Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ten years ago, Kevin Cobban was battling alcoholism. On Friday, he graduated from the Aboriginal Health College with a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and a Certificate IV in Mental Health, and he now works as a caseworker at the Namatjira drug and alcohol centre in Ballina. Kevin is one of many examples of the great work of the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Centre's Aboriginal Health College, which I am proud to say is located in our community at Little Bay. On Friday, the college held its eighth graduation ceremony. I was privileged to join Professor Marie Bashir, Ray Martin, Linda Burney, Brian Leyland, Christine Corby and Michael Daley to congratulate the 61 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates who were awarded their diplomas and certificates in courses related to primary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare. Over the last eight years, 612 people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds have graduated from this wonderful college and are now working in the community—making a difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders when it comes to health.

We all know that we have a long way to go to close the gap when it comes to life expectancy and health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This college and its graduates are making a difference. I thank all of the staff of the college and I congratulate once again all of the wonderful graduates who graduated Friday.