MEDIA
RELEASE
The Hon
Frank Sartor MP
Minister
for Planning
Minister
for Redfern Waterloo
30 October
2005
NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR
ABORIGINAL YOUTH IN REDFERN
The old Redfern Public School will be transformed into a
centre of Aboriginal cultural, social and sporting excellence under an
agreement for the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) to commence negotiations
for purchase of the site.
Minister
for Redfern Waterloo Frank Sartor today announced the project, worth an
estimated $25 million including purchase costs would make a real difference to
Indigenous youth from the local area and further afield.
“This site
will be a showcase for Indigenous people and the entire Redfern-Waterloo
community,” Mr Sartor said.
“It will
provide a source of inspiration for kids and their families, as well as
educational and other practical support measures through the presence of groups
such as the Exodus Foundation.
“This
National Aboriginal Youth Development Centre will form the heart of a new youth
precinct for the local community, as outlined in the draft Redfern-Waterloo
Human Services Plan.”
The Exodus
Foundation, run by Reverend Bill Crews, will be one of the first groups to
provide services from the site.
Negotiations
are also underway with a number of Aboriginal sports organisations to run youth
programs from the site.
Under a
landmark deal brokered by the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the RWA, the
Department of Education and ILC Chairperson Shirley McPherson today signed a
Heads of Agreement for the sale of the school, which closed in 2002.
“The ILC
believes this is a significant opportunity to create a national hub for
indigenous sport and culture by refurbishing the School and the adjacent oval,”
Ms McPherson said.
“We
anticipate children will begin accessing services at the site from mid-2006.”
Education
Minister Carmel Tebbutt said the Centre’s establishment would ensure the Redfern Public School site would continue to be
used for community purposes.
“The NSW
Government is committed to ensuring this site will be used for education and
community purposes. This is an excellent outcome for the whole community,” Ms
Tebbutt said.
Mr Sartor
confirmed the Murawina Aboriginal Child Care Centre will maintain its long term
lease at the site under any sale agreement.
“Murawina
will be complemented by the presence of the Exodus Foundation, which has
already made a real contribution to keeping kids from Redfern and Waterloo in school
through its Ashfield tutoring program.”
Federal
Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Senator
Amanda Vanstone welcomed the announcement of the new Centre.
“I am very
pleased that the Commonwealth, through the Indigenous Land Corporation is
supporting this very worthwhile project,” Minister Vanstone said.
“The ILC
was set up to buy land in places where native title was extinguished. It is
important that the ILC purchases properties for Indigenous people in the cities
as well as rural areas.
“This is
prime land in the middle of Sydney
that will become a lasting asset for Indigenous people and will become a focal
point for Indigenous culture and achievement in sports in this great city.
“This
project shows what can be possible where community organisations and State and
Federal governments join forces. I
congratulate all those involved.
“Funding
commitment should allow the Centre to open its doors by the middle of next
year.”
FACT SHEET
The
agreement between the Department of Education and Training (DET), the
Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) and the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) is
for the sale of the Redfern
Public School site to the
ILC, following negotiation and agreement to commercial terms.
The ILC
intends to establish a National
Aboriginal Youth Development Centre of Indigenous cultural, social and
sporting excellence, and retain heritage buildings and the sporting oval.
Potential
programs at the Centre include:
- Sports clinics and education programs
which help young Aborigines to connect; - A sports development program to
promote the talents and careers of young Aboriginal sportspeople, through
regular workshops and competitions, and ongoing mentoring programs; - A program for Indigenous girls and
women to improve self esteem, encourage a healthy lifestyle and create a
pathway for Indigenous sportspeople to reach elite levels; - Leadership courses for youth.
The ILC has
also agreed to accommodate the Exodus
Foundation on the site. The Foundation, run by Reverend Bills Crews,
operates a successful program from the Uniting Church
at Ashfield. It approached the Redfern Waterloo Authority earlier this year
seeking a suitable property to offer services to Redfern-Waterloo families from
a local base.
The
Foundation offers a range of programs including:
- The Exodus Tutorial Centre: helps
young people aged 10 -14 to improve literacy, school attendance and behaviour.
The last intake of 72 children at Ashfield included 14 indigenous students from
Redfern. The aim of the Foundation is to offer the program to an initial 20
children before expanding to about 50 places. - A lunchtime program for very young
children. - An afternoon program providing
“top-up” education for children who need extra help and possibly offering adult
programs. - A meal service for needy Redfern
people, similar to the Ashfield operation.
It is
understood that the Exodus Foundation has obtained funding commitments from the
Commonwealth and the private sector.
The Murawina Child Care Centre will
remain on the premises. Established in 1973, Murawina is a full day-care centre
catering for up to 60 children, part-funded by the Department of Community
Services and the Commonwealth.