The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) and the Australia New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) have thrown their support behind NAIDOC Week this week (4-11 July) to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In a statement, IPC said the Week was celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.
“The IPC is committed to promoting the right to access government-held information and the protection of privacy of people within diverse communities in NSW, and aims to ensure that its services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are accessible, relevant and useful,” the IPC said.
Chief Executive and Dean of ANZSOG, Ken Smith said the Week was an opportunity to recognise the importance of acknowledging Indigenous history and culture in the work of Government.
“NAIDOC Week 2021 invites Australians to embrace First Peoples’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage,” Professor Smith said.
“ANZSOG recognises the importance of acknowledging Indigenous history and culture, and the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the work of Government, for the benefit of all Australians and Aotearoa New Zealanders,” he said.
“We are currently on our own journey to include Indigenous ways of knowing and being in our mission to lift the quality of public sector leadership in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand.”
Professor Smith said this work included representation of Indigenous people at all levels of the public sector.
The Chief Executive and Dean said the steps of ANZSOG’s journey to integrate Indigenous knowledge into the public service were outlined in its First Peoples Strategy, which recognised the School’s commitment to working with communities to promote and prioritise the perspectives and contributions of the First Peoples of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand.
“For generations, First Peoples have called for stronger measures to recognise, protect and maintain all aspects of their culture and heritage, and in most cases are still waiting for those protections,” he said.
“Recent years have seen a substantial change in attitudes towards the relationship between Australian Governments and First Peoples.”
Professor Smith said recognition of the need to include First Peoples on an equal basis through a Treaty or a Voice to Parliament was growing.
“We cannot afford to let pass the very real opportunity that now presents itself for reform based on a fundamental change in the relationship Australia has with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.
ANZSOG’s nine-page First Peoples Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
