Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Ministers statements: Aboriginal community controlled organisations

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:41): In this National Reconciliation Week I am happy to share how the Allan Labor government continues to invest in and support our Aboriginal-led organisations to lead the way in support of Aboriginal children and families. Last week I was proud to stand with Karen Heap, the board chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance, to announce more than $30 million in the state budget to support nation-leading Aboriginal-led service delivery across our state. We want to ensure Aboriginal children and families thrive, and we know that Aboriginal people understand the needs and aspirations of their communities best. That is why through this state budget our government is investing in growing the Community Protecting Boorais program, strengthening the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care program and funding the Aboriginal Children’s Forum. This investment will also continue to support the work of the Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance and their important role in providing leadership, advocacy and support to regional Aboriginal community controlled organisations. Importantly, this investment also continues our commitment to ensuring a more efficient and effective system for Aboriginal-led service providers. Over $5 million from this investment will provide a funding uplift for all Aboriginal kinders and allow for a new single funding stream. This will give Aboriginal kinders greater control over their funding.

It was wonderful to make this announcement last week at the Yirram Burron kinder, run by the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative. Yirram Burron will directly benefit from this funding uplift, as well as two other kinders run by the team in Ballarat.

This year’s $30 million state budget investment builds on the largest ever single investment from 2023–24, $140 million over four years, because this Allan Labor government is committed to growing and strengthening Aboriginal-led service delivery in support of Aboriginal children and families. The theme of National Reconciliation Week this year is ‘Bridging now to next’, calling on us to step forward together, to look ahead and to continue to push forward as past lessons guide us. Our government is proud to partner with Aboriginal-led organisations in the spirit of self-determination to ensure that together we can provide vital services to keep families together, thriving, culturally rich and strong.