Prosperity plan pursued irrespective of referendum result

By Murray Silby

Oct 13, 2023

Brighter path: Representatives of the Yorta Yorta nation, business, community groups and education sectors are planning for a brighter future. Photo by Murray Silby

Even before the result of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum is known, leaders from the Greater Shepparton community are working on a plan to help lift local First Nations people out of the poverty cycle, irrespective of the result.

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About 50 people from a cross-section of society, including Yorta Yorta organisations, businesses, local government and tertiary representatives, gathered at SAM in Shepparton on Thursday, October 12 to work on the plan.

“To talk about how we mobilise the regional prosperity plan that looks to driving parity on life expectancy and quality of life for Indigenous peoples by harnessing the resources and skills of the region,” Kaiela Institute Chair Paul Briggs said.

“What the region is taking on board under the prosperity and productivity plan is to try and reset the agreement on how we build a vision and how we build a strategy to achieve that vision.”

The Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan was launched in July 2021 and aims to build a thriving First Nations economy that will generate new income, opportunities and shared prosperity for the benefit of everyone in the region while also respecting Indigenous culture, language and knowledge.

“This, potentially, can deliver a national model on how to address it and with all parts of regional society with business leads, local government leads, industry leads and educational institutions, universities, TAFEs, secondary schools — if we can do this, it’s going to lead the nation,” Mr Briggs said.