A taste of the bush for NAIDOC Week

Victoria media release
Thursday, 1 July 2010

Centrelink staff at Latrobe Call Centre, along with local Indigenous community members, are gearing up for a feast as part of local celebrations for NAIDOC Week.

"Local Indigenous community members, along with Indigenous support staff from the area, will join Call Centre staff for a barbeque of traditional meats, including emu and kangaroo sausages, as well as locally-sourced bush tucker," Latrobe Call Centre Manager Paul Giannini said.

"The lunch has been organised by a team of Latrobe Call Centre staff who are part of Centrelink’s Indigenous Apprenticeship Program.

"It’s an opportunity to find out more about the local Indigenous culture and to recognise the achievements of our Indigenous staff."

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2010 National NAIDOC theme is 'Unsung Heroes - Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way'.

"The theme 'Unsung heroes' recognises the part played by the quiet achievers in the Indigenous community, both now and in the past. This includes efforts made toward 'closing the gap'," Paul said.

"A mutual understanding of cultures and the sharing of local information is a big part of bridging the gap, and that was the idea behind this lunch.

"Latrobe Call Centre employs a number of Indigenous staff, including those in the Indigenous Apprenticeship program, and it also supports non-Indigenous staff to better understand Indigenous culture through Centrelink’s Cultural Awareness Program.

"NAIDOC Week is the perfect opportunity to build on these relationships, to broaden cultural understanding and to strengthen mutual respect."

Media Opportunity

What: NAIDOC Week celebration: barbeque lunch, including emu and kangaroo sausages and local bush tucker

Where: Centrelink Call Latrobe, 13-15 Princes Street, Traralgon

When: Tuesday, 6 July 2010, from 11.30 am

For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.