Advisory group engaging community

EXPRESSIONS of interest are open to join the Koorie Engagement Action Group advisory committee.

The callout is part of a regular personnel refresh, and KEAG member and Meriam woman Deb Lowah Clark said the opportunity provides Indigenous members of the community the opportunity to have a voice.

“KEAG empowers. It comes from an advisory space where we have self-determination with the advocacy of councillors and in the policies that get made,” she said.

“It’s about making council aware of the voice of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, even just adding value to those conversations.

“I’m certain all of us here are already reapplying so it’s more about getting new people into the space and getting some extra voices in here.”

Established in 2003 as the Unfinished Business Advisory Committee, KEAG provides counsel to the City of Ballarat on matters regarding Ballarat’s First Nation community, and assists in implementing reconciliation action plans.

KEAG also runs the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony as well as NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day events.

There’s currently eight members on the committee, with a maximum of 10 people allowed.

Expressions opened last week, and KEAG co-chair Cr Belinda Coates said the push allows new members to expand on the group’s previous efforts.

“It’s a good opportunity to build on the good work that’s been done already and the contributions everyone’s made over the years,” she said.

“Anyone can apply, and we have members across a range of sectors like education, justice, health, wellbeing.

“It’s really the willingness to contribute and have a passion for community wellbeing, I think are really important for the role.”

Expressions of Interest close on Monday, 4 July 2022 and to apply, visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/KEAG.