Home > Information > Tarwangin > 4 March 2008
Tarwangin - Talking To Me - 4 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.
A Stolen Generation story launched
 A book detailing one woman's experience as a Stolen Generation Aboriginal Australian was launched at Curtin University of Technology's Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS) on Wednesday 20 February 2008.
The book, titled Orphaned by the Colour of My Skin was developed from a Masters thesis entitled "Who is Mary Rose? A Sister Kate's Home Kid" by Mary Terszak after being shown to a publisher who encouraged her to turn it into a book.
The book is an autobiographical journal of the experiences of Mary Terzak (Woods) and her life at Sister Kate's Children Home after she was taken from her mother at the age of two as part of the Government's 1905 Aborigines Act which saw the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
Mary completed a Bachelor in Primary Health at age 57 through the CAS in 2000 after previously only completing schooling to an equivalent year nine level. After completing her bachelor and honours degrees, she embarked on her Masters as a way of helping her children understand her experiences as a child.
"My Masters was a journey of healing for me and a way in which I could find myself and how I fit in the black and white world that I live in," said Ms Terszak.
"I hope that my book will encourage wider community understanding of the experiences of the people who were part of the people who were part of the Stolen Generation and how being institutionalised affected us in later life."
For more information, click here.
New study on number one cause of death of Indigenous Australians
Researchers at Curtin University of Technology are conducting a study into the impact of cardiovascular disease on Indigenous Australians. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Indigenous Australians, with a death rate three times higher than the total Australian rate.
According to Associate Professor Sandra Thompson from Curtin Centre's for International Health, the information collected in the study will help improve cardiovascular services for Indigenous patients.
"There is a critical lack of information about the effects of heart disease and the treatment gaps for Indigenous people in Australia," commented Associate Professor Thompson. "Preliminary evidence suggests that the rates use and uptake of treatment procedures and provisions of cardiac rehabilitation services among Indigenous Australians is much less than would be expected for their high rates of cardiovascular disease."
The information collected as part of their study will be used to help improve cardiovascular outcomes in Indigenous people. The study will provide health services and policy makers with clinical and socio-demographic data on treatment and rehabilitation among Indigenous patients to identify improvements that can be made.
The research will also focus on exploring the experiences that Indigenous people with cardiovascular disease have in the context of their social circumstances, belief systems and perceived barriers to medical care and better health.
The study has received a three year funding grant until 2011.
For more information visit the Curtin website here.
Report highlights gaps in Indigenous financial literacy
A report on financial literacy amongst Indigenous Australians has highlighted the need for some basic services, especially in remote communities.
The Banking for the Future report is the result of a partnership between the banks, credit unions, Reconciliation Australia and the First Nations Foundation.
Launching the report in Sydney this morning, the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, says more flexible approaches are needed to help Indigenous Australians gain better financial literacy and escape a poverty trap.
Barbara Livesey from Reconciliation Australia says until now, some banks have not realised how hard it is in some remote communities.
"Really simple things like an Indigenous person in a remote community might not be able to open a bank account because they need a birth certificate and they can't get an original birth certificate or if they can it costs $90," she said.
Ms Macklin says economic self-reliance is a key to the social and economic development of Indigenous communities.
For more information visit the Reconciliation Australia website here.
 
Indigenous health group highlights Opal fuel benefits
An Aboriginal health group in South Australia's northern Aboriginal lands says the latest statistics released by the State Government show the benefits of the introduction of Opal fuel.
An independent survey suggests a 46 per cent drop in petrol sniffing on the Anangu Pitjantjatjarra Yunkatjatjarra (APY) lands last year alone.
Paul Torzillo from the Nganampa Health Council in the northern lands, says it would be foolish to think the problem could be completely eradicated, but it has been significantly reduced.
"I've certainly seen initiatives that have reduced petrol sniffing for a while but they've tended to be fairly short lived and then the sniffing has re-emerged," Mr Torzillo said.
"But I think in the last three years this looks to be sustainable and I think the thing that's most identifiable is the introduction of Opal fuel."
"I think that's clearly made a difference."
For more information view the following website here.
Largest class of Indigenous Teaching graduates to aid teaching shortage
 Twenty five Indigenous students, forming the largest class to date, recently graduated from Curtin University of Technology's Bachelor of Education Conversion Course (BECC), offered by the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS) on 19 February 2008.
All students had been working as Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers (AIEOs) statewide and have converted this qualification to a Bachelor of Education after studying for four years at Curtin.
Associate Professor Anita Lee Hong, Head of CAS, is proud that such a large number of students will be graduating from the BECC's program in 2008, and that they will be able to make an immediate impact in the education industry.
"The majority of the graduating students will step into full time teaching roles at the beginning of the 2008 school year, with a large number being placed at regional or remote schools," commented Associate Professor Lee Hong.
Students going to regional or remote areas will play an important role in helping to ease the teacher shortage that is currently being faced for the start of the school year, especially in areas of WA that are not popular placements.
"A large number of students have families and other responsibilities but managed to fit in study around this which is a credit to both the students and the support they have received from their families," said Associate Professor Lee Hong.
Many of the students are the first people in their families to have graduated from university which will hopefully encourage other Indigenous people to undertake teaching degrees.
The CAS starts the application process for the BECC's program at the beginning of each year. Interested students can contact CAS on 08 9266 4241 or via email cas.enquiries@curtin.edu.au
Seminar invitations for Lieutenant General John Sanderson AC
The Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) invites interested people to the launch of its 2008 seminar program, which will feature a presentation from Lieutenant General John Sanderson AC, Special Adviser to the WA Government on Indigenous Affairs.
General Sanderson will be speaking on Evaluating Outcomes in the Complex, Non Linear Employment of Indigenous Affairs in Western Australia.
The seminar is free and is scheduled for Wednesday 12 March 2008 at the Alexander Library Lecture Theatre, Francis Street, from 4.30pm onwards.
RSVPs are essential via email atholp@iprimus.com.au or by calling 9343 9115.
SGIO Community Help Grants
SGIO is offering grants of between $500 and $5000 to groups undertaking projects in the areas of crime prevention, road safety, emergency readiness and response and environment.
Applications for the SGIO community help grants close on Friday 21 March 2008, with successful recipients announced in late May 2008.
For application forms and more information, please visit the website here or contact the SGIO Community and Environment team on 1300 306 496.
The Women of Warmun: 10 Years On Exhibition
This year the Warmun Art Centre, located in the Warmun (Turkey Creek) Community in the East Kimberley will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a full program of exhibitions to be held nationally and internationally.
Gadfly Gallery in Dalkeith, Western Australia will host the Community’s First Perth exhibition, The Women of Warmun: 10 Years On, which will focus on the remarkable ochre and natural pigment paintings of the Gija women artists from this region.
 The Warmun community of artists came to prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s with the paintings of now-famous artists Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie, among others. Their legacy remains an important part of Warmun art culture, with many of the contemporary artists influenced and taught by these late elders.
Some of the most important painters in the community are now women. They bring unique interpretations to traditional Dreaming stories and some of the elders, including Shirley Purdie (2007 Blake Prize winner), are particularly dedicated to narrating events which have occurred in their lands in the post-settlement, thus eloquently enhancing their tradition of cultural and historical storytelling.
Each canvas is painted using traditional ochres and natural pigments hand-collected in the Kimberley region. Artists are skilled at making their own paints and mixing ochres into an astounding range of colours which the women of Warmun nowadays are extending into a visual feast of soft pastel tones evolving from their feminine view.
The exhibition will feature paintings by internationally renowned senior Indigenous artists including Betty Carrington , Mabel Julie and Shirley Purdie alongside emerging artists Eileen Bray, Evelyn Malgil, Jane Yalunga, Joanne Mung, Lorraine Daylight, Rose Clifton, Roseleen Park, Sade Carrington, Marika Patrick, Nora Nagarra, Nancy Nodea, and Madigan Thomas.
The exhibition will also feature a collection of etchings on paper by Lena Nyadbi, Mabel Juli and Shirley Purdie.
Invitations are extended to attend the launch of the exhibition on Wednesday 5 March 2008 at the Gadfly Gallery (131b Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith) at 6pm. The exhibition will be opened by the Hon Fred Chaney AO, Director of Reconciliation Australia.
To RSVP or for more information email mail@gadflygallery.com
Toastmasters Public Speaking Training for Indigenous staff members
Invitations are extended for interested Indigenous community members to join a new Toastmasters club to develop public speaking and communication skills.
Toastmasters is an international not for profit organisation providing communication, public speaking and leadership training. The club provides regular speaking opportunities and supportive peer evaluations at weekly or fortnightly meetings, helping all members to continually build up their skills.
Toastmasters in WA is currently establishing the state's first club for Indigenous members, the Ngarlundhu Wangka Club.
The next fortnightly meeting of the club will be at 5.30pm on Wednesday 20 February 2008 on the 12th floor of the Quadrant Building, 1 William Street.
For more information, contact Mike Helm via email mike.helm@iinet.net.au
Update: Formal Apology to the Stolen Generations events in WA
The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA), through partnerships and support of other government departments and local organisations and communities, coordinated over 16 events throughout the state of Western Australia in acknowledgement of the formal apology by the Federal Government, to the members of the Stolen Generations. .JPG)
These included community events that were coordinated in Hedland and Halls Creek on 13 February 2008.
In Hedland, a community breakfast was held to coincide with the live televised screening of the formal apology from Parliament Australia. A Welcome to Country and the launch of the DIA's Reconciliation Action Plan were also part of the event on the day.
In Halls Creek, DIA staff, with the assistance of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, organised a viewing of the apology at the Shire Park. A free sausage sizzle was also organised and members of the Stolen Generations and the local community attended the event.
For more information on the other metro and regional events, please view last week's edition of Tarwangin here.
Australian schools encouraged to develop Reconciliation Action Plan
The Australian school that comes up with the most creative ways to advance indigenous reconciliation will get a visit from rock band Powderfinger as part of a new national program.
Reconciliation Australia is launching a national campaign to get primary and secondary schools to develop their own Reconciliation Action Plan.
The action plan will act as a blueprint that schools and organisations can develop and use to build positive relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Eight schools have already signed on to develop an action plan, but organisers hope to get 200 signed up by National Reconciliation Week in late May.
The school that develops the most interesting and creative plan will get a visit from Powderfinger, which last year toured in support of reconciliation with Silverchair on the Great Divide Tour.
For more information about the program visit Reconciliation Australia website here.
Positions Vacant at the Arts Law Centre
The Arts Law Centre are inviting applications for the position of Indigenous Information/Liaison Officer to work at their New South Wales office.
The Arts Law Centre of Australia is the national community legal centre for the arts. Their Artists in the Black service provides Arts Law services to Indigenous artists, organisations and communities.
Knowledge and understanding of issues affecting Indigenous artists is required for this part time position.
Applications close 14 March 2008. For more information and to also access a job description please contact 02 9356 2566 or visit the website here.
Honouring Indigenous War Graves Ceremonies
Honouring Indigenous War Graves Inc. has been established by John Schnaars, an Indigenous Vietnam veteran whose dream is to place headstones on the graves of all our Indigenous veterans who were not appropriately recognised upon their return from various arenas of war.
A ceremony is arranged with input from the veteran's family, the veteran community and approval is given by the Australian War Graves Department and allows placement of the appropriate military insignia and details of the deceased veteran's service. This is a simple, effective and powerful way of bringing everyone from all backgrounds together to share in paying their respects to this often forgotten and unrecognised group of inspitational people.
Details of the next ceremonies are as follows:
1. At Quairading on 15 March 2008 at 11.30am for Frederick Holland No. 3940. The late Mr Holland served with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Camal Corp North Africa. The ceremony will also remember the service of his two brothers, William Holland No. 7755 and John Maitland Holland, who all served during World War II.
2. At Fremantle on 29 March 2008 at 1pm. This service will acknowledge William Arthur Brennan WX 15968 who served during the second World War.
3. At Karrakatta on 19 April 2008 at 1pm. This service will be dedicated to Murray Jones WA 14697, who served with 2/7 Australian Infantry Batt Middle East and New Guinea.
For more information about the ceremonies and the Honouring Indigenous War Graves, please visit the following website here.
Identifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Project
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) is undertaking a project to identify the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, both living and deceased, who served their country in the Defence forces in any of the conflicts Australia has been involved in.
When Indigenous men and women joined the Defence Forces in the past there was no requirement to identify their cultural background and this lack of information has made it impossible to identify the service records of these men and women and Veterans' Affairs is seeking your assistance with their identification.
If you are a veteran or a relative of a veteran who fought in conflicts Australia has been involved in, DVA would be very grateful for information about your service or your relative's service. All information you provide will be treated in full confidence. With personal approval, any names provided will be included on a database with the Australian War Memorial for records and search purposes.
For more information contact Robert Noble at DVA via email robert.noble@dva.gov.au or phone 02 6289 6205.
Computers for Indigenous people and communities
Communities Linking Computer Knowledge (CLiCK) is requesting assistance for donations of old computers to be recycled and provided to Indigenous communities who would not be able to afford them.
CLiCK is a non-profit organisation and has now become a community project which helps students, people who cannot afford computers, and non-profit organisations obtain computers free of charge.
Many people and organisations upgrade their computers on a continual basis, however the computers and parts which have been replaced, upgraded or that have become obsolete often collect dust or are sent to land fill. CLiCK recycles these computers and parts to help community members and groups obtain computer equipment, so they can share in the knowledge and in the use of Computer facilities.
For more information about CLiCK please visit the following website here.
|