AIMSC Launch, Canberra ACT

Date: 15 September 2009
Venue: Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Last year, when Prime Minister Rudd reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to closing the gap he called for better forms of collaboration between the corporate sector, Governments and Indigenous Australians. Flowing on from the apology and the closing the gap commitment, I found myself asking the question, “how do I, and my company, engage Indigenous Australians in meaningful and sustainable ways?”

More and more Indigenous Australians, particularly representatives from the younger generations, tell us to avoid handouts, charity, simple one-off sponsorships or programs and subsidies. Their message is that they want their people to learn how to engage with Australia’s economy. It is only this path, they say, that will enable Indigenous Australians to break free from welfare dependency and have the ability and resources to address their own communities problems. We have heard this message. And being part of AIMSC embodies all the above.