Community and indigenous engagement

In her latest Community, Partner and Client Engagement visits, CPA Group Indigenous Ambassador Lorraine Hatton, OAM, visited Community, Local Government, CPA Staff, clients and partners in Gladstone, the Livingstone Shire, the City of Rockhampton and the Woorabinda Aboriginal Community.

Of course, while in Gladstone, hoe of CPA Group’s Regional Head Office, Lorraine was able to spend time with our team. Below is Peter Shepherd, Regional Manager in Gladstone outside our office.

Lorraine conducted presentations on the topics of:

• The 5 Dimensions of Reconciliation, Highlighting Historical Acceptance
• Reconciliation Action Plans
• Corporate Sector and Local Government Community Engagement and Partnership Opportunities
• Provided updates on the Qld State Indigenous Memorial, which is to be erected in ANZAC Square Brisbane

Whilst in Woorabinda, Lorraine also met with Elders, Senior Leaders and community. Woorabinda is an Aboriginal community in Central Queensland, two hours’ west of Rockhampton.

The two main groups of people in Woorabinda are the Gangulu Nation and the Wadja Nation. There is a much higher proportion of people under the age of 18 in Woorabinda than in the wider non-indigenous community. Half of the population is under the age of 25.

Woorabinda has a pastoral company, a hospital, a stadium, a sports complex, a “just opened” swimming pool, a retail store, primary school and high school, cafe, post office and butcher shop. There are

two churches and the Aboriginal Inland Mission has resident lay pastors.

The Woorabinda State School, includes years from prep to year seven – the school motto is ‘Proud and Deadly’. The High school is the Wadja Wadja High School, which is an independent non-denominational, co-educational Aboriginal Community School.

As usual, Lorraine’s popularity was a wonder to behold!