FLOYD DOYLE: Speaking about being ready, I wasn’t even ready for what has just happened here at CAAMA radio. You wouldn't believe who's just walked into my studio, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. How are you, my friend? I haven't seen you for a long time.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Good morning, and good morning to all your listeners. I thought, yeah, look, I'm just going to drop in and see what you're doing and hang out for a little bit.

STEWART BRASH, HOST: In the lead-up to Summer, federal Labor’s been in Alice Springs, they’ve been splashing some cash, we’ve heard about the boarding facilities for three schools here in Alice, school holiday programs, community patrols. And just this morning the Feds have announced $1.5 million to support up to 90 Aboriginal job seekers here in Central Australia. Now, that will go to Saltbush's Foundation to the Future program. Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians, good morning.

I acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land we’re gathered on tonight. And thank you to Aunty Maxine Ryan for your Welcome to Country.

I recognise the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, for her attendance and speech tonight.

And I thank Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, President of Chief Executive Women and her team for organising tonight’s event, and all of tonight’s panellists.

At least 90 First Nations job seekers in Alice Springs will have access to support to get job-ready and find employment, as the Albanese Labor Government continues to invest in Closing the Gap in employment outcomes in Central Australia.

The investment includes $1.5 million for the Saltbush Foundation to Future (F2F) initiative, which engages with First Nations jobseekers to find suitable work.

MARION SCRYMGOUR, MEMBER FOR LINGIARI: I want to welcome everyone to this fantastic function. It is really great to be joined by Minister McCarthy, who often comes down here, but certainly, today, making the announcement about the Albanese Government’s commitment to upgrade and to provide funding to schools like Yirara to get better boarding facilities for young people coming from not just in the Northern Territory, but right throughout regional Australia.

MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY, MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS: Hello, my name's Malarndirri McCarthy. I'm the Senator for the Northern Territory and Minister for Indigenous Australians. And I'm here to show your Mayor how to play table tennis.

Welcome to my hometown. 

I grew up right here in Fremantle. My primary school is around the corner on Henry Street. My childhood home on the same road as Fremantle Prison, a building now on the World Heritage List. Back then, home to 337 of Western Australia’s prisoners.  

The Albanese Labor Government is investing a further $2.5 million in community-led safety patrols in Alice Springs and surrounding remote communities, to improve community safety in Central Australia.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, joined the Lhere Artepe and Tangentyere Night Patrol services in Alice Springs this week to see first-hand the important work being carried out by patrollers.

This funding will boost capacity during busy periods, such as the summer school holidays.

First Nations students from remote communities in Central Australia will have greater access to quality education, with $18 million from the Albanese Labor Government’s Central Australia Boarding Response Fund being made available to three Alice Springs schools.

Yirara College will be offered up to $10 million and St Philip’s College up to $1.7 million to upgrade existing facilities, while Yipirinya School will be offered up to $6.3 million for a new boarding facility, providing greater capacity to accommodate students in the region.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing $3.2 million to deliver school holiday activities for Central Australian children and young people over the next two years.

The funding will support community organisations and local councils in Alice Springs and across Central Australia to deliver more youth programs and activities during school holidays.

Making learning-based activities accessible for young people and their families will provide enormous health benefits and encourage positive engagement with peers and community youth services.