The Long Walk Trust launched its new national ‘Get The Conversation Started’ schools program on 18 May, aimed at generating conversation and discussion in schools about Indigenous culture and issues affecting Indigenous communities.
The program, to be rolled out nationally over the next three years, has been funded by the Telstra Foundation – and will be delivered to primary and secondary students across Australia in Victoria, the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
Launched by The Long Walk’s patron, Michael Long, the program was first piloted in 2005, when Long and other Indigenous sports people and elders began visiting schools to answer questions about what motivated Long to walk to Canberra in 2004.
“I never could have imagined how the original walk would evolve to where we now have a Long Walk Trust which has established significant partnerships and supports many important programs – including this new one with the Telstra Foundation.
“When I, and my fellow walkers, headed off from Melbourne to Canberra, we wanted to raise awareness about the injustices facing Indigenous people in Australia. We wanted to ask the then Prime Minister and other Australians - ‘where is the love’. We were just at the beginning of something – and now we are launching a national schools program. It is an emotional moment – and one that I am very proud of,” Long said.
Telstra Foundation spokesperson, Georgia Symmons, said the Telstra Foundation were delighted to be supporting the new program.
Telstra Foundation Manager, Georgia Symmons, said that by supporting the Get the Conversation Started program the Telstra Foundation hoped to see the same passion and commitment for our nation that Long displayed in his Long Walk, conveyed to today’s youth.
“Michael Long’s commitment to breaking down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia is inspirational.
“The Get the Conversation Started program has three key elements that are wholeheartedly supported by the Telstra Foundation: empowering children through education, instilling pride in Indigenous children for their culture and supporting a great leader who is making positive changes with their community.
“We are proud to be associated Get the Conversation Started, and helping to make Michael’s vision a reality,” said Symmons.
.jpg?nocache=9/8/2010 2:56:02 PM "Georgia Symmons, Michael Long and Jason Eades at the announcement of Telstra Support, KHT")