Newsletter date: 24 June 2013
Contents:
* CAAMA: UN wants more effort from Australia in Aboriginal child welfare
* NIRS: National push will aim to improve poor child protection outcomes
* Northern Territory (NT) Forced Aboriginal Adoption Media Coverage
* NACCHO political alert: Call for government cooperation as NACCHO outlines ten point plan for enhancing Closing the Gap efforts
* NACCHO launches new 2013-2030 Healthy Futures 10 point and AIHW report card
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens call for government cooperation as NACCHO outlines ten point plan for enhancing Closing the Gap efforts
* NIRS: NACCHO puts out 10-point plan
* NIRS: Resistance to bottom-up approach still exists: NACCHO
* CAAMA: What does growing old mean for Aboriginal people?
* Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Issues
* Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug issues
* CAAMA: UN WANTS MORE EFFORT FROM AUSTRALIA IN ABORIGINAL CHILD WELFARE
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: UN wants more effort from Australia in Aboriginal child welfare
http://caama.com.au/recommendations-from-recent-snaicc-conference
21 Jun 13: "A former member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Marta Mauras (pictured above) recently visited Australia as a guest of SNAICC, a national non-governmental peak body, representing the interest of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. At their annual conference in Cairns, Ms Mauras made recommendations that, Australia has to do more to understand the cultural sensitivity associated with removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and culture. Ms Mauras spoke to CAAMA about these recommendations."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-21-06.mp3
21 Jun 13: "An expert in Aboriginal and Islander child welfare and wellbeing, says that it is too simplistic to expect people who have been disempowered and are not self determining, to be able to come up and respond to issues of child abuse in the Northern Territory."
* NIRS: NATIONAL PUSH WILL AIM TO IMPROVE POOR CHILD PROTECTION OUTCOMES
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: National push will aim to improve poor child protection outcomes
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29428/National-push-will-aim-to...
21 Jun 13: "The peak national child care agency says it wants to see an Australia-wide push to get improving child protection systems onto the agenda of governments at state and Commonwealth levels. ... The Secretariat’s Chief Executive is Frank Hytten and he says delegates at their conference agree a national campaign is what’s needed."
* NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) FORCED ABORIGINAL ADOPTION MEDIA COVERAGE
- Campaign
Keeping Them Home Campaign
'concerned Australians': http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Respect and Listen: http://www.respectandlisten.org/
STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): [scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
- Compilations
Respect and Listen: Keeping Them Home: Media Coverage
[scroll down page] http://www.respectandlisten.org/
WGAR News: We have to stop the creation of another Stolen Generation: Paddy Gibson, The Guardian UK (13 Jun 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/12/wgar-news-we-have-to-stop-the-creatio...
WGAR News: "call for action to reduce high number of Aboriginal Children in out-of-home care" (9 Jun 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/08/wgar-news-call-for-action-to-reduce-h...
WGAR News: Do forced adoptions mean forced assimilation?: Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (5 Jun 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/04/wgar-news-do-forced-adoptions-mean-fo...
WGAR News: Keeping Them Home - Stop the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families (Sorry Day - 26 May 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/26/wgar-news-keeping-them-home-stop-the-...
WGAR News: Keeping them Home - What have we learnt from Bringing them Home?: ACM Sydney (23 May 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/22/wgar-news-keeping-them-home-what-have...
WGAR News: Indigenous adoption push prompts Stolen Generation fears: ABC Radio Australia Video (18 May 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/05/17/wgar-news-indigenous-adoption-push-pr...
- Related Media
WGAR News: Vince Chadwick, The Age: Nation risks a new stolen generation, leaders warn (20 Jun 13)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/wgar-news-sixth-anniversary-of-the-in...
WGAR News: CAAMA: Removing Aboriginal children from their families and culture (20 Jun 13)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/06/19/wgar-news-sixth-anniversary-of-the-in...
* NACCHO POLITICAL ALERT: CALL FOR GOVERNMENT COOPERATION AS NACCHO OUTLINES TEN POINT PLAN FOR ENHANCING CLOSING THE GAP EFFORTS
- News
NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts:
NACCHO political alert: Call for government cooperation as NACCHO outlines ten point plan for enhancing Closing the Gap efforts
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/06/20/naccho-political-alertcall-for-go...
20 Jun 13: "Over 150 NACCHO members, affiliates, stakeholders and Politicians were at Parliament House for the launch ... The Australian Greens have today welcomed the release of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation’s (NACCHO) ten point plan for enhancing the work being done to close the gap in health and life expectancy rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and called on the states and territories to urgently renew the National Partnership on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health. ...
DOWNLOAD the HEALTHY FUTURE 10 point plan HERE
DOWNLOAD the NACCHO AIHW Healthy for LIFE report June 2013 "
* NACCHO LAUNCHES NEW 2013-2030 HEALTHY FUTURES 10 POINT AND AIHW REPORT CARD
- News
NACCHO Aboriginal Health News Alerts:
NACCHO launches new 2013-2030 Healthy Futures 10 point and AIHW report card
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/06/19/naccho-launches-new-2013-2030-hea...
19 Jun 13: "Today NACCHO is proud to be launching the NACCHO plan and report for achieving a healthy future for Aboriginal people ...
The NACCHO HEALTHY FUTURES 10-point plan 2013-2030 provides our sector, stakeholders, partners and governments with a clear set of priorities and strategies that will result in improvements in Aboriginal health outcomes.
DOWNLOAD the HEALTHY FUTURE 10 point plan HERE ...
DOWNLOAD the NACCHO AIHW Healthy for LIFE report June 2013
LAUNCH speech by Justin Mohamed and press release below "
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: GREENS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT COOPERATION AS NACCHO OUTLINES TEN POINT PLAN FOR ENHANCING CLOSING THE GAP EFFORTS
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens call for government cooperation as NACCHO outlines ten point plan for enhancing Closing the Gap efforts
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-cal...
19 Jun 13: "The Australian Greens have today welcomed the release of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation's (NACCHO) ten point plan for enhancing the work being done to close the gap in health and life expectancy rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and called on the states and territories to urgently renew the National Partnership on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health.
"NACCHO's ten point plan integrates the Close the Gap Statement of Intent signed by state and territory governments across Australia in 2008. It demonstrates the vision of Aboriginal people to continue to work towards better health outcomes, but that vision is yet to be matched by all the state and territory Governments," Senator Rachel Siewert said today
"As the current Closing the Gap health partnership agreement will expire at the end of this month, it is now critical that governments follow through on their commitment to improving health and life expectancy rates of Aboriginal people.
"We know that community driven programs are the best way of delivering health programs, and this is emphasised by the fact that 70% of Closing the Gap health gains have come through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health services. ... " [Senator Siewert said.]"
* NIRS: NACCHO PUTS OUT 10-POINT PLAN
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: NACCHO puts out 10-point plan
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29403/NACCHO-puts-out-10-point-...
19 Jun 13: "By NIRS/ABC: A peak health body has put forward a ten-point plan for the community-controlled health sector. ... Mr. Mohamed says central to NACCHO’s plan is investment in community health services."
* NIRS: RESISTANCE TO BOTTOM-UP APPROACH STILL EXISTS: NACCHO
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Resistance to bottom-up approach still exists: NACCHO
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29408/Resistance-to-bottom-up-a...
20 Jun 13: "By NIRS/ABC: The head of the peak community health organisation, Justin Mohamed from NACCHO, says there is still some unwillingness in the sector to take a bottom-up approach to health. It comes as the national group released a 10-point plan for health, which includes calling for funding for the community controlled sector."
* CAAMA: WHAT DOES GROWING OLD MEAN FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE?
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: What does growing old mean for Aboriginal people?
http://caama.com.au/what-does-growing-old-mean-for-aboriginal-people
20 Jun 13: "What does growing old mean for Aboriginal people? Just one of the questions examined in the Koori Growing Old Well Study. The study spoke to over 600 Aboriginal people in five urban communities in NSW: La Perouse, Campbelltown, Kempsey, Nambucca, and Coffs Harbour. Professor Tony Broe spoke to CAAMA Radio about the study and in particular how life events affect healthy ageing for Aboriginal people."
* ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ISSUES
- Media Release
NACCHO press release: West Australia confirms funding to Close the Gap
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/06/20/naccho-press-releasewest-australi...
20 Jun 13: "The West Australian Government must be recognised for committing to the National Partnership Agreement as many states are yet to even do that despite it running out on June 30. It is also pleasing to see them commit to measures to improve Aboriginal mental health," .
The $31million announced by the West Australian Government to Close the Gap will assist Aboriginal health services and other stakeholders in the delivery of comprehensive primary health to maintain the delivery of services for a further twelve months with the hope that a further three years of funding be committed to in the new year.
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) Chair, Justin Mohamed, said Aboriginal health outcomes were too important to be put at risk and other states and territories also need to urgently commit to their fair share. ... "
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Diabetes rates not being reduced: Diabetes Australia
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29427/Diabetes-rates-not-being-...
21 Jun 13: "The head of Diabetes Australia has expressed his concern that the health gap isn’t being closed. It comes as a 10-point plan to continue the efforts to improve Indigenous health by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation was released this week."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Crossin calls for Stolen Generations compensation in final speech
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29414/Crossin-calls-for-Stolen-...
20 Jun 13: "Northern Territory Senator Trish Crossin has called for compensations for the Stolen Generations."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Long-term mental health a concern from racism
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29410/Long-term-mental-health-a...
20 Jun 13: "By NIRS/ABC: To Victoria, where the author of a recent study on responses to racism says people can suffer mental health problems if they are victims of racist attacks over long periods. ... Dr. Streker says it’s important to confront racism because it can be harmful to people."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Kidney disease solution lies in prevention: Expert
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29422/Kidney-disease-solution-l...
20 Jun 13: "In health news, a kidney expert says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney problems die younger on average than the non-Indigenous population who have the same type of diseases."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Suicide Prevention Advisory Group announced
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29404/Suicide-Prevention-Adviso...
19 Jun 13: "Close the Gap campaigners are welcoming the setting up of a Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, the first of its kind in Australia. Close the Gap co-chair and Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, says the group will help drive reform in mental health."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-19-06.mp3
19 Jun 13: "The Country’s peak mental health body the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has welcomed the Government announcement of the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group (ATSIMHSPAG)."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Oral health study uncovers racism
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29405/Oral-health-study-uncover...
19 Jun 13: "A three-year study into oral hygiene in South Australia has uncovered what’s being described as "horrifying" discrimination against Nunga women, with some dentists refusing to see Aboriginal patients at all."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Launch of new Indigenous youth sexual health package
http://caama.com.au/launch-of-new-indigenous-youth-sexual-health-package
14 Jun 13: "Yesterday was the launch of a new Indigenous youth sexual health package. The package, designed by Central Australian Aboriginal Congress will be used to provide holistic sexual health education to Indigenous young people living in Alice Springs. Donna Lemon from the Congress Community Health Education Program spoke to Lorena Walker about the manuals."
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: WA Government announces closing the health gap funding
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29416/WA-Government-announces-c...
20 Jun 13: "The Western Australian Government has promised 31 million dollars to closing the gap on Indigenous health initiatives. The announcement sees the Government signal its intention to continue the National Partnership Agreement for health, which is due to expire at the end of the month."
SNAICC News: Be part of SNAICC's Raising Our Little Ones Project
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1100
19 Jun 13: "SNAICC is calling on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and families and communities to share stories of growing up strong and proud children. As part of the Child Rearing Stories Project, SNAICC has developed the Raising Our Little Ones webpage. This resource encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to think about and share positive stories of raising children proud in self and strong in culture. The Raising our Little Ones resource aims to bring together both traditional and contemporary child rearing practices ... "
NACCHO health report card news: Aboriginal babies’ health improving, but concerns remain over immunisation
http://nacchocommunique.com/2013/06/19/naccho-health-report-card-news-ab...
19 Jun 13: "DOWNLOAD THE AIHW and NACCHO REPORT CARD HERE ...
Stuart Rintoul article The Australian
ABORIGINAL community health services have called for more frontline spending on doctors and health workers as they released a report card showing improvements in infant birthweights, but continuing concerns around child immunisation, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes."
* ABORIGINAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ISSUES
- Video
SBS World News: Palm Island Alcohol bans protect the vulnerable: court
Source: Stefan Armbruster, SBS
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1780085/Palm-Island-Alcohol-bans-prot...
19 Jun 13: "The High Court has dismissed an appeal claiming the alcohol management plan on the Queensland Aboriginal community of Palm Island breached the Racial Discrimination Act. ... The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, says governments must now renew efforts to tackle alcohol and violence, using a community-based approach. ... Palm Island mayor Alf Lacey says the decision is disempowering for Aboriginal people. ... Joan Maloney's lawyer, Peter Coombe, says the problems will remain."
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Alcohol and drug workers stressed, underpaid
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29426/Alcohol-and-drug-workers-...
21 Jun 13: "A recent study has found First Nations alcohol and drug workers are stressed, overworked, underpaid and face grief and loss issues. ... Lead author Ann Roche, from Flinders University, says the workers face a huge amount of challenges."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: History revisted, alcohol restrictions in Queensland Aboriginal communities
http://caama.com.au/history-revisted-alcohol-restrictions-in-queensland-...
20 Jun 13: "The High Court has ruled that alcohol management plans in 19 Queensland Aboriginal communities, which restrict the sale and possession of alcohol, are not racist and do not breach national or international discriminatory laws. The Mayor of Palm Island, Alf Lacey has voiced concerned about the ruling, particularly in regards to any move towards self-determination."
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/am-20-06.mp3
20 Jun 13: "* A Queensland Aboriginal community leader has slammed a high court ruling that alcohol management plans do not breach racial discrimination laws and says "special measures" are there to protect vulnerable people revisits history and is more of the same.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Minister Glen Elmes says that the alcohol management plans were introduced as a special measure to reduce violence against women and children, and to increase social cohesion within communities."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Community control the key to alcohol management: Gooda
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29412/Community-control-the-key...
20 Jun 13: "The Indigenous Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, has spoken about the need for community control for alcohol management. It comes as a north Queensland woman lost her High Court battle against charges of bringing alcohol into a restricted area."
SBS Radionews: High Court okays Aboriginal alcohol controls
By Stefan Armbruster
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/273099/High-Co...
19 Jun 13: "The High Court has dismissed an appeal claiming the alcohol management plan on the Queensland Aboriginal community of Palm Island breached the Racial Discrimination Act. ... The court's full bench heard the case brought by a Palm Island woman, Joan Maloney, whose lawyers argue her alcohol-related conviction was based on a racist law. A majority of judges found while the law was inconsistent with the Act, they ruled it did not apply because the alcohol management plans were exempted under "special measure" provisions. Stefan Armbruster reports."
- News
newsTracker: Mayor attacks court ruling on booze bans
http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/mayor-attacks-court-ruling-on-booze-bans/
20 Jun 13: "NATIONAL: A court ruling in favour of Indigenous alcohol limits relies on the same excuse used to justify the Stolen Generations, the mayor of Palm Island says. The High Court on Wednesday ruled alcohol management plans in 19 Indigenous Queensland communities do not breach national and international racial discrimination laws. ... Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said the ruling equates to the same excuse used to justify the removal of Indigenous children from their families, and other paternalistic policies throughout history."
newsTracker: Mixed reviews on alcohol ban decision
http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/mixed-reviews-on-alcohol-ban-decision/
20 Jun 13: "NATIONAL: Creating jobs rather than restricting alcohol is the answer to curbing drinking in Indigenous communities, north Queensland mayors say. The High Court on Wednesday ruled alcohol management plans (AMP) in 19 Indigenous Queensland communities do not breach national and international racial discrimination laws. Communities are now being asked if they want to ditch AMPs, however they will have to prove they can maintain public safety and keep school attendance rates up."
newsTracker: Qld booze bans don’t breach race laws
http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/qld-booze-bans-dont-breach-race-laws/
19 Jun 13: "QUEENSLAND: In a ruling handed down in Canberra on Wednesday, the court rejected arguments that the management plans, which restrict and sale and possession of alcohol, breach both United Nations and federal racial discrimination laws. ... Palm Island resident Joan Monica Maloney was the driving force behind the High Court appeal ... Her lawyers argued earlier this year in the High Court that the decision was wrong and that the law deprived her of rights afforded to nearly all non-indigenous Australians."
- - -
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;
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* 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)