Adelaide Big Lunch

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:58): My question goes to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Can the minister tell the council about the GO Foundation's 2025 Adelaide Big Lunch event?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in Aboriginal affairs. It was a great pleasure to attend the GO Foundation's 2025 Adelaide Big Lunch last week. Held at the Adelaide Oval, the event brought together a diverse range of supporters, alumni of the foundation and community leaders, all united by the common goal of empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through education.

The GO Foundation is co-founded by AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin and is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by providing scholarships from primary school right through to university. To date the GO Foundation has awarded over 400 scholarships in Adelaide and more than 1,700 scholarships in total for Indigenous primary, secondary and tertiary students in Sydney, Canberra and, of course, Adelaide.

The scholarships offer more than just financial assistance. The foundation's holistic approach ensures that students receive cultural support, mentoring, and leadership opportunities, fostering confidence and resilience. By focusing on education and cultural empowerment, the GO Foundation aims to create brighter futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

The event last week was an inspiring event, featuring entertainment with powerful storytelling. There was a mix of alumni success stories and discussions about the foundation's impact. A key theme was the importance of maintaining a strong alumni network which allows former scholarship recipients to stay connected, mentor current students and contribute to their communities.

It has been a privilege to attend a number of GO Foundation events over the last few years, including graduations in previous years held here in Adelaide. Hearing the personal story from graduates from the GO Foundation's programs and the role that the foundation has played in shaping their futures highlighted the transformative impact of education and showed how access to resources such as laptops, culture-connect days and leadership programs can make a significant difference. The foundation's commitments to awarding 60 per cent of scholarships to female students and currently ensuring that some 94 per cent go to public school students further underscores its dedication to young people.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the GO Foundation, particularly the founders, Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin, for the work they do in creating opportunities, fostering pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and bringing a strong support network that extends well beyond school years. As I said, it has certainly been a privilege to attend a number of events with the GO Foundation over the last few years, and I am always amazed at the work that Michael and Adam both do. In my view Adam is one of the best humans I have ever met, one of the most complete individuals. The selfless giving he does for his community and culture is remarkable.