A preview of 2007: Happy New Year to all of you! This year will mark two important celebrations. There is the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC that has been marked with the theme: 50 years: Looking Forward, Looking Blak. National NAIDOC Week Chairperson, Aden Ridgeway says: "The 50th anniversary for NAIDOC is a time for us to reflect on how far we have come as Indigenous Australians and the significant contribution we have made to shape this nation." 2007 also marks a significant milestone with the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.
The PALS project will kick off again in the New Year. It will be officially launched on Australia Day, during the inaugural Biruk Yeedee Mooditj dreaming festival, held at the Supreme Court Gardens in Perth from 1pm.

Recognition of Service: Frank Martin has received a 'Goldfields first' Anglicare WA NAICOC Week recognition of contribution award recently. The Goldfield Regional Officer was presented the award during a surprise morning tea in his honour. Jules Whiteway from Anglicare, Kalgoorlie outlined that Frank's dedication and service to Aboriginal families and the community had earned him the award. Frank was recommended by a number of community members, one of them a young guy who said: "he felt comfortable talking to Frank because he really listened, plus he also played really deadly music!" Congratulations to Frank for this achievement.

Why not study locally?: Have you ever thought about studying locally? The City of Armadale is actively trying to recruit local people to take up an opportunity to study through Curtin University, which has an Armadale Campus. Out of Swan TAFE's Campus in Armadale, Curtin offers tertiary courses in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Arts (Pathway to Social Work) as well as a UniReady Course. For more information Contact Megan Ellis on 1300 730 897 or email cre@curtin.edu.au for course information.

Noongar Art in Defence Publication: Nevill Williams, a Noongar artist from Kulin, has created the image artwork for the Departement of Defence internal newsletter 'CIObis'. The design incorporates an ibis and was created using pyrography, a technique where the design is produced on wood using heated tools. The DIA's Southern Regional Office has supported the artist during the process and according to Robert Reynolds the Department of Defence was very pleased with the results. "The original artwork has been framed and now hangs in the unit's headquarters in Canberra," Robert says.

Death Notice:

Lois Tilbrook, lecturer at Edith Cowan University and author of the well-received book 'Nyungar Traditions' has passed the way recently. Lois also co-authored two volumes in the Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians series - Volume VII Aborigines of New Norcia 1845-1914 (with Neville Green) and Volume VIII Aborigines of the Southwest Region 1829-1840 (with Sylvia Hallam), books that are still used considerably by the DIA's Aboriginal History Research Unit. Lois was a dedicated worker for Aboriginal rights she will be remembered with affection by many in the Nyungar community.

Positions Advertised:

Information Analyst, Level 5, POL018

Until 8 August 2007, with the possibility of extension. 
Applications close Monday 8 January 2007, 5:00pm

Principal Policy Officer, Level 7, POL003

Until 30 June 2007, with the possibility of extension. 
Applications close Monday 8 January 2007, 5:00pm

HR in Focus: If you are interested in developing your leadership skills, refer to Training and Development