WGAR News: The Federal Government is not listening while people die: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer

Newsletter date: 10 June 2013

Contents:

* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Suicide attempts among women on the rise
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: The Federal Government is not listening while people die

* SNAICC News: Governments must commit to survival of Aboriginal children and family centres

* CAAMA: Big Bro's Shed... [health and well-being]

* Jeremy Geia, NITV News: Calls to scrap cigarette 'skins' displaying Indigenous flag

* Pro Bono News: Film Recognises Depression in Urban Indigenous Communities

* NACCHO News: Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses appoints Janine Milera new CEO

* NIRS: Peak bodies tell NT Gov't: Alcohol a health issue [not a criminal issue]

* Larissa Nicholson, Canberra Times: Cold outside for ACT's indigenous [homelessness]

* The Wire: Funding indigenous media

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG WOMEN ON THE RISE

- News

The Stringer: Suicide attempts among women on the rise
http://thestringer.com.au/suicide-attempts-among-women-on-the-rise-2/
31 May 13: "Suicide among Aboriginal peoples is disproportionately higher when compared to non-Aboriginal peoples. Western Australia and the Northern Territory have the most horrific suicide rates. Recently, following outcries of the high Aboriginal youth suicide rates, Western Australia is once again found to be lagging in the face of this crisis. There is a rising rate of suicide rates among Aboriginal women and girls. Suicide rates are higher among men but according to the Black Dog Institute there are more attempted suicides among women." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT LISTENING WHILE PEOPLE DIE

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: The Federal Government is not listening while people die
http://thestringer.com.au/the-federal-government-is-not-listening-while-...
31 May 13: "Aboriginal suicide rates are at record levels, with Aboriginal youth suicide the world’s worst. In response the Federal Government has launched a national strategy to 'address' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide - but the strategy is inadequate. The Government strategy is built on the presumption of early intervention ... But to reduce the horrific suicide rates among Aboriginal communities what is actually needed is for the impoverishment of many of these communities to be addressed." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

See:

WGAR News: Suicide prevention strategy targets ATSI communities: Australian Human Rights Commission (1 Jun 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/31/wgar-news-suicide-prevention-strategy...

- Related Audio

National Indigenous Radio Service: Community approach to suicide prevention
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29352/Community-approach-to-sui...
6 Jun 13: "A key figure behind the new National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy says it’ll aim to cut the rate which is about double the non-Indigenous number and increasing. ... Bardi woman Pat Dudgeon, from the University of Western Australia, says a major focus is to support community-based approaches."

* SNAICC NEWS: GOVERNMENTS MUST COMMIT TO SURVIVAL OF ABORIGINAL CHILDREN AND FAMILY CENTRES

- Media Release

SNAICC News: Media Release 8 June 2013 - governments must commit to survival of Aboriginal children and family centres
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1095
8 Jun 13: "Representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and family centres across Australia have called on the Australian and state-territory governments to urgently confirm funding for the centres beyond June 2014 and ensure their long-term future.
Representatives from 22 centres met at the SNAICC national conference in Cairns this week and urged governments to act quickly or risk the closure of centres and the withdrawal of crucial support services for vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait families, for whom the centres were designed.
38 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and family centres have been established under a $300m national partnership agreement between the Australian and state-territory governments.
This funding ends in June 2014 and centres have been advised to prepare for funding through the mainstream child care benefit system."

- Past 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-...

* CAAMA: BIG BRO'S SHED...

- Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Big Bro's Shed...
http://caama.com.au/big-bros-shed
4 Jun 13: "The issues surrounding health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an on-going story. Tangentyere Council has launched a new program, big brother’s shed. Jonothan Hermawan spoke to CAAMA Radio about the program."

* JEREMY GEIA, NITV NEWS: CALLS TO SCRAP CIGARETTE 'SKINS' DISPLAYING INDIGENOUS FLAG

- Video

SBS World News: Calls to scrap cigarette 'skins' displaying Indigenous flag
Source: Jeremy Geia, NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1773166/Calls-to-scrap-cigarette-skin...
31 May 13: "A small container that conceals government warnings on cigarette packets is stirring up a storm with health representatives. The cigarette packet covers are known as 'skins', and one design in particular has an Aboriginal flag on it. The nation's top Health advocates are calling for the federal government to make it illegal to sell it."

* PRO BONO NEWS: FILM RECOGNISES DEPRESSION IN URBAN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

- News

Pro Bono News: Film Recognises Depression in Urban Indigenous Communities
http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/06/film-recognises-depressi...
3 Jun 13: "Beyondblue collaborated with The Aboriginal Medical Service of Western Sydney and producers, isee-ilearn, to develop the script and produce the film Story for Keeping Strong, which was launched in Western Sydney. Beyondblue CEO Kate Carnell AO said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who lived with psychological stress, especially depression and anxiety, may not recognise it or talk to family, friends or a health professional about their symptoms."

* NACCHO NEWS: CONGRESS OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NURSES APPOINTS JANINE MILERA NEW CEO

- News

NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts:
NACCHO News: Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses appoints Janine Milera new CEO
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/06/05/naccho-newscongress-of-aboriginal...
5 Jun 13: "NACCHO recently announced that the Manager of Projects Janine Milera (pictured above) will be leaving NACCHO after 6 years dedicated service to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health. Speaking about her time at NACCHO Ms Milera said "I’m so proud to have worked for NACCHO for the past 6 years - it is the living embodiment of our people, strong and resilient and ours - hence I will always be protective of it and like my mum taught me I’ll never forget where I came from. ... " ... Ms Anne Maree Maher, the President of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN), at the same time announced the appointment of Ms Janine Milera as the new Chief Executive Officer of CATSIN."

* NIRS: PEAK BODIES TELL NT GOV'T: ALCOHOL A HEALTH ISSUE

- Audio

National Indigenous Radio Service: Peak bodies tell NT Gov't: Alcohol a health issue
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29360/Peak-bodies-tell-NT-Gov%2...
6 Jun 13: "A coalition of peak Aboriginal bodies in the Northern Territory has prepared its submission to the NT Government on its mandatory alcohol treatment policy. The paper provides evidence showing issues in alcohol management are a health concern and argues the Government will criminalise people with drinking problems by sending them off to mandatory treatment."

See:

WGAR News: CAAMA interview with AMSANT CEO John Paterson: Jail not the answer [Alcohol Mandatory treatment Bill] (31 May 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/30/wgar-news-caama-interview-with-amsant...

* LARISSA NICHOLSON, CANBERRA TIMES: COLD OUTSIDE FOR ACT'S INDIGENOUS

- News

Canberra Times: Cold outside for ACT's indigenous
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cold-outside-for-acts-indigenou...
6 Jun 13: "Real estate agents and landlords are discriminating against Aboriginal people in Canberra and contributing to one of the highest rates of indigenous homelessness in the country, say welfare and tenants' groups. Homelessness Australia chief Nicole Lawder said the ACT had the second highest rate of indigenous homelessness in Australia, after the Northern Territory. Speaking before the St Vincent de Paul Society's forum on homelessness to be held in Canberra on Thursday, Ms Lawder said more than 14 per cent of homeless people in Canberra were Aboriginal, ... " Larissa Nicholson, Journalist at The Canberra Times

- Related Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-7-06.mp3
7 Jun 13: "Alleged discrimination by Real Estate agents and landlords in Canberra is contributing to one of the highest rates of Aborignial and Islander homelessness in the country...according to local welfare and tenants’ groups."

National Indigenous Radio Service: COAG figures report jump in overall homelessness
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29361/COAG-figures-report-jump-...
6 Jun 13: "By ABC: The COAG Reform Council says governments have to look at how to reduce the number of Australians living without a safe and secure house of their own. The Council’s latest report shows there was a six per cent drop in the number of rough sleepers between 2006 and 2011. But overall homelessness rose by 17 per cent."

* THE WIRE: FUNDING INDIGENOUS MEDIA

- Audio Interview

The Wire: Funding indigenous media
Produced by Graham Backhaus
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10425
31 May 13: "The chairperson of the Australian Indigenous Communication Association, Mr Tiga Bayles criticised the recent Federal Budget for failing to allocate additional funds to indigenous media, despite managing to find an additional thirty million dollars for the ABC. He said the the potential for the growth of indigenous media was not being met. If the recent Budget is any indication, the Federal Government would appear to be indifferent to the potential of indigenous community media. With no additional funding, it will be a struggle for indigenous media to extend into more remote communities ...
Featured in story:
Mr Brett Leavy - Manager National Indigenous Radio Service"

- - -

About WGAR News:

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...

Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.

'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:

* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.

'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources.
These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.

The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces, news items, audio, videos and events.

Subscribers can expect to receive about 6 e-newsletters each week.

To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.

To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.

Sample WGAR News e-newsletters:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-sample-wgar-news-e-ne...

- - -

WGAR events postings:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings

WGAR background info web-pages:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-background-info-...

- - -

You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which provides a point of contact and includes occasional activities and events.

To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/