Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Last days to nominate for national Indigenous representative body workshop
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who want to take part in a national workshop on a new national Indigenous representative body only have until this Friday 13 February to nominate, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today.
Commissioner Calma has urged those interested to move quickly to ensure they get their applications in for the limited places available at the national workshop being held in Adelaide from 11-13 March.
“Attendance at the workshop is purely by invitation and will be decided through a selection process,” Mr Calma said.
“Only individuals who have completed a nomination form addressing the selection criteria will be considered for attendance.”
Applicants must:
- be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- be nominated by an Indigenous community organisation or self nominated with two written references supporting the nomination
- have demonstrated leadership capacity and ability to take part in high level discussions on strategic issues
- be able to communicate and interact effectively with a diverse range of people
- have demonstrated capacity to represent views and interests
- be able to make a positive and considered contribution to the discussions and deliberations on the establishment of the new national Indigenous representative body, and
- be available to attend and participate in the program and events for the whole workshop.
Commissioner Calma said the national workshop would be limited to approximately 100 people and would focus on reviewing submissions and the outcomes of the federal government’s consultations to date on the establishment of a new representative body.
“The national workshop will not be endorsing a final model for a national representative body nor will it be deciding membership of a national representative body,” Mr Calma said.
In December 2008, the Australian Government requested the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission to convene a Steering Committee to develop a preferred model for a national Indigenous representative body.
All applications for the national workshop should be sent to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) which will then forward all applications to the independent Indigenous Steering Committee for selection. All decisions relating to the convening of the workshop and selection of participants will be determined independently by the Steering Committee.
Applications can be sent by post to the National Indigenous Representative Body Unit, PO Box 7576 Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610 or by fax to 02 6204 9349 or email indigenousrepbody@fahcsia.gov.au
For more information and a workshop application form visit www.fahcsia.gov.au/indigenousrepbody or call 1800 202 366.
Media contact: Louise McDermott 0419 258 597
