The Morrison Government has announced it will invest up to $3.6 million over two years to the Cathy Freeman Foundation to improve the education of Indigenous students in regional and remote communities as part of our plan to make lives better for all First Australians no matter where they live.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said the funding will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Palm Island and Woorabinda in Queensland, and Galiwinku and Wurrumiyanga in the Northern Territory, complete Year 12 and go on to pursue further work or study opportunities.
“The Cathy Freeman Foundation does vital work in improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote communities by supporting them to complete their education,” Minister Scullion said.
“A good quality education is the best way to guarantee all Australian children have the best possible start in life, to be able to reach their full potential, and to give our kids a pathway to future study, training or employment,” Minister Scullion said today.
Speaking in Palm Island, LNP Candidate for Herbert Phil Thompson, said he was delighted to be announcing additional funding to support the fantastic and critical work the Cathy Freeman Foundation does.
“I am proud to be helping to create a brighter future for the children of Palm Island and making sure we give every child in our community a quality education so that they can go on to achieve their aspirations.
“The Coalition Government has made school attendance and school completion a priority because you simply cannot get an education if you don’t turn up to school.
“The latest NAPLAN results which has seen significantly improved Indigenous reading, writing and numeracy results show that the Coalition’s strategy is delivering outcomes,” Mr Thompson said.
In 2017, the Cathy Freeman Foundation helped 16 students across four communities graduate from Year 12. This led to 100 per cent of students from one school who completed Year 12 supported by the Cathy Freeman Foundation gaining full time employment.
This additional funding ensures the Cathy Freeman Foundation can deliver its important services until December 2021.
Funding for this important education program is allocated out of existing resources within the $5.2 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
Click for more information on the work of the Cathy Freeman Foundation.
