NORTHERN SYDNEY REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

In 2004 Metro employed a full time staff member to represent Metro in the Northern Sydney area.
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In the Northern Sydney area Metro is the custodian of over 4000 Aboriginal sites of cultural significance. Ongoing protection and monitoring of these sites is essential to keep our culture alive in this area.

The Northern Sydney Regional Representatives main function is to raise awareness of Aboriginal culture and heritage in the area and work closely with the local Aboriginal community, the Local Government Areas, Schools and Reconciliation groups.

Metro hosts regular gatherings for the Aboriginal community in the northern Sydney area. These gatherings give Metro an opportunity to better understand the priorities of the local Aboriginal community and develop programs to meet their needs.

Educating the broader community about Aboriginal culture and heritage is another key focus for the Northern Sydney Branch Officer. Vandalism of many of our sites in public places is of serious concern to Metro and our members. To address this problem Metro regularly runs public awareness programs, attends events to carry out ‘Welcomes to Country’ and is involved in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal committees.

The growth of the Northern Sydney Regional Representatives role means in the near future Metro will re-establish a Northern Sydney Branch Office in the area. Since 2004 the demand for acknowledgements and Welcomes to Country is much greater as is Metro’s participation on various committees and boards. Requests for Aboriginal cultural talks at schools and other public events are also high.