Trevor Evans (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to highlight one very important program that will be a part of the budget delivered here tonight. Last week, I was joined by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and we visited the Brisbane Broncos in Red Hill in my electorate. We met with Justin Hodges and the Broncos CEO, Paul White, and we announced an expansion of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy for Indigenous women. It is $5 million of funding that will have a profound and lasting impact on young Indigenous women across Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The funding follows the very successful test of a smaller program that provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with an opportunity to be mentored and encouraged to increase their school attendance. The test program of 300 places was very successful. Younger women experienced better outcomes in attendance, better results at school and better job outcomes, so this funding boost follows proven success. This program is a great example of how this coalition government is delivering on its commitment to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. I am also very proud to represent a sporting club like the Brisbane Broncos, which has such a strong history of giving back to the community and has never forgotten its grassroots, not just in Brisbane but right around regional and remote Queensland.