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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - December 2008
In this edition of Tarwangin read about the Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council, Award winners, Indigenous graduates from the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training and more.
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Happy Christmas!
I take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
It’s been a year of great change in the department, and I thank everyone who works with us for their patience and understanding while we have been working through what these changes will mean.
I very much look forward to working with you in what promises to be an exciting and challenging new year, as we focus on our core business of improving the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Western Australians.
Patrick Walker.
Council gives community direct line to Minister
Indigenous Affairs Minister Dr Kim Hames is calling for nominations for the new Western Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council (WAAAC).
“We are looking for Indigenous Western Australians who have the passion and experience to advise the State Government on indigenous policy direction and cultural matters to make a positive difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people” Dr Hames said.
“There will be up to 12 members, including at least two young people, who will advise the State Government on the interests and wellbeing of indigenous Western Australians.
“Their role will be to provide independent and strategic leadership, guidance and advice to the State Government on indigenous aspirations and priority issues and to advise on performance targets against these.
This council will also enable members of the community to bring attention to matters of importance to them, and will be a direct pathway for information from the Minister to the community.
WAAAC will be chosen by a panel of peers, nominations for which are also being called. “The Peer Assessment Panel plays a vital role in choosing the members of WAAAC,” Dr Hames said.
People who would like to be on the Peer Assessment Panel or WAAAC can email waaac@dia.wa.gov.au or phone 9235 8000 for more information. Nominations for the Peer Assessment Panel close on January 16 and nominations for WAAAC close on January 23.
The council is expected to have its first meeting in early March 2009.
Award winners
Multicultural Community Service Awards.
Robert Isaacs OAM JP has been recognised in this year’s Multicultural Community Service Awards. He is an Elder of the Bibbulmun people, State Chairman of Reconciliation Australia and State Manager of the Aboriginal Home Ownership and Access Disability Loans Scheme and has devoted his career to promoting Reconciliation, helping Indigenous Western Australians to building better relationships with the justice system and advancing Aboriginal home ownership.
Terry ‘Koodah’ Cornwall has also been recognised in this year’s Multicultural Community Service Awards. He started work with the forerunner to the Department of Environment and Conservation in 1990 as one of only a few indigenous employees. His work in educating staff, volunteers and the community about indigenous culture, heritage and the Noongar language provides an Indigenous perspective on environmental management and the protection of Indigenous culture. A member of the Stolen Generations, he regularly visits prisons to talk to, share with and educate indigenous people. He aims to empower and encourage inmates to maximise the opportunities offered to them and enhance their self-esteem and pride in their Aboriginality. To read the full statement, click here.
Premier’s Education Awards
Lynley Juboy has been recognised as the Western Australian School Support Staff Member of the Year. Lynley is an Aboriginal and Islander Education Assistant at Looma Remote Community School, 1800km north-east of Perth. The judges said it was her commitment in putting the onus back on the community to be involved in the learning and wellbeing of students and her ability to effect change in the school that most impressed them. To read more about Lynley, click here.
Community Services Industry Award
The Royal Lifesaving Society has won the Strengthening Rural and Remote Communities Award for its Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools Project. The project involves working with remote communities to ensure community swimming pools are well managed, and provide a range of community development activities. To read the full statement, click here.
Scholarships for female board and committee members
Aboriginal Lands Trust board member Gail Beck has been awarded a scholarship to help her develop the skills needed to effectively participate in boards and committees. The scholarships are offered by the Office of Women’s Interests, and involve training with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. To read the full statement, click here.
Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Awards
This year’s Western Australian Indigenous Business of the Year is Nyaarla Projects. Started in 2004 by Madonna Beattie and entirely Indigenous-owned the business provides and manages training, employment and education programs; undertakes community consultation and public participation; and provides consulting services including reviews, feasibility and business plans, business facilitation and planning. To read more, click here.
Guardianship conference
Professionals working in all areas of guardianship, administration of the affairs of people living with a disability and justice are invited to take part in the Australian Guardianship and Administration Committee National Conference in Brisbane on 19-20 March 2009
Adults with impaired decision-making capacity are amont the most disadvantaged and marginalised Australian citizens: often they lead forgotten lives of social isolation and diminished opportunities and struggle for access to basic services.
This program provides an opportunity to consider how our legal frameworks and service-delivery systems have met the challenge to responding to these issues and how we might better achieve social inclusion for the adults we serve.
For more information, click here.
School bus funds
The State Government and the Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation have joined forces to help young children from Kununurra go to school every day.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls announced that Kununurra District High School would be granted $12,000 funding for its Early Years Bus Service.
The service collects young children in the Kununurra town area, taking them to and from school, to increase school attendance of Aboriginal children in Kindergarten, Pre-Primary and Year One.
To read the full statement, click here.
Boost for Mid-West projects
The Midwest Employment and Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation is one of 12 recipients of funding announced recently by Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls.
The 2008-09 Mid-West Regional Development Scheme is a State Government initiative to assist rural and regional communities to improve their employment, business and lifestyle facilities.
Commission chair Robyn Parsons said the Mid West Regional Development Scheme continued to be one of the most effective ways to help individual communities develop economically and socially.
To read the full statement, click here.
The saddest report
The fifth annual report of the Child Death Review Committee has shown the main causes of death involving children known to the Department for Child Protection included co-sleeping, drowning and motor vehicle accidents.
Of the 14 cases were reviewed by the committee, 12 involved the death of a child between 2005 and 2007 and two deaths occurred between 2007 and 2008.
Other factors included substance abuse, drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, social isolation, mental illness, homelessness and family violence.
A report into Aboriginal child death cases involving chronic neglect was also tabled, showing the majority of Aboriginal child deaths studied involved children under one and the main causes of death were again co-sleeping, drowning and motor vehicle accidents.
To read the full statement, click here.
Indigenous students strong in oil and gas
Among the first 75 graduates from Challenger TAFE’s Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training, are 22 Indigenous people.
These graduates, some of whom are already employed in the oil and gas industry, have completed Certificate I and II studies in Process and Plant Operation and Engineering.
The centre, opened in February, provides oil and gas training to school and community-based students, with specialist courses for Indigenous and female apprentices and trainees.
To read the full statement, click here.
Youth get Vibed
More than 1000 children and young people  from all over Western Australia made the Vibe Alive festival a huge success last month.
The Kalgoorlie-Boulder festival was the third Vibe Alive event in Australia and its only performance in WA.
At the opening ceremony, local elders Joyce Nudding and Dorothy Cooper gave a Welcome to Country.
Then local traditional Aboriginal dancers Ngadju performed for the kids.
The audience was treated to performances from Australian artists including ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ stars Courtney Walters and Sermsah Bin Saad, and Australian Idol Winner Casey Donovan.
The kids were kept busy all day. With dancing, singing, art competitions, foot races, basketball, career and health exhibitions. At the end of the day’s competition, the winners of the day performed on stage in front of a live/community audience. It gave kids an opportunity to discover and develop their talents, and to believe in themselves and adopt a “be game not shame” attitude.
More than 30 community volunteers gave their time over the two days to run the event.
Honour for Prof Hayward
Professor Colleen Hayward has been appointed Head of Kurongkurl Katitjin Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research for five years.
Prof Hayward, a local Aboriginal, brings strong and extensive experience in Community, Education, Research and Policy work.
An accomplished teacher, researcher and manager in community, education and government sectors, Prof Hayward is also the Manager of the Kulunga Research Network within the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.
Her extensive experience includes senior management roles with ATSIC in three states, and in the legal, health and education fields.
Barbecue for a cause
Tis the season for barbecues! This year, catching up with family and friends can also be a way of helping Western Australians who need a kidney transplant.
Kidney Health Australia has launched the Big Red Barbecue project, where raising money for its kids’ camps, information service and housing initiative can win you a brand new barbecue.
Grab your tongs and click here for more information.
Essential Services at Beagle Bay
Residents of Beagle Bay community celebrated the signing of the Beagle Bay Services Coordination Agreement on Friday 28 November 2008.
The co-operative agreement between the Commonwealth, State and Local Governments ensures residents of Beagle Bay receive good quality municipal and essential services.
Signing of the agreement was part of the Beagle Bay Four Point Action Plan which was formulated in consultation with Beagle Bay residents by the State and Commonwealth Governments to address community needs.
To read the full statement, click here.
Final trip back to country
Ancestral Noongar remains have been repatriated back to country as part of a partnership project between local Elders, the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) and the Western Australian Museum.
Skeletal remains were often removed by police and developers and stored at the Western Australian Museum until appropriate arrangements could be made for reburial.
Under this project, these remains have been reburied according to cultural mores.
To read the full statement, click here.
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