1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: But look a real change of page right now, and 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: you will recall we've spoken at length about the different 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: issues that are being faced in Alice Springs, and we 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: know that the federal government had earlier this year offered 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: million dollar grants to fund upgrades to remote school boarding facilities, 6 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: but some are questioning whether it is enough money. Now 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: on August nine, we know of funding up until August nine, 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: I should say funding it up to ten million dollars 9 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: per project is available for capital works projects in central 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: Australia to improve or create new boarding facilities for secondary 11 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: school students. One of the locations and one of the 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: schools that we've spoken about quite extensively that have been 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: pushing for a boarding school for really quite some time 14 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: is Yipperna School. Now joining me on the line is 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: Gavin Morris, the princip All Good morning to. 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 2: You, Gavin, Move morning listeners, good to have. 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: You on the show. Now, you and I have spoken 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: on so many occasions about the need for a boarding 19 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: facility at the school. Firstly, can I get a bit 20 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: of an update how things are going at the moment 21 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: in terms of your students. And you know earlier in 22 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: the year when you and I had spoken there were 23 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 1: some bad situations. How are things going at this point 24 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: in time. 25 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: We're still juggling what's going on in the al of 26 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: Springs community in their town camp and that's going to 27 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: be a long and slow journey, Katie, just to turn 28 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 2: that boat around. But in saying that, your friend your school. 29 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: Now I had three hundred and fifty actively enrolled students 30 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: and I'm currently in camps and North Queensland where we 31 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: were working with the federal government in terms of reopening 32 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 2: our childcare center at Rpruna, which has been closed since 33 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: twenty eighteen. So there's plenty of excitement in the air. 34 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 2: We just understand it, you Attny, how important it is 35 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: to have holistic, wraparound support for our children and their family. 36 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: Now tell me, you know, when we then get down 37 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: to the needy gritty of whether you are going to 38 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: be able to get the funding required to get that 39 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: boarding school up and running, how are things going there? 40 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: And is this federal bucket of money that was announced 41 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 1: earlier in the year going to be enough? O Katie. 42 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: As you pointed earlier, it has been a journey to 43 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: get here, so appreciate support of such a long period 44 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 2: of time, so we've gone through it into an entire 45 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: election cycle and on the eleventh of March there was 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 2: there was an announcement from the federal government to suggest 47 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: that there's an eighteen million dollar fun set up for 48 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: boarding schools in central Australia. And at that point we 49 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: were led to believe that the schools that we're getting 50 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 2: targeted there were your pre you AA and Saint Phillip's 51 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: and that's a very exciting announcement, Let's be honest out 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: you know, we're very privileged to be a part of 53 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: the conversation. Since then, we've had a fair amount of 54 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 2: radio silence. It's only been the last week or two 55 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: where tenders who's gone out and application have gone out 56 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: to put your case forward in terms of a rationale 57 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 2: and a budget for what it is that you're pretty 58 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 2: for our point of view, are trying to achieve. And 59 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: we've been led to believe that we could expect some 60 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: of between five eight ten applicants putting a case forward, 61 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: and you know, that's kind of raises questions, I guess, 62 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: Katie in terms of you know, how is it that 63 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: that eighteen million dollars or so, so I had eighteen 64 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 2: million dollars come to part how to we land on 65 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 2: that number? And then secondly how is how is that 66 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: money going to be allocated and when is that money 67 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: going to be allocated. So we're pushbud and button ready 68 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 2: to go, you know, in terms of government speak, where 69 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: we're shovel ready. We've got DCAA approvals and we had 70 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: some time and we're working in the very last stages 71 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: of power of water. We had soil testing during the week. 72 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: We are ready to build. And we've got a very vulnerable, 73 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: disadvantaged population in Central Australia who are chewing at the 74 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: bit to get themselves access to safe and stable accommodation 75 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: so they can get to school more so they can 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: through the education that they want and shrine for so 77 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: they can get employment, get themselves out of the poverty 78 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: cycle and get themselves in to leadership positions in Central Australia. 79 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: But so at this point in time, though, you've not 80 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: really got any clear indication as to whether you're going 81 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: to get some funding or how much it might even be. 82 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 2: I'm no clearer today, Katie than I was the last 83 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 2: time that we spoke and the time before that. So 84 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: whilst there's been an exciting announcement in March. We're still 85 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: in limbo somewhat and I could not go to my 86 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: community hand on heart and say that we've got any 87 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 2: funding at this point, and I certainly could not put 88 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 2: a financial figure on that and acknowledging Katie that you know, 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: this turn has gone on so long and the price 90 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: of the build's doubles, So you know we're now at 91 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 2: ten point eight and as the time ticks and the 92 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 2: days in the leaks of the month past, the cost 93 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: of that build will continue to increase. And already we're 94 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: outside the parameters of the maximum location from this fund. Yes, 95 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: so you know, we know that we're going to have 96 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 2: to find Plan B and Plan C in terms of 97 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: ensuring this isn't just another broken promise and Aboriginal communities 98 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: where there was great intention but it actually it came 99 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: to nothing at all. And our families and the fifteen 100 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: hundred you know, the Children's Commissioner this year it's been 101 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 2: our record several times, fifteen hundred homeless children in Central 102 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: Australia and Alice Spring community and this is a community 103 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 2: based solution which has come from the ground, which has 104 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 2: been ten years in the making and we're really really 105 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: keen to see how the next part of this journey unfolds. 106 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: We don't need to rush it, but this certainly is 107 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 2: no more room fronty delay. 108 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: So we're too from this point, Gavin, I mean, do 109 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: you just have to now wait and sort of hear 110 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: what the federal government comes out with. Has everybody put 111 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: their applications in? Like do we know how many? Where 112 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: are we at? 113 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: Yeah? All those questions are up in the air, Kadi, 114 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: and need some answers at the moment where I worked 115 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: on our application, but as far as the bills and 116 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 2: work looking towards constructing a safe, secure, stable accommodation for 117 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 2: our most vulnerable kids, we're sitting in our hands and 118 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 2: we're waiting, and there's so many variables in community which 119 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 2: can affect this. And also acknowledging that there's an all 120 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 2: the territory election it's around the corner, and reading the 121 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 2: paper yesterday that the Opposition leader Peter Dutton, you know, 122 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 2: was whispering to his colleagues that there's a potential for 123 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: an early federal election. All these things impact on how 124 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: funding gets attributed to community in Central Australia and until 125 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: the money's in your account, and you're held to account 126 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: in terms of a quitting it and putting forward your 127 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: proposal and that actioning it. Then you cannot take anything 128 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 2: for granted at all. 129 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 1: All the while you've got kids that are potentially not 130 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: in safe environments. I would imagine, all. 131 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: The while, I've got kids and their families who many 132 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: of them are staff members at the school. You know, 133 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: we're up to seventy apporitional staff now, Katy, And it 134 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: just means that the story has become more day to 135 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: day in terms of the lack of food security, the overcrowding, 136 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: you know, the untreateds Gaby, you know, the infects gay is. 137 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: You know I had to had my school nas which 138 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: is we have fourteenth full time our at how fat 139 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: now your Pereneau. Such is the need of our most vulnerable, 140 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: disadvantaged children and their families. You know, they are absolutely 141 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: living in squalor in generational poverty, and they're seeing and 142 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: they're hearing whispers of they say, culturally appropriate boarding still 143 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: getting built at a place where they work and they 144 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: feel safe, and they're you know, their grandparents were faners 145 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: at the school and they're waiting to see what's going 146 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: on at the minute, at the minute, Katie, the big 147 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: dirt bowl of nothing. 148 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: Well, Gavin, please keep us up to date as things progress. 149 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: I mean, like, I'm just really surprised. I suppose I'm 150 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: not surprised because sometimes when it comes to government funding, 151 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: things do take absolutely forever. You know, we know that 152 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: bureaucracy can sometimes kill wonderful projects. Uh, And I mean 153 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: that things take an awfully long period of time. But 154 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: I know that you and the whole of you for 155 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: in your school are absolutely committed by the sounds of it, 156 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: to getting this boarding school up and running. 157 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: We're very committed. I'm working with an Audenticory government different 158 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: ways to Katie, to ensure that whatever, you know, We'll 159 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: be very grateful to whatever piece of the pie that 160 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: we get out of the eighteen million, and hopefully it's 161 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: something you know, we've come to it. We've come to 162 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 2: a conclusion that we're going to have to find a 163 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 2: stop gap measure in terms of feeling that filling a 164 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 2: hole in that in that budget, and that's my responsibility 165 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: to ensure that happens. So you know, I'm working in 166 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 2: different ways to ensure that we go forward, but at 167 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: the same time. If I'm doing my role, I need 168 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 2: to be advocating for our families. This is disengaged communities 169 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: and that that means standing up and putting your head 170 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: up and having a voice to ensure that good, good 171 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 2: projects with great outcomes and fantastic potential, aren't you. It's 172 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 2: rhetorical projects which end up on the shelf and never 173 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: actually get actioned. 174 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: Well, Gavin Morris, I always appreciate your time. Thank you 175 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: very much for having a chat with us, and we'll 176 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: talk to you again soon, hopefully at some point it's 177 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: with good news, Katie. 178 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: Great to be with you as always. I'm super super 179 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 2: excited to be coming back on you your shade hopefully 180 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: very soonous. I'm exciting. 181 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, good on you, Gavin, Thank you, thanks as always, mate, 182 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: appreciate it.