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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - 17 March 2008
Welcome to Tarwangin, a regular newsletter produced by the Department of Indigenous Affairs to provide the latest news and information on issues associated with Indigenous communities.
To receive the Tarwangin Newsletter subscribe here. We welcome any feedback and/or suggestions for new stories for upcoming editions of Tarwangin. Please contact Public Affairs at DIA for further information.
Indigenous Land Corporation economic assistance
The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) is offering two funding programs to support projects that deliver training and sustainable employment for Indigenous people.
The funding programs, each with four streams are:
- Under the land acquisition program, you can apply for assistance under economic, environmental, social and cultural streams. Applications close on 30 April; and
- Under the land management stream, the application streams are economic, environmental, social and cultural, with four categories: regional and national projects, property-based projects, property planning and training and addressing of urgent health and safety issues. Applications for this stream close on 30 June.
The ILC recommends you talk to someone in its office about your proposal before you submit your application.
More information is available from www.ilc.gov.au, or by phoning 9420 6300.
Recognising the Unsung Heroes of Heritage
Heritage Minister Michelle Roberts has called on the community to nominate people and organisations that had made an outstanding contribution to the conservation and enhancement of Western Australia’s heritage.
“Our heritage places are the visible symbols of the WA story; they are a constant reminder of who we are and where we have been,” Mrs Roberts said.
“There is a sense these places belong to all Western Australians, yet they are all too often maintained and preserved by volunteers.”
The Minister said the Western Australian Heritage Awards provided an opportunity for the community to recognise the otherwise-unsung heroes of heritage.
There are three award categories: Contribution to heritage in Western Australia by an individual; Contribution to heritage in Western Australia by an organisation; and Conservation or interpretation of a place listed in the State Register or Heritage places.
For more information or for nomination forms, visit http://www.heritage.wa.gov.au or telephone 9221 4177. Nominations close 5pm Thursday, April 24.
Winners will be announced at the Heritage Council Awards Ceremony in June 2008.
Public Policy Forum - The Winding Path to Reconciliation
The Hon Fred Chaney AO will speak on the winding path to reconciliation at a breakfast briefing on 10 April.
Mr Chaney will address issues around how a generally successful country that provides a good life for most of its people, has, by comparison, failed Indigenous Australians.
TIME: 7.15am, for 7.30am to 9am
VENUE: Hyatt Hotel, Adelaide Terrace, Perth
TO REGISTER: Please see attached form
Geographers Call for Papers
The organisers of the 2008 Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) Conference are calling for papers.
Held from 29 June to 3 July in Hobart the conference is called Un(iquely) Australian? Geographies of environment and sustainability, and will include specialist sessions on Indigenous issues.
The Australian Parliament's recent Apology to the Stolen Generations, following on from the controversial intervention in the Northern Territory, has again focussed attention on the issues faced by Indigenous peoples within Australia.
At the same time, Indigenous and First Nations Peoples elsewhere continue to confront issues at the interface with settler populations.
The organisers invite the submission of abstracts for papers to be delivered in up to five sessions to be sponsored by the Indigenous Issues Study Group:
Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be sent to Jamie Kirkpatrick at J.Kirkpatrick@utas.edu.au, and copied to Judith Burns at jburns2@une.edu.au, by Monday 31 March 2008. Abstracts should include the title and the authors' names and affiliations.
Please see http://rspas.anu.edu.au/blogs/rmap/2008/02/26/iag-call-for-papers/ for further information.
Welcome Move in Closing the Health Care Gap
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has welcomed moves announced by the Australian Health Ministers' Council to look at health system reform that goes well beyond just hospitals
Chair Dr Mick Adams said he was very pleased that this much wider health reform agenda was also reflected in the federal government’s National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
“NACCHO hopes the Commission will play an important role in focusing the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments on the need for better service provision to Aboriginal peoples in all areas of health, from primary health care to hospitals, public health programs and other services, and to introduce performance indicators for which funding is contingent in this regard, Dr Adams said.
“Targets should be set for improvements in Aboriginal people’s access to hospital procedures including kidney dialysis; population health programs (such as sexual health, cervical screening, dental/oral health, breast screening); rehabilitation services (eg cardiac rehabilitation, Commonwealth Hearing Services Program); residential aged care services, and immunisation services.
“The Commission should play an important role in bringing to fruition the Council of Australian Government’s agreement on December 20 last year to work with the -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population to close the 17-year gap in Indigenous Australians’ life expectancy and to halve the mortality gap for children under five within a decade.
“There is ample evidence that there is inappropriate and inequitable delivery of care to Aboriginal peoples despite having three times the burden of disease.
“There needs to be an appropriate consultation process with all Australians and with representative bodies for Aboriginal health, such as NACCHO, on what reforms are needed to improve the responsiveness of mainstream health services to Aboriginal peoples” Dr Adams said.
Looking to work with young people?
The Western Australian Department of Corrective Services is looking for dedicated people to train to be Juvenile Custodial Officers in secure metropolitan juvenile custodial centres.
This is an opportunity to be a positive role model, and to take responsibility for the safety, security, care, wellbeing and developmental needs of young people in these detention centres.
For more information see this brochure and to apply, see this ad.
The DIA DG Takes the Lead on Coronial Recommendations
Director General of the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA), Jackie Tang, said she welcomed Coroner Alistair Hope’s Findings after his inquest into the alcohol and drug-related deaths of 22 Aboriginal people in the Kimberley.
Following the release of the Coronial Report, Ms Tang convened an out-of-session meeting of the Directors’ General Group on Indigenous Affairs, to ensure an immediate, collaborative and appropriate response to the findings across the public sector.
Speaking after the Directors’ General Group meeting, Ms Tang said the important issues raised by the Coroner required a longer-term and sustainable approach that built upon other work Government departments are already achieving in the Kimberley.
“The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Michelle Roberts, has continually demonstrated her strong commitment to Indigenous people, particularly in brokering partnerships between Commonwealth and State governments to deliver lasting change,” Ms Tang said.
“Added to this is the determination of the Directors’ General and a newly focussed DIA.”
As the Chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, Mrs Roberts has also instructed the Directors' General Group to provide regular Strategy Progress Reports to the Standing Committee.
The DIA will lead the strategic response, which Ms Tang says, will have three key platforms.
1. Government leadership and accountability.
2. Engaging Indigenous people in sustainable solutions.
3. A strong partnership between all levels of Government.
“One of our objectives is to assess the Government investment in programs and services and how that funding is being managed and delivered,” Ms Tang said.
“This will provide an overview of what is working well and what can be improved on.”
Ms Tang said that the Government would work with local Indigenous leaders during the assessment process.
“The response must be one of mutual responsibility between the Government and Indigenous people that will ensure we achieve the most the successful and positive outcomes for Indigenous people.”
Harmony Day Event
The City of Stirling and Mirrabooka Square have joined forces to presen the Mirrabooka Harmony Event 2008. To be held at Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre on Thursday 20 March, 12.30 – 5pm, it will feature a Welcome to Country, multicultural performances, art workshops, 3-on-3 basketball, international food and giveaways.
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