CLOSING THE GAP

“I am very passionate about culture and I hope
to inspire other Aboriginal young people.”
Alkira Blair-Bain
2 3
Young Alkira takes out
NSW leadership award
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Culture through music in
Central Australia, NT
Nurturing family
connections in SA
Alkira Blair-Bain, a young Gamilaroi
student in Year 9 at Glen Innes High
School won the inaugural Aboriginal
Student of the Year Award for her
demonstration of leadership within
her school and local community.
“I haven’t made up my mind on
what I would like to do when
I leave school, although I am
interested in becoming either
a teacher or a musician.”
“The support and encouragement
that I have received from my family
and teachers has been a great help,
and knowing that they are proud of
me and my achievements gives me
the motivation to continue forward.”
Sand Tracks partners high profile
Aboriginal acts with emerging
Central Australian Aboriginal
bands for tours through the central
desert region. The tours provide
opportunities for local bands to
gain industry experience, and
remote communities have access to
performances and music and culture
workshops. Sand Tracks is funded
under the Regional Arts Fund.
Reunion to Self is a communityinitiated
project in South Australia
for people who are not able to
reunite or re-establish an ongoing
connection with family, community
or country. With the support of local
leaders from the Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri
and Peramangk language groups,
the program connects members
of the Stolen Generations with
Aboriginal people in their local area.
“Elders give permission for clients
to connect with the local stories,
history and cultures and provide
opportunities to visit sites of
significance, with a high emphasis
on acknowledging local cultural
protocols and cultural safety for
all involved. People say they feel
really safe and humbled to be
accepted by the local mob.”
Lou Turner, Link-Up SA Team Manager
CLOSING THE GAP: PRIME MINISTER'S REPORT 2017
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