Newsletter date: 4 June 2013
Contents:
* NACCHO health news: Healing the Fault Lines: uniting politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs for improved outcomes in Aboriginal Health
[Speech of prominent Aboriginal Territorian Olga Havnen]
* Debra Jopson, Global Mail: You Call That Racism?
[Northern Territory Aboriginal activist Olga Havnen]
* Triple R - Melbourne Independent Radio: Audio: Kulja and Donna talk to Chips Mackinolty about the Northern Territory Intervention
* Nine News: Let us take charge, indigenous NGOs say
* Alison Anderson, NT Minister for Regional Development: Stronger Futures Agreed
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* SNAICC News: Child protection issues a major focus at SNAICC National Conference
* SNAICC News: Visiting United Nations official Ms Marta Mauras Perez, calls for urgent attention
* SNAICC News: Funding of early childhood education and care services a critical issue at SNAICC Conference
* Other articles
* NACCHO HEALTH NEWS: HEALING THE FAULT LINES: UNITING POLITICIANS, BUREAUCRATS AND NGOS FOR IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN ABORIGINAL HEALTH
- Analysis / Opinion
NACCHO health news: Healing the Fault Lines: uniting politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs for improved outcomes in Aboriginal Health
[National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/05/29/naccho-health-newshealing-the-fau...
29 May 13: "Prominent Aboriginal Territorian and the current CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service Olga Havnen argues that the "fault lines" between politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector must unite to make a real difference. ... However, while we have been making some advances in the Northern Territory, we face the potential for a "race to the bottom" in Aboriginal health where the interests of politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs potentially outweigh the evidence of Aboriginal community control."
- Related News
Australian: Risk intolerance killing local services in indigenous communties
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/risk-intoler...
29 May 13: "REMOTE indigenous communities are suffering from a government culture of "risk intolerance" which has diverted funding from community-led organisations, a leading Aboriginal figure has said. Olga Havnen, the Northern Territory's former co-ordinator general for remote services, last night attacked successive governments for choosing large non-government organisations for service delivery ahead of smaller indigenous-led organisations." Sarah Martin
* DEBRA JOPSON, GLOBAL MAIL: YOU CALL THAT RACISM?
- Analysis / Opinion
Global Mail: You Call That Racism?
http://www.theglobalmail.org/blog/you-call-that-racism/627/
"But who is going to apologise for Australia’s covert racism? That’s the racism that Northern Territory Aboriginal activist Olga Havnen described in her Lowitja O’Donoghue oration on Tuesday night in Adelaide. ... Havnen was showing us what covert racism looks like. She spoke of how misguided politicians and public servants have used the Ginger Bread Men, ... to wrest control from indigenous organisations in the Northern Territory." By Debra Jopson
* TRIPLE R - MELBOURNE INDEPENDENT RADIO: AUDIO: KULJA AND DONNA TALK TO CHIPS MACKINOLTY ABOUT THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION
- Audio Interview
Triple R - Melbourne Independent Radio: Audio: Kulja and Donna talk to Chips Mackinolty about the Northern Territory Intervention
http://www.rrr.org.au/whats-going-on/news/audio-kulja-and-donna-talk-to-...
28 May 13: "Audio: On Grapevine, Kulja and Donna talk to Chips Mackinolty about the 2007 Northern Territory Intervention, and the exhibition at the Counihan Gallery 'Ghost Citizens: Witnessing the Intervention'. Mackinolty describes his personal reaction to government policy, and the lasting effects that the Intervention has had upon people living in the Territory."
- Current Event
Event: 17 May to 16 June 2013: Brunswick, Melbourne, Vic
Exhibition: Ghost Citizens: Witnessing the Intervention
Opening Thu 16 May 2013
Counihan Gallery In Brunswick: http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/arts-and-festivals/counihan-gallery.html
"Ghost Citizens: Witnessing the Intervention is about the
removal of citizen rights by the Federal government’s 'intervention',
(2007 - 2012) in the Northern Territory, seen through the
practices of Aboriginal and non-Indigenous artists."
"Using a range of media, the artists look at the return
to protectionist policy and the diminishing of an
Indigenous participatory voice: the loss of citizenship
rights, of the right to homelands and self-determination."
"Alison Alder, Bindi Cole, Fiona Foley, Dan Jones,
Vernon Ah Kee, Sally M. Mulda, Chips Mackinolty,
Fiona MacDonald, Amy Napurulla, Brendan Penzer,
Therese Ritchie, Deborah Vaughan, Jason Wing"
Curated by Jo Holder & Djon Mundine OAM
Event details: http://www.crossart.com.au/index.php/witnessing-the-intervention-couniha...
Event details: [scroll down page] http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/arts-and-festivals/counihan-gallery/exhib...
Video: http://vimeo.com/44793237
Analysis: https://melbourneartcritic.wordpress.com/tag/nt-intervention/
WGAR Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* NINE NEWS: LET US TAKE CHARGE INDIGENOUS NGOS SAY
- News
Nine News: Let us take charge, indigenous NGOs say
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/30/19/59/let-us-take-charge-...
30 May 13: "Indigenous people want to take charge of development programs in the Northern Territory, because they know how to work with their own people. Non-indigenous groups have a tendency to rush in to "rescue" Aboriginal people, but know very little about their ways of working, a conference in Darwin has been told. Frank Hytten, CEO of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, said there was a problem with working cross-culturally in Australia."
* ALISON ANDERSON, NT MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: STRONGER FUTURES AGREED
- News Media
Alison Anderson, Minister for Regional Development: Stronger Futures Agreed
http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewRelease&id=10914&d=5
31 May 13: "Today the Northern Territory Government put pen-to-paper and signed off on the last of the nine Implementation Plans for the Stronger Futures National Partnership Agreement with the Federal Government. This agreement will ensure that $3.5 billion in Commonwealth funding will flow through to the Territory over 10 years. Minister for Regional Development, Alison Anderson, said this is great news for the Territory and will ensure the continuation of many important programs and works that were announced in Budget 2013. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 23 May 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 23 May 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* SNAICC NEWS: CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES A MAJOR FOCUS AT SNAICC NATIONAL CONFERENCE
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release 30 May 2013 - Child protection issues a major focus at SNAICC National Conference
[Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1088
30 May 13: "How do we reduce the dramatically high and increasing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-home-home care in Australia?
And how do we ensure that the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-home-care to remain connected to their family, their community and their culture is respected?
The complex issues around these questions will be a major focus of discussions at SNAICC’s Fifth National Conference in Cairns from 4 to 6 June.
According to the latest figures, more than one third of the 39,600 children in out-of-home care are Aboriginal and-or Torres Strait Islander - although they comprise only 4.6 per cent of the national child population - and they are eight times more likely to be the subject of substantiated child abuse and neglect.
"It is a totally unacceptable situation - far too many of our children are being separated from their family at a great human cost to those children and families," SNAICC Chairperson Sharron Williams said.
"Clearly we need to find different solutions. There must be a greater focus on early intervention and prevention, and on boosting healing and family support services.
"We need to remove the harm and not the children.""
- Current Event
Event: 4 to 6 June 2013: Cairns, Qld
SNAICC’s Fifth National Conference
For Our Children: Living and Learning Together
Organised by SNAICC:
Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
Keynote Speakers:
* Marta Maurás Perez (Chile)
* Cindy Blackstock (Canada)
* Assoc. Prof. Cynthia Kiro (New Zealand) - of Maori descent
* Prof. Judy Atkinson - a Jiman and Bundjalung woman
* Kathy Guthadjaka (Gotha) - a Gatjirrk Warramiri woman
living at Gawa (north-east Arnhem Land)
"The SNAICC National Conference is the largest
conference of its type in the southern hemisphere
and provides the opportunity for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander organisations, policy makers,
researchers, government representatives, other
non-government organisations and industry
representatives to gather and make renewed
commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children."
Keynote Speakers: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=931
Event details: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/dsp-default.cfm?loadref=67
Event details: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=965
SNAICC News: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1088
SNAICC News: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1087
SNAICC News: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1053
SNAICC News: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1044
SNAICC News: http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1032
NIRS News: http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29184/Peak-child-care-group-to-...
* SNAICC NEWS: VISITING UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL MS MARTA MAURAS PEREZ, CALLS FOR URGENT ATTENTION
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release 31 May 2013 - Visiting United Nations official Ms Marta Mauras Perez, calls for urgent attention
[Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1089
31 May 13: "The recently retired Vice President of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ms Marta Mauras Perez, has called on the Australian Government to urgently improve its efforts to redress persistent discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Ms Mauras Perez, who is visiting Australia next week and speaking on behalf of the UN committee, said this discrimination was particularly evident in Indigenous children’s lack of access to basic services, and their very high numbers in the juvenile justice system and out-of-home care.
“Collective effort is needed to ensure that all children have the same opportunities for a healthy and fulfilling life. Evidence before the Committee in mid 2012 showed that this is still not the case for Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,” Ms Mauras Perez said. ... "
* SNAICC NEWS: FUNDING OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES A CRITICAL ISSUE AT SNAICC CONFERENCE
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release 27 May 2013 - Funding of early childhood education and care services a critical issue at SNAICC Conference
[Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1087
29 May 13: "The long-term funding and sustainability of vital Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander integrated early childhood and family support services will be a major issue for discussion at SNAICC’s Fifth National Conference in Cairns from 4 to 6 June.
SNAICC Deputy Chairperson (Early Childhood), Geraldine Atkinson, said the uncertainty about the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services was reaching a crisis point.
"Our services are central in efforts to give our children a strong start and to close the gap on intergenerational disadvantage," Ms Atkinson said.
"However, despite their proven worth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood and family support services have been underfunded for years and face an uncertain long-term future."
The Australian Government is currently reviewing the Budget Based Funding Program, which funds 269 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood services nationally, ...
"These centres have been providing culturally strong, strengths based services to our communities most in need for decades. Many of the services will be featured at the conference for the amazing work they do for our children," Ms Atkinson said."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Video
ABC iview: Head First - Episode 5 The Lost Boys
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/program/39316
29 May 13: "Sabour heads to Arnhem Land to live under the rules of the Intervention but ends up discovering a generation of lost boys."
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