last 5-10 years, it’s had “some really serious problems”.

“When we came to government, we said we needed to look at the CDP program and abolish it because we recognised it didn’t have superannuation, it didn’t have holiday leave– it didn’t have all the entitlements that come with supporting workers.”

“So this is our first step,” she says, adding that the Prime Minister’s announcement today is “significant” as they embark on the future of this Remote Job program. 

The government says the program will start in the second half of this year, and will be “grounded in self determination”, allowing communities to decide what jobs are created, such as in community services and the care sector, hospitality and tourism, horticulture and retail.

The post Government releases annual Closing the Gap report on anniversary of national apology appeared first on Women's Agenda.

The township, which sits on Western Arrernte Country, is home to 600 people. There’s a church, a school, a petrol station and a general store where a travel-sized bottle of shampoo can go for $12.20.

The closest Priceline chemist is 130 kilometres away in Alice Springs. For the local women and girls, ducking to the shops to buy tampons, mascara or face cleanser is a three-hour roundtrip.

“When we pulled up in Hermannsburg in our high-top campervan filled with boxes of toiletries, makeup and supplies, we were greeted with big smiles and a lot of excitement,” says Anika Fechner-Head, 24, who visited the Northern Territory community last month with her friend Ellie Di Biagio, 25, to deliver a shipment from the Happy Boxes Project.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Happy Boxes Project (@happyboxesproject)

“We first got involved with Happy Boxes a year ago when we found them on Instagram and organised a product drive,” explains Ellie. “We wanted to create and donate 30 boxes and we ended up with 300.”

After their product drive success, Ellie and Anika joined the board of volunteers at the Happy Boxes Project, which was founded in 2019 by Emma Sullings to help provide essentials (and a little pampering) to women in the most remote corners of Australia. Since then, the Project has grown to reach more than 50 communities around Australia with the support of over 70 businesses including Lorna Jane, Evo haircare and Thread Together.

“I have a firsthand understanding of the struggles women in remote communities face,” explains Emma, who spent five years teaching in the Northern Territory. “That’s why I have so much passion and such a strong belief in what we do.”

Living in an isolated community has unique challenges, says Ellie, who has worked in Indigenous education for six years and is studying to be a teacher. “Often houses are overcrowded so multiple girls are sleeping in one bed. If a toilet or shower stops working, it can take months to get repaired, and not being able to shower or brush your teeth can have ongoing health impacts,” she says.

A Happy Box might not be able to fix a broken shower, but it can make a difference.

“We know a perfume isn’t going to address the big issues like crowded housing and a lack of resources,” says Anika. “But there’s power in making someone feel good.”

And in Indigenous communities, that power is shared. “It was really nice to see how everyone shared everything. One of the girls told us she was going to give some of her things to her mum and aunty – that’s kinship,” adds Anika, who also made deliveries to Yuendumu and Mutitjulu, as well as the women’s shelter and National Indigenous Training Academy in Alice Springs.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Happy Boxes Project (@happyboxesproject)

Along with basic toiletries, Anika and Ellie delivered yoga mats, water bottles, scrunchies, socks, jumpers, hairbrushes, make up, face masks and sports bras. “You can see in their eyes how special the products make them feel,” says Ellie. “So many of the girls are talented athletes, and having quality sports gear gives them such a boost. I hope to see some of them playing in the AFLW one day.”

The Happy Boxes Project is about so much more than giving out free lipsticks: it’s about giving opportunities, bringing joy and boosting confidence. It’s a practical way for the privileged to start addressing the inequalities in our country.

“This is a tangible thing people can do to help that goes beyond simply donating money. Anyone can put together a Happy Box and send some love to a remote community,” says Anika. “I’ve been overwhelmed by how generous people are and how much people want to help.”

To do just that, visit happyboxesproject.com

The post How the Happy Boxes Project is empowering young women in remote communities appeared first on Women's Agenda.