2010 naidoc ball

Last Friday I had the honour and privilege of accompanying our National Chair, Kay Ganley and members of the ACPET staff in attending the NAIDOC week Ball, a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.

The 2010 National NAIDOC theme was 'Unsung Heroes - Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way', a recognition of the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made huge contributions to Australian society. 'Unsung heroes' recognised the part played by the quiet achievers in the Indigenous community, both now and in the past. These heroes lead by taking their own paths, and in doing so, helping other Indigenous people set their own direction for the future. The theme asserts Indigenous ownership of 'closing the gap'. The gaps that need to be closed include gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and gaps in knowledge and understanding.

The many ACPET members engaged in education and training for indigenous communities and individuals can rightly be proud of their contribution to closing the gap and it was an honour to represent them at this significant event. I encourage all our members to celebrate NAIDOC week in 2011 and, where possible, to experience the joy and tradition of the NAIDOC Ball.

Andrew Smith
12 July 2010

(l-r) Kay Ganley (ACPET Chair), The Hon Linda Burney MP (Minister for the State Plan and Minister for Community Services), The Hon Jenny Macklin MP (Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) and Neil Appo (Charlton Brown)