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Indigenous Engagement Manager

Marissa Russ is the new Indigenous Engagement Manager. Marissa belongs to the Ngarinyin people from the Kimberley in WA and grew up on Gibb River Station (Ngallangunda Aboriginal Corporation).
Marissa's working history includes just over 12 years working for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission/Services and then with the Department of Communication Information Technology and the Arts. She commenced her position as the ABS Indigenous Engagement Manager (IEM) for WA in November 2004.

The role of the Indigenous Engagement Manager is to provide a bridge between the ABS and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in accessing data and information. The duties and objectives of the IEM position include:

• Building and maintaining networks with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations (including engaging and seeking greater participation);
• Advise on appropriate materials to raise statistical awareness;
• Return ABS information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities;
• Raise awareness of data collection processes; and
• Provide support and assistance to ABS surveys.

• To increase awareness of the ABS to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and agencies;.
• To promote the benefits, assistance and advantages that can be gained by using ABS data; and
• To ensure that ABS data collected from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is easily accessible to Government Departments and Organisations involved in the process of planning services for indigenous people.

For further information contact Marissa Russ (08) 9360 5910 or email: marissa.russ@abs.gov.au.