Among Indigenous people in all parts of our vast state, excitement is building ahead of NAIDOC Week from 3-10 July.
The NAIDOC event is an all-Australian celebration that brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to enjoy an array of cultural experiences. Perhaps just as importantly, the event helps build on foundations for a growing culture of inclusiveness.
It is a wonderful, colourful celebration and I am looking forward to experiencing as many activities as I possibly can.
NAIDOC Week is also a time to take stock, to look forward. I believe the State Government’s practical programs are having direct, positive impacts in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
There is much work to be done and the government is determined to put in the hard yards to build a better, brighter future for these communities.
Hon. Curtis Pitt
Minister for Disability Services and Mental Health Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services
Our rich cultural diversity shone brightly after the recent severe weather events that devastated communities in Queensland and overseas.
People from a range of different cultural backgrounds mobilised to assist community recovery efforts and opened their hearts and wallets to donate to the Premier's Disaster Relief Fund.
With some 18 per cent of the state’s population born outside of Australia, it is no surprise that Queenslanders also dug deep to help people traumatised by the recent disasters in New Zealand and Japan.
The Vietnamese, Singaporean, Taiwanese, Indian, Sri Lankan, Tamil, Japanese, Philippine, Karen, Sikh, Indonesian, Chinese and Islamic communities were among those who conducted fundraising events.
This cooperation, compassion and understanding highlights the common aspirations and values that bind us together as Queenslanders, as Australians and as a global community.
Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk
Minister for Transport Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Every day, Queensland’s foster and kinship carers go to great lengths to nurture vulnerable children and young people.
With Foster and Kinship Carer Week, 31 July to 6 August 2011, fast approaching, we now have an opportunity to thank them.
Through the week’s activities such as the Foster and Kinship Carer Excellence Awards our carers will be celebrated.
This edition of communityconnect pays tribute to one such carer, Jan Kime from Childers.
Jan was recently crowned Queensland Mother of the Year as part of Barnados Australia’s Mother of the Year 2011 competition, and we warmly congratulate her.
We are always keen to recruit more carers like Jan, which is why a foster and kinship carer recruitment campaign will be launched during the week.
To carers across Queensland, thank you for your outstanding dedication to children and young people!
Hon. Phil Reeves
Minister for Child SafetyMinister for Sport
Generation Y often get a bad rap but I know how talented and creative they can be.
In April I attended the Brisbane launch of Youth Week where I saw many young people “owning it” - the theme for the 2011 celebrations.
The week’s events produced an outpouring of artistic and outdoor endeavours across the state.
I also had the pleasure of seeing 93 young Queenslanders being sworn as young parliamentarians at Parliament House. It will be a window to the future to see them exercise their leadership skills at a youth parliament in September.
This will be a great opportunity for them to speak on issues that matter to them and to contribute to the shape of our future.
Congratulations young Queenslanders for standing up and celebrating your talents and opportunities.
Hon. Karen Struthers
Minister for CommunityServices and Housing
Minister for Women
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