Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing program
Brief ministerial statement
Mr Don Punch (Bunbury—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) (1:15 pm): I am pleased to inform the house that $210,671 has been awarded to 48 schools in the 2025 term 2 round of funding of the Cook government's Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) program. Administered by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, the PALS program helps students, teachers and school communities deepen their understanding of Aboriginal culture and foster stronger relationships with their local Aboriginal communities. The PALS program supports schools to deliver Aboriginal-led and informed projects that strengthen reconciliation, promote respect for diversity and showcase the achievements and histories of Aboriginal people. PALS program funding of up to $5,000 is available to all primary and secondary schools in Western Australia, as well as the Department of Education–funded kindergartens across several categories, including the arts, community relationships, connecting to country and culture, inclusive environments, history and language. We recently announced the successful applicants for term 2 funding with 48 schools in the Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Southwest, Mid West, Pilbara, Goldfields, Esperance and metropolitan regions. As the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, I am pleased to see our schools participating in the PALS program and incorporating Aboriginal cultures, achievements and history into the learning experiences of school students. I look forward to the continued growth of the PALS program and to see more school communities across Western Australia participate and promote reconciliation. For those schools that are interested, applications are currently open for term 3 funding, closing on 11 September 2025. I encourage all interested schools to apply.
