No barriers at NAIDOC corporate breakfasts

A series of corporate breakfasts will be held in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Gympie in July to spotlight Indigenous education and employment opportunities.

The NAIDOC Corporate Breakfasts will focus on increasing awareness of the barriers Indigenous Australians face while furthering their education and seeking employment.

Members of the business, education and Indigenous community are being encouraged to attend one of the events, which kick off with the Hervey Bay breakfast on 4 July at the Hervey Bay RSL Club.

Project manager Casey Millward, from USQ Fraser Coast, said the aim was to provide ideas and strategies on how to overcome the barriers.

'Guest speakers will tell their own stories of how they have overcome barriers or helped other Indigenous people to overcome them,' Mrs Millward said.

'We are encouraging local business members to take on Indigenous staff. We are also encouraging local Indigenous people to take up education and employment opportunities.'

Funding for the three breakfasts has been provided through a grant from the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Master of ceremonies for the Hervey Bay breakfast Sean Choolburra is a cultural ambassador and comedian, renowned as a dancer and hip hop didgeridoo player.

The two guest speakers are the former Deputy Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit at the University of Queensland, Dr Jackie Huggins, and Northern Territory Shadow Minister for Indigenous Policy and Information and Communication Adam Giles.

Dr Huggins is renowned for her work with Indigenous people, particularly with regards to reconciliation, literacy, women’s issues and social justice.

She will also speak at the Gympie breakfast on July 22, along with fellow guest speaker Boyd Curran. Mr Curran is the CEO of the Beyond Billabong life skills and vocational training program for Indigenous youth.

The guest speakers for the Bundaberg breakfast, to be held on 20 July, are Professor Mick Dodson and Matthew Denyer.

Professor Dodson is the Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies at the Australian National University. Mr Denyer, a former teacher, is involved in the recruitment of Indigenous Australian Public Service cadets, graduates and trainees.

Further information about the corporate breakfasts is available from Casey Millward on 0457048038 or casey.millward@usq.edu.au