Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, has today addressed the 111th Full Council meeting of the Northern Land Council (NLC) held at Gulkula in north-east Arnhem Land.

Minister Scullion said he was pleased to be invited to attend the meeting and welcomed the opportunity to discuss a range of issues with members of the NLC.

“Today’s meeting was a chance for me to address Council members’ issues including this Government’s commitment to settle the Kenbi and Wickham River land claims,” Minister Scullion said.

An independent evaluation of the Learning on Country Programme has found it is helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to maintain a strong sense of cultural identity while improving remote school attendance.

Delivered in four Arnhem Land centres – Maningrida, Yirrkala, Laynhapuy Homelands (Yirrkala), and Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) – the programme is designed to make school more relevant for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by supporting culture and identity whilst improving education outcomes.

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion today launched the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy.

The Government is committed to achieving better results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in three key priorities—getting children to school, adults into work and building safe communities.