NSW AECG FAREWELLS LONGSTANDING PRESIDENT, CINDY BERWICK, AND WELCOMES INCOMING PRESIDENT, CATHERINE TRINDALL

The NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group held its Annual General Meeting and General Meeting in March at the Sofitel Hotel on Gadigal Country (Darling Harbour). All Office Bearer positions were up for election in 2021, including the President role. After 13 years at the helm, Cindy Berwick, decided not to nominate for another three-year term as President.

On Thursday afternoon Returning Officer John Lester called President nominations forward for election. Delegates from the NSW AECG Inc’s 20 Regions were present and voted. Votes were counted and confirmed by Scrutineers Lois Birk and Connie Ah See. Shortly afterwards Catherine Trindall was announced as the incoming NSW AECG Inc. President.

On being elected as the NSW AECG Inc. President Catherine said: “My hope for this organisation is that we will move forward, innovating, educating, advocating as we have always done for the last 44 years, and we will do so with a deep respect for our communities, our culture and our ways of being as Aboriginal peoples.”

Catherine is a Gomeroi woman with more than 30 years of experience working in Aboriginal education in NSW. She has been awarded the highest of recognition by the NSW AECG when she was formally inducted as an NSW AECG Life Member in 2018. She began her work in education in 1985 as an Aboriginal Teaching Assistant in Tamworth before becoming a primary trained teacher.

Catherine has extensively taught both in the city, rural and remote areas of NSW, where she has held many roles and positions across the Department of Education.  More recently Catherine has undertaken a considerable body of work in leading and coordinating NSW TAFE’s work around the teaching and learning of Aboriginal Languages.

At the AGM dinner on Friday evening Cindy Berwick was formally farewelled and acknowledged for her outstanding work as President. She reflected on her role and time as NSW AECG President, stating, “It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead such a great organisation.”

During Cindy’s Presidency the NSW AECG grew significantly amongst shifting and often difficult New South Wales and Australian education policy contexts. The organisation developed and now delivers a suite of highly regarded professional learning programs and continues to develop and deliver a raft of educational services, advocacy and major projects to improve education across NSW.

Under Cindy’s leadership numbers of Local AECGs have increased and several new NSW AECG Inc. offices were established in regional locations across the state.

The NSW AECG sincerely thanks and commends Cindy for her tireless work and successes in the role over the past 12 years. The NSW AECG warmly welcomes incoming President Catherine Trindall.

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For more information regarding this media release contact:
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Download a copy of this release here: NSW AECG Media Release – March 2021

UNSW Recruiting 4 Indigenous Identified Positions

The UNSW are currently recruiting 4 Indigenous Identified Positions.

A big congratulations to our NAIDOC Art Competition Winners and highly commended students for their deadly artworks! Check them out below.

Expression of Interest

PROJECT OFFICER – PIRRU THANGKURAY (1 Position)

 Location: Mount Druitt

The NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc.  (NSW AECG) is seeking expressions of interest for a Project Officer to join the Pirru Thangkuray team, Pirru Thangkuray (Dream Strong) is a Cultural Engagement and Goal Setting Program with the aim to meet the Premiers Priority Increase the proportion of Aboriginal students attaining year 12 by 50% by 2023, while maintaining their cultural identity.

Type of Employment: Full time – 35 hours per week
Annual Salary: $72,800 Gross plus Superannuation

Requirements of the position

• Aboriginality
• A paid Working with Children’s Check is needed.
• Current Driver’s License
• Effective Communication and ability to work independently and as part of a team (Collectively)
• Ability to engage and work with a variety of stakeholders
• Understanding of Education and working with secondary students
• Facilitate and deliver Cultural Engagement programs.
• Willingness to deliver goal setting and other support programs.

The successful applicant will work across a targeted network of schools and communities. The Project Officer will be an employee of the NSW AECG INC. and will work in collaboration with the Pirru Thangkuray (Dream Strong) Cultural Engagement and Goal Setting Team.

Note: NSW AECG Inc. considers that being Aboriginal is a genuine occupational qualification under s 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

For further information please contact: Troy Freeburn Project Coordinator, Lismore Office on 0428 957 607 ">

How to apply for this position.

1. A written Expression of Interest of no more than 2 pages, outlining your background, skills and experiences in relation to the requirement of the position as above. 

2. Include the names and phone numbers of 2 referees.

 Applications due: 18th September 2020

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Media release

6 August 2020

A joint funding pool is being established by Australian governments to strengthen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector to deliver vital services to communities and help deliver on the commitments of Priority Reform Two under the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Commonwealth Government has announced an initial contribution of $46.5million over four years, with the Victorian Government adding an additional $3.3 million.

Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner AM, said that the Coalition of Peaks welcomes the leadership of Ken Wyatt, the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Australians Minister, in establishing the fund.

“The Coalition of Peaks fought hard to put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations at the centre of the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. They deliver better services for our people, get better outcomes, protect our cultures and employ more First Nations people in their home communities,” Ms Turner said.

“This new funding for the initial delivery of Priority Reform Two will help strengthen and build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector to deliver additional services to First Nations people, including in new areas like housing and early childhood.” Ms Turner said.

“The joint funding pool complements the commitments in the National Agreement on Priority Reform Two which will also bring additional funding to community-controlled organisations over time and provide more jobs for First Nations people.”  Ms Turner said.

Chair of SNAICC – A Voice for our Children, Muriel Bamblett, said, “This initial funding is just a start. We thank the Victorian Government for their early commitment. The Coalition of Peaks are looking forward to all governments stepping up and making their contribution.”

The design and implementation of the funding pool will be done in partnership between governments and the Coalition of the Peaks. These principles of partnership underpin the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and demonstrate a new way of working between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The Coalition of Peaks are looking forward to working with all governments on agreeing priorities for the funding pool and making sure it delivers on what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people say is needed to strengthen our services on the ground.” Ms Bamblett said.

The funding comes on the heels of the unveiling of the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap which was signed last week.

The new National Agreement is built around four Priority Reform areas and outcomes:

1. Shared decision-making: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are empowered to share decision-making authority with governments to accelerate policy and place-based progress on Closing the Gap through formal partnership arrangements.
2. Building the community-controlled sector: There is a strong and sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector delivering high quality services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.
3. Improving mainstream institutions: Governments, their organisations and their institutions are accountable for Closing the Gap and are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through the services they fund.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led data: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to, and the capability to use, locally-relevant data and information to set and monitor the implementation of efforts to close the gap, their priorities and drive their own development.

To read the full new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, head to the Coalition of Peaks website: https://coalitionofpeaks.org.au/new-national-agreement-on-closing-the-gap/