The University of Queensland's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement), Professor Bronwyn Fredericks has spoken to Craig Bartholomew on ABC NewsRadio about the Closing the Gap Report, involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in decision-making, and the Voice to Parliament.
The Closing the Gap Report notes that Australia is going backwards on key targets, including children’s school readiness, incarceration rates, suicide rates and child removal rates.
In the interview, Professor Fredericks notes she is among many people across all sectors who are looking for change.
"We can’t keep seeing targets going backwards and a very limited achievement in a couple of targets," she says.
"People who work in schools and in the criminal justice system have been raising alarms for years about what is being done … people have been saying that something has to be done. We’re at a crisis point on suicide rates and child removal.
"There have been a range of reports recommending that Indigenous people be empowered to be actively engaged in the design of programs, decision making and governance, and that would improve some of those targets."
Professor Fredericks talks about lessons from her role as Commissioner on the Queensland Productivity Commission, looking at service provision in Queensland.
She explains how the Voice to Parliament would bring about positive change and make a difference.