“Be a Voice for Generations” These are powerful words as we celebrate and recognise Reconciliation Week. For over 54 years CCSA has supported and advocated with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our membership. We are continuing our reconciliation journey here and we have grown from strength to strength with our CCSA Reconciliation Working Group (RWG), combining both board and staff members.
The RWG is focused on continuing to advance the steps and strategies we have in place to grow stronger in our relationships with local people here on Gundungurra and Darug lands, developing our organisational RAP and also supporting our members in advocating for quality, accessibility and affordable education for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
I believe the work we do here at CCSA supports the outcome for this year’s Reconciliation Week to “urge all Australians to use their power, their words and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us”. I would also like to recognise and celebrate the great work that is happening across our Members including standalone Aboriginal owned and operated services, Aboriginal Child and Family Centres, Multifunctional Aboriginal Centres along with mainstream services, where we can see a strong commitment to reconciliation that is having positive outcomes for children, families and communities.
There is still a lot more work to happen. We are currently advocating with our Members to make improvements to Start Strong funding guidelines, workplace strategy plans and ensuring all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services are viable, sustainable and well supported ensuring children are accessing quality early childhood education.
Meg Mendham
CEO