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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - 11 June 2009
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From the Director General
I am constantly amazed by the incredible depth and breadth of Aboriginal heritage. In Western Australia alone we have more than 25,000 sites on our Register. These sites include those of importance and significance to Aboriginal people and the State of Western Australia as well as sites registered for archaeological and ethnographic interest. And this figure does not account for the sites of which we are unaware.
In Western Australia we are privileged to enjoy the richness and diversity of Aboriginal heritage, envied by other nations across the globe.
The Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region is universally recognised as one of the most significant heritage sites on the planet. This tangible link to the oldest living culture on earth can never be replaced and, with many engravings dating back more than 20,000 years, the economic, social and cultural values are infinitely precious.
Unfortunately, graffiti is a major threat to the preservation of these priceless and timeless works of art. The DIA Burrup Team is working alongside traditional owners and other interested stakeholders to address this issue and prevent further damage.
The Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee (ACMC), on behalf of the Western Australian community, also plays a pivotal role the management and protection of this significant resource.
I sincerely welcome the new ACMC members (details below) and look forward to working with them to continue to protect and preserve Aboriginal heritage and culture so that we can all enjoy the benefits, now and in the future.
Yours sincerely
Pat Walker
New ACMC members
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has recently appointed four new members to the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee.
In doing so Dr Hames said he had given careful consideration to ensuring a good balance of skills on the committee and believed these members would bring a depth of experience and a fresh outlook to the function of this very important committee.
Haydn Lowe - Chair
Mr Lowe has a Bachelor of Psychology, a Master of Psychology and a Master of Business Administration. He is a strategic and business management consultant to several organisations and has extensive senior public sector experience. In 1997 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Aboriginal Affairs Department (now the Department of Indigenous Affairs) during which time he sat on the ACMC, serving as an ex-officio member. Since 2003 he has provided strategic and business management consultancy to several organisations including Derbarl Yerrigan Aboriginal Health Services and Blue Lagoon Pearls.
Louise Austen
Ms Austen is in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in History and Politics and specialising in Archaeology. She intends to continue her studies in the post-graduate certificate in Applied Anthropology (Native Title and Cultural Heritage). As a Noongar woman with five years experience as an Environmental Educator with the former Department of Conservation and Land Management, she has knowledge of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 and of government processes.
Bill Bennell Mr Bennell is a stakeholder and Program Service Manager with the Southwest Catchment Council and also a member of the Edith Cowan South West Campus Advisory Board. An Indigenous man from the Bunbury area, he has completed the Cultural Heritage Management Course at James Cook University and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation Heritage Training Course. He has four years experience as an Indigenous Land Management Facilitator and has worked as an Assistant Heritage Officer for the Australian Heritage Commission and as a Regional Area Coordinator for DIA. He has experience working on Government committees and with relevant Federal and State Heritage legislation. While working for the Australian Heritage Commission in Canberra he co-ordinated and facilitated the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Officers.
Quinton Tucker
Mr Tucker has been Managing Director of Burnna Yurrul Aboriginal Corporation Contractors Pty Ltd since 2001 and was previously Manager Ngulluntharra/Walyan Heritage Land Council Inc. He has a Bachelor of Arts
in Human Services Administration and Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies. He is an Indigenous Australian man from Kalgoorlie. Mr Tucker has experience as a Registration Officer and A/Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Department of Minerals and Energy and in this role undertook secondments to the mining industry. He is a member of the Edith Cowan University Indigenous Consultative Committee, has been on site clearing committees and is an applicant in a Native Title claim in the Goldfields.
New estimates of Indigenous life expectancy
According to figures recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) life expectancy at birth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians was 67.2 years for men and 72.9 years for women for 2005–2007.
The ABS reported the life expectancy of Indigenous men is 11.5 years lower than for non-Indigenous men, while life expectancy of Indigenous women is 9.7 years lower than for non-Indigenous women.
The ABS noted the life expectancy estimates were derived using a new method which drew on information from the ABS Indigenous Mortality Quality Study conducted in 2006-07 as part of the Census Data Enhancement Project.
The availability of that information considerably improved the quality and robustness of the estimates. Previously published Indigenous life expectancy estimates had been derived using methods based on a range of assumptions and those estimates were very sensitive to the assumptions made.
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State Government paves way for Indigenous Housing Funding Boost-
The State Government will fast track changes to legislation to allow for a significant increase in funding from the Federal Government for housing in remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia.
Housing and Works Minister Troy Buswell said $496million in funding for housing and infrastructure over the next five years would be provided now that State Government had committed to resolving long standing land tenure issues.
“The first installment of $81.7million can be secured before June 30 this year,” Mr Buswell said.
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New Fitzroy Valley high School opens
The new $34million Fitzroy Valley District High School in Fitzroy Crossing has been officially opened.
The new school, built with State ($19million) and Federal ($15million) government funding, opened its doors in February to more than 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Education Minister Dr Elizabeth Constable said the outstanding facilities at the new school would greatly enhance its ability to provide a rich, inclusive and culturally-appropriate education for all students.
“The Fitzroy Valley District High School is special because its unique facilities have been designed to provide the best possible learning environment for Aboriginal children,” she said.
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Indigenous graduate program
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet will be recruiting Indigenous Australians into its Graduate Development Program. Applications close on 10 July 2009.
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Tidy Towns
Six Aboriginal Communities have entered the Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Award program for 2009.
Wanarn Community in the Goldfields; Djarindjin, Yakanarra and Lombadina in the Kimberley; and Yandeyarra and Bellary Springs in the Pilbara.
Last year, Yakanarra was the regional category winner for General Appearance and Enhancing Cultural Identity in the Kimberley; and Djarindjin won the Kimberley Recycling and Waste Management award.
The overall State Winner of the program in 2008 was Kambalda. At the national awards held on 8 May, Kambalda won the national Environmental Innovation Award. Tamworth won the title of Australia’s Tidiest Town.
Regional Achievement and Community Awards
DIA is again sponsoring the Indigenous Service Award, one of the Regional Achievement and Community Awards and is encouraging suitable individuals or groups to apply.
Nominations may be for a specific project or a larger body of work. The award focus will be on leadership, active engagement with the Indigenous community, long-term positive impact and measurable results. Nominations may be in the areas of health care, education, social justice, employment, culture and the arts, crime prevention, or pastoral care.
If your work or project improves the life expectations of Western Australian Indigenous people or you know of a project which does please download the guidelines and the nomination form and apply.
PALS Garden at Culunga Aboriginal Community School
St Stephen’s School’s PALS project Sowing the Seeds has attracted the attention of Channel 9’s Garden Gurus.
The project, done in conjunction with students from Culunga Aboriginal Community Sc hool, is to plant a vegetable garden, with Culunga students getting to eat the produce.
Year 6 and 7 students from St Stephen’s School had been involved in the community problem-solving competition, and from this decided to do something to change the negative perceptions of Indigenous people incited by the media.
The students wrote the grant application for the PALS grant themselves, and last year organised a camp and invited a class from Culunga to join the camp.
This year the students, keen to develop the bond that had grown between St Stephen’s and Culunga, decided to build a garden of traditional Western and Indigenous bush tucker plants.
As well as doing the hard work of preparing the garden beds and planting seedlings, the students will learn about hunting, gathering and the Noongar seasons, and will work together to create recipe books and participate in cooking lessons using the foods grown.
 The Gurus visited the school on Tuesday 19 May to meet students from both schools. They donated plants for the garden and worked with the students, planting and providing advice and suggestions, all of which was filmed for an episode of Garden Gurus.
Sorry Day in Perth
The Sorry Day event in Perth attracted a large crowd of people to watch performers and hear speakers.
Photos from the event are here and here.
Optimising Indigenous benefits in the Ord-East Kimberley
Efforts to link the Miriuwung Gagerrong people into the long-term benefits of the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion project have taken a major step forward at a special meeting in Kununurra between the Miriuwung Gagerrong Board and Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls.
The meeting paved the way for a series of workshops that will shape an Aboriginal Development Package to outline how Miriuwung Gagerrong people will participate in the exciting expansion project.
This includes the management and operation of new farmland endowed to traditional owners under the Ord Final Agreement of 2005.
“It is my strong desire that, in partnership with the Miriuwung Gagerrong people, we will soon be in a position to agree on some detail about Indigenous employment and a wide range of other participation options that focus on the Ord expansion delivering lasting benefits to this and future generations of Miriuwung Gagerrong people,” Mr Grylls said.
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Indigenous communities a special focus for new palliative care program
Children and adults requiring palliative care services are set to benefit from a $14million project which will help them access care in their local community and in their own homes.
A special focus of the fund would be on providing palliative care to patients in Indigenous and remote communities
Health Minister Kim Hames said the Palliative Services Project Fund would involve a range of innovative programs including:
- palliative care services for every rural region across the State;
- paediatric palliative care services to support terminally ill children and their families in their local communities;
- the implementation of care pathways to ensure terminally ill patients receive timely care according to their needs, in the place of their choice;
- the development of Palliative Care Area Health Teams in the Perth metropolitan area region to build links between health services and to boost patients’ access to care close to where they live; and
- a workforce development program to help ensure patients’ health care needs can be met.
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Events
United Nations Association Australia (WA) quiz night
Tuesday 7 July, 2009. 6.30pm for a 7pm start
Belmont Sports and Recreation Club, corner Keane Street and Abernethy Road, Cloverdale.
Tickets $15 standard, $10 concession.
BYO food, full bar and tea and coffee available.
Proceeds to UNAA(WA) to assist with initiatives
More details 0421 316 717. unaawa@tpg.com.au
Funding
Performing arts funds
The Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts funding invites performing arts companies, producers, tour organisers and Australian musicians to apply for funding for tours to regional and remote Australia.
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Leadership program
The Commonwealth Department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is looking for Indigenous leaders to register for its leadership programs.
There are specific programs for women and men over 18 years.
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Indigenous Graduate and Cadetship program
The Commonwealth Public Service is seeking Indigenous people for two major recruitment programs in a range of Commonwealth Government agencies.
The Indigenous Graduate program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have completed, or will complete a degree by February 2010, information here.
A cadetship is a combination of full time study and professional work experience. Each year cadets undertake 12 weeks of work placement with their employing agency. Applicants will need to be undertaking full time study towards their first degree as at February 2010. Information about cadetships in the APS, and an up to date list of employing agencies, is available here and application information is available here.
New opportunity for Indigenous youth
Young Indigenous people from across Western Australia will benefit from One Sky, Many Paths, an Indigenous Youth Leadership Program.
The program will provide young Aboriginal people with skills in leadership, community development and management.
A group of 40 young people would attend a one-week residential learning program before and after they complete 10 weeks of project work in their local communities.
During the project work, they will receive training through an online network provided by Challenger TAFE and mentoring from local community leaders.
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