Muswellbrook Shire Council held a gathering with members of the local Aboriginal community to find out how Council should represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Insights gained from the meeting are set to inform planning, programs and priorities for Indigenous communities in the Shire. Council’s Manager of Community Services Kim Manwarring said the consultation was a step forward for the whole community and a powerful platform to have a say.
“This is about listening to our proud, diverse community which deserves to be heard and to be at the heart of decisions that affect them,”
Muswellbrook Mayor Jeff Drayton said Council is committed to better representing Indigenous people by listening first.
“We acknowledge the best way to build trust and get things right is to listen. This is about making the time to do that – an honest, respectful dialogue led by people who know their communities best.”
The Indigenous Community Consultation is part of Council’s broader focus on Indigenous perspectives in local decisions, services and policies.
