Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

From early childhood to tertiary education, the Turnbull government is ensuring that Indigenous children are fully equipped to enter the workforce or progress into university and training. During the last 12 months, the Turnbull government has substantially increased the support being provided to students through its $24 million Indigenous Youth Support Package. The new investment is supporting more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, specifically with mentoring, tutoring and scholarship supports, providing them with the skills and confidence to enter employment and university studies.

You should all be aware of our efforts to address the declining rate of school attendance, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. That had been ignored before we on this side of the chamber took over. In the 2016 budget, we announced our Indigenous Students Success in Higher Education measure, which will ensure higher education support that we fund is better tailored to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students complete their studies. We are working with communities to ensure education is a successful pathway for young Indigenous Australians. (Time expired)