Chair of Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee Appointed: Mr Ken Ninyette has been appointed as chairperson of the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC). The ACMC is a specialist heritage advisory body to the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, established under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. The committee provides advice to the Minister on all Indigenous heritage matters across the State. Mr Ninyette has served as an ACMC board member for the past 18 months and one of his first undertakings as the new chairperson will be to hold a regional meeting of the ACMC in Kalgoorlie on Wedneday 3 October 2007, which will include information sessions for the community and industry. Indigenous Affairs Minister Michelle Roberts said Mr Ninyette has a wealth of experience in Indigenous heritage matters, both at a professional and personal level, making him a significant asset to the ACMC. Click here for full media statement.

Stop Violence Against Women March: The Edmund Rice Centre for Social Justice, Maamba Aboriginal Corporation, Amnesty International Australia and Aboriginal Legal Services invites you to join a march in Midland to raise awareness and to make the clear statement - 'Stop Violence against Women and Children." The march is scheduled for Saturday 13 October 2007 from 11am onwards. Interested participants are asked to meet and gather at the carpark of Centrepoint Shopping Centre in Midland (opposite the bus and train station). This march is the second in a series of six planned across the Perth metro area. For more information please contact Tracy Pollett on 9432 2405.

Have Your Say on Stolen Wages: The Government of Western Australia has approved a Task Force to examine and prepare advice on future stoles wages policy options. The term 'stolen wages' refers to wages, savings, entitlements and other monies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that may have been controlled between 1905 and 1972. 'Have Your Say' between 1 October - 30 November 2007. Click here to access public information forms and fact sheets.

Archivist Training Scholarships Available: The Loris Williams Scholarships are offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who wish to train for careers in archives and records management. In 2008, two scholarships to the value of $3000 will be available and can be used to pay fees, books and computing costs associated with the archive studies. The scholarships have been initiated by the Indigenous Issues Special Interest Group (IISIG) of the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) and named after late the Loris Williams. Ms Williams was a passionate advocate of the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to use archives and records in public and private collections. Applications for the scholarships closes on 31 October 2007. For more information and for a copy of the application form visit the ASA website here.

Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival: Australia's leading Indigenous film festival, Message Sticks, will be previewed in Perth at Cinema Paradiso on 6-7 October 2007. Curated by producer Darren Dale and award winning director Rachel Perkins, the Message Sticks Film Festival (which was launched at the Sydney Opera House in May 2007) features 13 short films by emerging Indigenous Australian directors. Message Stciks Indigenous Film Festival is presented by the Australian Film Commission's Black Screen in association with the Sydney Opera House and Indigenous Screen Australia. Entries to all the screenings are free but seating is limited so it is advised that you arrive early. Click here for more information.

Alice Springs' Launch of Aboriginal Health reports: Two new critical research reports on Aboriginal Health was released in Alice Springs on Wednesday 26 September 2007. The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) released a major new book on the social determinants of Aboriginal health and the most recent overview of the health of Indigenous people within and between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. The reports were launched by CRCAH Chairperson, Pat Anderson, who is also the author of the report "Little Children are Sacred." For more information about the report, please visit the CRCAH website here.

Medical leaders commit to stronger workforce in Indigenous Health: A major conference aimed at producing better trained doctors in Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander health and rapidly increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical professionals was held in Sydney this week. The conference is the second Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Connection (LIME), and was co-auspiced by the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA), and the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand (Medical Deans). The conference was attended by leaders in academia, education, medicine, policy and Indigenous health from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA, who all renewed their commitment to collaboration to achieve the above mentioned joint goals. Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, commended the collaboration which he said needs to happen more broadly in Australia. That is, Indigenous organisations and people engaged in mutually respectful relationships with other leaders in their fields. For more information, please visit the Medical Deans website here.

Sport and Education the basis for Reconciliation Cup: The Reconciliation Cup was launched in Perth last month with a succesful celebration day held on 18 September 2007. Four high schools were involved in this pilot project which links sport, school attendance and behaviour to assist Indigenous children's transition to high school. Reconciliation Cup is a project of the Departments of Sports and Recreation and Education and is planned to be a state-wide initiative in future years. For more information contact the Department of Sports and Recreation on 9492 9711.

Examining the supply of alcohol to underage young people: The Injury Control Council of Western Australia (ICCWA) together with the WA Community Alcohol Network (WACAN) will present a panel discussion to examine the ways in which alcohol in being supplied to underage young people. The discussion is scheduled for Monday 15 October 2007 from 10am - 12noon at the Alexander Library Theatre. The panel will be chaired by Professor Mike Daube and feature representatives from the Drug and Alcohol Office, WA Police, Office of Crime and Prevention, National Drug Research Institute and the Parent Drug Information Service. Numbers are limited so please RSVP to Sally Baker on 9420 7212 or via email.

Auditions for an Indigenous feature film: Open auditions and castings are being held in Perth in the next two weeks for roles in a new Indigenous feature film titled "To Hell & Bourke." Media World Pictures, the makers of the highly succesful SBS mini series "The Circuit" are about to shoot Australia's first ever Indigenous comedy road movie in and around Perth during November and December. "To Hell & Bourke" is written and will be directed by Indigenous writer/director Richard Frankland. If you are interested in auditoning or for more information please phone Kate at Annie-Murtagh-Monks Casting on 9384 4604 or via email.

David Wirrpanda Foundation Dinner: The David Wirrpanda Foundation will be hosting a fundraising dinner at Fraser's Restaurant in King's Park on Monday 12 November 2007, to raise funds for the foundation's work with Indigenous children and youth. The evening will include fine food with chef Chris Taylor as he presents a unique culinary experience using ingredients from the North West region of WA. For more information or to book a table please contact the foundation on 9381 5990.

Criminal Property Confiscation Grants: More than $2 million in money as assets seized from criminals is set to go back to the community with the latest round of 'Robin Hood' grants now up for grabs. Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General John Hyde is officially calling for not for profit community groups and local governments to apply for the $2.2 million, which will be available in the fifth round of the Criminal Property Confiscation Act. "The Act was set up to direct money and other assets obtained illegally by criminals back into the community in the form of grants. That is why they are often called 'Robin Hood' grants," Mr Hyde commented. The funds from the grants must be used for programs which reduce drug abuse or drug related crime, support victims of crime, or for community safety and crime prevention purposes. The maximum amount that can be awarded per application is $100,000. For application forms and guidelines visit the Attorney General's website here . Applications close 19 October 2007.

Japingka Gallery exhibits Indigenous Fine Art works: Japingka Gallery in Fremantle is currrently exhibiting two shows titled The Stockman and the Medicine Man, featuring artworks and paintings by Ngarinyin elder and former head stockman Jack Dale and Pitjantjatjara elder and traditional healer, Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri. In part 1 of the exhibition, Jack Dale paints the Wandjina spirits from his country around Iminji in the West Kimberley. The Wandjinas are the creators of Wungud places and life. This remarkable series of paintings includes images of the Dreamings that underpin the re-creation beliefs in Ngarinyin culture. Part 2 of the exhibition reflects the work of Tjapaltjarri. His dynamic canvases record traditional rockhole sites near Pirupa, Ayers Rock, and the track of country he later travelled through to Areyonga and Haasts Bluff. Both shows run until 5 October 2007. For more information visit the website here.

Injuries in the Prison System Forum: The Injury Control Council of Western Australia (ICCWA) presents a free lunchtime forum on "Injuries in the Prison System," presented by Associate Professor Tony Butler from the National Drug Research Institute. This presentation will discuss the injury surveillance project and its findings. The lunchtime forum is on Thursday 4 October 2007 from 12.30pm onwards at the City West Lotteries House. A light lunch will be provided and RSVP is essential. Call 6420 7212 or email here to register your attendance.

Safe Work Australia Week: Safe Work Australia Week is a national week to focus attention on workplace safety issues around Australia. It aims to encourage all working Australians to get involved in, and concentrate on, safety in their workplace to reduce death, injury and disease. This year, Safe Work Australia will be held from 21 to 27 October. You can get involved by participating in a safety event in your state or territory or by conducting a safety activity in your own workplace. Vist the website here for more information, to get ideas for safety activities, download the employer kit or order free promotional products for your workplace.

Contemporary Music Grants Program: WA bands or artists with three or more members can now apply for up to $10,000 through the Department of Culture and the Arts Contemporary Music Grants. Now in its fourth year, the Contemporary Music Grants Program continues to contribute to the growth of a vibrant, diverse and profitable contemporary music industry. The program will provide $850,000 per year over the next four years. The program considers applications in the categories of commercial development, touring, mentoring and skills development, production and quick response. For a copy of the 2007/2008 handbook and application form, visit the website here or for more information contact Renee Zaffino on 9224 7318.

Positions Vacant at DIA: There are a number of vacancies at the Department. To view the position details, please visit the employment section of the DIA website here.