PRIME Minister Tony Abbott's promise to finalise by September a draft for amending the constitution to recognise Aboriginal people as the first Australians is commonsense and should continue the process that has been described as closing the gap.
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There is little to dispute the fact Aboriginals were the first Australians, even though the British first settlers had little but contempt for their nomadic, clan-like lifestyles.
The contribution aboriginal people make to this nation is significant - whether it is on the sporting fields.
Sydney Swan Australian Rules footballer Adam Goodes was named Australian of the Year and given his profile will be enormously effective at getting the message across.
Closer to home in Dubbo there are young people like Lionel Wood, who was the Dubbo City Council's Young Citizen of the Year award recipient. Lionel is a 21-year-old community worker, a mentor for Aboriginal people and young leader with commitment to social change.
There are many other young people of Aboriginal descent who are contributing to this and other regional communities.
Consider those who are undertaking the IPROWD [Indigenous Police Recruitment Out West Delivery Program] course which is seen as a pre-cursor to joining the NSW Police Force and undergoing the graduate training course at the Goulburn academy.
Most thinking Australians recognise the need to change how Indigenous Australians are recognised; and with that acceptance surely there will be increased levels of confidence and esteem, instilling belief that whatever the challenge, it can be overcome.
