Fed: ATSIC praises new move to help Indigenous communities

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Fed: ATSIC praises new move to help Indigenous communities

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission has welcomed a new program toaddress issues of child health and alcohol abuse in indigenous communities.

The federal, Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments haveall indicated they will fund the program.

Mining company Rio Tinto will contribute $2.5 million to the project, which will surveythe health of indigenous children and investigate fetal alcohol syndrome.

The project will also train indigenous people to help their communities with issuesincluding child abuse and domestic violence.

ATSIC's Cairns chairman TERRY O'SHANE has told ABC radio that governments, corporationsand the community need to address problems affecting the next generation.

AAP RTV nr/wjf

KEYWORD: ATSIC (BRISBANE)