Aboriginal artist and Kingscliff TAFE teacher Bev Grant Lipscomb is doing her best to help Close the Gap.
Closing the Gap is a campaign addressing the long-standing gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people’s health, education, employment, housing, justice and economic development in Australia.
Last week Bev unveiled a new painting to hang in the Kingscliff TAFE Library which signifies all groups working together.
“The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a framework of action that was implemented in 2008 after the National Apology by PM Kevin Rudd, with a target date of 2030. Hopefully we’ll reach the target before then,” she told a gathering of teachers and students in the TAFE library.
“The campaign has attracted immense public support, in the workplaces and with community events. National Closing the Gap Day is celebrated on March 22 each year.
“Already we have slight improvements in lower infant mortality rates, educational enrolments, completions and employment.
“North Coast TAFE is committed to the Government’s Closing the Gap campaign by providing culturally appropriate vocational education and training for Aboriginal people. In addiction to this NCTAFE also has an Aboriginal employment strategy and of the 805 staff employed in faculties across the institute, 1.74 percent of these staff are Aboriginal.”
She said she believed the Closing the Gap Campaign would be achieved when “we have evidence of equality and harmony for all Australians in this beautiful country”.
