New ATSIA chair appointed

Chris Sarra has been appointed as chair of the Australia Council's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander arts board for a three-year term.

'Mr Sarra is an inspirational leader and educator, whose achievements in the area of Indigenous education are well known across Australia,' said David Gonski AO, Australia Council chairman.

'We are honoured to have him on the Council and value the perspective, skills and experience he will bring to this role and to the arts,' he said.

Mr Sarra has been Principal of Cherbourg State School, a regional Aboriginal community school in Queensland, since 1998. During this time, he has developed highly innovative strategies to combat problems such as low results in literacy and numeracy, with amazing results. His academic research interests include Aboriginal identity within a contemporary society,

Mr Sarra was named Suncorp Queenslander of the Year in 2004. He is a NAIDOC and Deadly Award winner and Australian of the Year finalist in 2005.

The appointment was announced today by Senator the Hon Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts and Sport.