Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, has urged parents in remote communities to ensure their children are ready for the start of the new school year.

“Children in remote communities in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia are set to return to school next week,” Minister Scullion said.

“We all want the very best for our children and we know a good education is a key to giving them the best start in life.

The Coalition Government’s Critical Response Service, successfully trialled in Western Australia over the past year, will be expanded into the Northern Territory and South Australia in 2017 as part of a national roll out of the initiative.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, who announced the expansion of the initiative in Groote Eylandt today, said the Government was investing $10 million over three years to roll out the service nationally. It will be progressively expanded into jurisdictions beyond WA, SA and the NT from 2018.

• Two new dams will be built as part of the APY Lands Main Access Road Upgrade project
• Water from the dams will be used during the second stage of construction works between Double Tank and Mimili
• The upgrade will also improve living standards for the local Anangu community through improved water security

Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation has started work on a $245,000 contract to build two new dams between Mimili and Fregon in South Australia.