The Hon Jenny Macklin, MP
Minister for Families, Housing,
Community Services
and Indigenous Affairs
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear Minister
Voices from the campfires: Establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation
It is with great pleasure we present you with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation Development Team’s report, Voices from the campfires: Establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation.
The report contains ten recommendations to the Australian Government. However, as a key recommendation is that the Foundation be independent of government and run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the report also contains advice for the Foundation’s inaugural Board.
We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the members of the Team and secretariat, who have made a significant contribution to the consultation process and the report. We would also like to thank Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, the Team’s patron, whose guidance has been invaluable.
Most importantly, however, we would like to thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, whose openness and generosity of spirit have made the entire journey possible. It has been a privilege to lead this very important work and we thank you for the opportunity.
We commend the report to you and look forward to working with you in the months ahead to establish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation for the spirit, heart and culture of our people.
Yours faithfully
Gregory Phillips
Co-Chair
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Healing Foundation Development Team
May O’Brien BEM
Co-Chair
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Healing Foundation Development Team