MAIC was proud to partner with Avelina Tarrago, Barrister and President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland (ILAQ) to deliver the scheme’s first cultural training event.
More than 50 representatives from the Queensland CTP insurers attended the event at 1 William Street on May 13 to learn about:
- how road trauma impacts First Peoples, their families and their communities;
- the principles of culturally appropriate claims and injury management; and
- culturally appropriate health and financial management support.
Queensland’s Insurance Commissioner, Neil Singleton found the day to be personally rewarding and insightful.
“MAIC is committed to operating an inclusive CTP insurance scheme and today’s cultural awareness training event builds on our work in delivering and supporting a scheme that is safe, trusted and respectful so all injured people can recover from the effects of their injuries.
“We’re thrilled Avelina Tarrago was able to share her expertise by both designing and delivering this session, as well speaking directly to insurers about the importance of cultural respect.
“The training session is about starting a conversation with insurers. We hope we can continue to work with experts like Avelina to identify, to help build and to advocate for services which support First Peoples who experience road trauma.”
Avelina is a proud Wangkamadla woman from central-west Queensland, who grew up in Brisbane. Avelina was admitted to the legal profession in 2009 and was called to the Queensland bar in 2017; she is one of only three First Peoples women to do so.
Avelina grew up strong, bolstered by the role model set by her mother, Isabel Tarrago, an Elder of the Wangkamadla Tribe, career public servant.
“My parents taught me to be proud of who I am, and to have a strong sense of advocacy, so a career in law was a natural fit”.
“MAIC’s training session is about respect. By acknowledging the challenges that face my community, and by partnering with the ILAQ to provide insurers with a toolkit for delivering culturally appropriate supports and services, MAIC has demonstrated a commitment to building a respectful and safe CTP scheme,” Ms. Tarrago said.
“We’re not a homogenous group of people, we don’t have one voice. I encourage insurers to always ask how a person identifies… I identify as Wangkamadla first, and then as an Aboriginal woman.
“By learning to have courageous conversations about what you can and can’t do, I hope MAIC and insurers will be able to deliver a stronger and safer CTP scheme for all.”
The First Peoples cultural awareness training event builds on MAIC’s expanding work on supporting an inclusive CTP insurance scheme. For more information or to download MAIC’s free First Peoples resources please visit: maic.qld.gov.au/first-peoples-ctp/