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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - February 2009
In this edition of Tarwangin meet the Indigenous Implementation Board, the Numbud Patrol is recognised on Australia Day, and learn about grants for the preservation of culture.
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From the Director General
Indigenous Implementation board
The Indigenous Implementation Board is gearing up for its first meeting in early February, where the members will establish operational arrangements, areas of strategic focus and draft its agenda for the year.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has announced the members, whose breadth of knowledge and experience make them a formidable force for improving the lives of Indigenous Western Australians.
At the forefront of the members minds during this meeting will be the need to deliver the Minister for Indigenous Affairs’ requirements.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs will provide administration for the board.
Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council
Applications have also closed for the Peer Assessment Panel which will assess the nominations for the Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council (WAAAC) and for the WAAAC itself.
The Peer Assessment Panel will make membership recommendations to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, and Dr Hames will announce the members of the WAAAC in time for its first meeting in early March.
The level of interest in the WAAAC has been very strong, and shows there is no lack of enthusiasm for this important initiative.
Regards
Patrick Walker
New board, new approach
The new nine-member Indigenous Implementation Board, to be chaired by Lieutenant General John Sanderson, includes the first Aboriginal person to head a Government department in Western Australia, a National Living Treasure, a Wadandi Bibbulmun Elder and a national radio broadcaster.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Dr Kim Hames announced the formation of the board to improve social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, enhance indigenous involvement in local decision-making and strengthen corporate and non-government contribution to Indigenous affairs.
“The members of the board are well-placed to advise on Indigenous disadvantage and will report directly to me, with the Department of Indigenous Affairs providing high level executive support,” Dr Hames said.
“The terms of membership are staggered to ensure strong continuity. The board is not a representative body; rather members are chosen based on their expertise and influence.
Lt Gen Sanderson said it was necessary to explore new options to ensure positive outcomes from within indigenous communities themselves.
“This is about a fundamental shift in the policy framework for engaging with Aboriginal people,” Lt Gen Sanderson said.
The full board (click here for details on the members) is expected to meet in early February.
Winner announced for final category of the WA Indigenous Art Awards
Western Australian artist Shane Pickett has won the People’s Choice Award in the inaugural Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards 2008.
Mr Pickett’s paintings, which depict the six Noongar seasons, garnered the most votes from people visiting the gallery and its website. They were created especially for this exhibition.
The 2009 WA Indigenous Art Awards nominations close on February 25 and the awards exhibition opens at the Art Gallery of Western Australia on July 25
More information on the awards is available here.
Patrol recognised for community achievement
The Numbud Patrol and Truancy patrol in Derby has been awarded an Australia Day Active Citizenship Award.
Manager Greg Spinks accepted the award on behalf of the patrol at a breakfast put on by the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley in Derby on Australia Day.
“The first I heard about it, a friend said congratulations to me in the carpark at the supermarket,” Mr Spinks said.
“I didn’t know what she was talking about, so I thought I’d better go and find out”
With his shopping still in the car, Mr Spinks went to the breakfast, where the award was presented to him.
Nominations for Active Citizenship Awards are made anonymously to the Australia Day Council.
Patient assistance scheme increase
People living in rural and remote Western Australia who need to travel for medical treatment will find it easier this year.
From the beginning of January, the scheme’s fuel subsidy has been raised to 16 cents per kilometre, and the accommodation subsidy to $60 a night for an patient travelling alone, $75 a night for a patient travelling with an approved carer or escort, and $20 a night for a patient staying in private accommodation.
More changes to the scheme will come into effect on 1 February, covering the inclusion of Northam and York into the scheme, greater eligibility for cancer patients and the removal of the patient contribution requirement.
For more information, click here.
Redress call for members of Stolen Generations
Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney has urged members of Western Australia’s stolen generations who suffered in State care to consider applying to Redress WA before the deadline on 30 April.
Mrs McSweeney encouraged Indigenous Western Australians who believed they were eligible to contact Redress WA for more information.
The $114 million Redress WA initiative is open to any adult who was abused or neglected as a child in State care before March 1, 2006.
To read the full statement, click here.
PALS Ambassador supports immunisation push
Troy Cook, PALS Ambassador, retired Dockers star and new dad has thrown his support behind a new initiative to boost immunisation rates among Indigenous children in Western Australia.
"I've been involved in the development of a program to create a healthy and active lifestyle, encompassing all positive health messages including protecting children from serious infections,” Mr Cook said.
"Making sure that your children are vaccinated on time is an important activity for Aboriginal parents and Tamara and I came to the clinic as soon as Xavier was two months old."
Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Director Professor Paul Van Buynder said that while overall immunisation rates for WA children were high, only 75 per cent of Indigenous children are fully vaccinated at one year of age.
"Without immunisation Aboriginal children are much more vulnerable to infectious diseases which can then be spread to other family members.
"Immunisation remains one of the best ways to protect children from serious infectious diseases such as measles, whooping cough and meningococcal disease" said Professor Van Buynder.
For more information on immunisation, click here.
Indigenous WA student invited to Obama inauguration
Linden Brownley, UWA law student and Indigenous man from Coolgardie, braved the bitter cold in Washington last month to attend the inauguration of United States President Barack Obama.
Invited by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council in recognition of his leadership qualities, Mr Brownley said the event had him considering a career in politics.
“Obama's a pretty inspirational person, I guess, to a lot of people considering where he has come from. I guess that just goes to say that no matter where you come from or whatever your background, anything's possible,” Mr Brownley said.
“I believe that I have something to offer this country, Australia. I believe that as a young Aboriginal man, studying law and doing the things that I've been doing, I believe that I am a pretty good role model to others.”
To see the whole story, click here.
Funding opportunities
Walk this way
The Department of Sport and Recreation has funding available for the building of walking tracks. The grants’ purpose is to create a network of tracks throughout Western Australia for recreation, conservation, education and tourism and to present transport corridors for the future.
For more information, click here.
Community heritage grants
The Community Heritage Grants program provides funding of up to $15,000 for preservation projects and preservation and collection management training through community based workshops.
Community organisations such as historical societies, museums, public libraries, Indigenous and migrant community groups which collect and provide public access to their cultural heritage collections are eligible to apply.
For more information, click here.
Indigenous Heritage Program funding
The Indigenous Heritage Program supports the identification, conservation, and promotion (where appropriate) of Indigenous heritage.
Individual project funding for organisations will be available up to a $100,000 (GST inclusive), while individual applicants will generally be eligible for funding up to $5000. Applications for more than these amounts may be considered where the applicant demonstrates special circumstances or a genuine requirement for additional funds.
The IHP may also help identify places likely to have outstanding Indigenous heritage value to Australia suitable for inclusion on the National Heritage List.
For more information, click here.
Indigenous culture support
The Indigenous Culture Support program supports the maintenance and continued development of Indigenous culture at the community level, and Indigenous culture as a dynamic part of Australian culture and identity.
The program supports activities that:
• maintain Indigenous culture through community involvement;
• support new forms of Indigenous cultural expression;
• increase public awareness of Indigenous culture, including through the presentation and exchange of culture; and
• support the sustainable development of community organisations involved in cultural activities.
For more information, click here.
National arts and crafts industry support
The National Arts and Crafts Industry Support program provides direct funding support to Indigenous art centres and arts support and advocacy organisations. The program’s overall objectives are to assist art centres to become stronger and to build a more sustainable Indigenous visual arts industry.
To achieve these objectives, program funding assists organisations to:
• strengthen governance and business management practices in the industry;
• provide opportunities for artists to maintain, develop and extend their professional art practice; and
• provide opportunities for arts workers to develop professional skills and experience.
For more information, click here.
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