Newsletter date: 4 March 2014
Contents:
* Myles Morgan, NITV: Campaign against $500,000 funding cut to education [in NSW]
* AECSL - Aboriginal Early Childhood Support & Learning, YouTube: AECSL Awareness Campaign: www.make.my/aecslcampaign
* CommunityRun Petition: Provide funding for AECSL to continue its support and advocacy work
* Padraic Gibson, The Guardian: Tony Abbott's cuts directly hurt Aboriginal children
* SNAICC News: Aboriginal community-controlled services need funding
* SNAICC News: Fact sheets on our early years services - what is the issue and what needs to happen?
* SNAICC News: SNAICC and partners host Parliamentary Breakfast to engage with federal Parliamentarians on early years issues
* SNAICC News: Lisa Thorpe speaks on proposed funding cuts to early years program on NITV
* Paul Wiles, CAAMA Radio: Tom Calma - school has to be appropriate for Aboriginal kids
* ANTaR: Justice Targets are needed for action on Aboriginal Jobs and Education
* Mel Barnes, Green Left: Abbott's Aboriginal policy: more police and truancy cops
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: School attendance issues need comprehensive solutions
* Danny Teece-Johnson, NITV: Researchers use music to preserve Aboriginal language
* MYLES MORGAN, NITV: CAMPAIGN AGAINST $500,000 FUNDING CUT TO EDUCATION [IN NSW]
- News
NITV: Campaign against $500,000 funding cut to education
By Myles Morgan; Source NITV News
SBS: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/26/campaign-against-500000-fu...
26 Feb 14: "The Aboriginal Early Childhood Support and Learning Incorporated (AECSL) is a peak body that provides support and advocacy work for Aboriginal early childhood in New South Wales. But Federal Government cuts could force them to shut down later this year. The AECSL have launched a social media campaign calling on national support for the funding of its service to continue. Aboriginal actor Luke Carroll says closure of AECSL will affect the wider community. "Without AECSL's support, some preschools could be threatened with closure," said Mr Carroll." By Myles Morgan
* AECSL - ABORIGINAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT & LEARNING, YOUTUBE: AECSL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: www.make.my/aecslcampaign
- Video
AECSL - Aboriginal Early Childhood Support & Learning, YouTube: AECSL Awareness Campaign: www.make.my/aecslcampaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QWmwSt_PzLE
24 Feb 14: "To show your support, AECSL would like you to join Luke and Nathan in sharing their campaign video on your Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have, and go online and show your support by signing the petition at www.make.my/aecslcampaign
Without your action, support for our kids, our way, their future is bleak."
* COMMUNITYRUN PETITION: PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AECSL TO CONTINUE ITS SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY WORK
- Petition
CommunityRun: Provide funding for AECSL to continue its support and advocacy work
To: Nigel Scullion - Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Victor Dominello - NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Adrian Piccoli - NSW Minister for Education
http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/provide-funding-for-aecsl-to-conti...
"We are seeking your support to ensure that there is continued funding for the Aboriginal Early Childhood Support and Learning Incorporated (AECSL) to continue its support and advocacy work for Aboriginal early childhood in NSW. Quality early childhood for Aboriginal children is a foundation for educational success. The work undertaken by AECSL is critical to the quality of early childhood education for Aboriginal children and families. ... "
* PADRAIC GIBSON, THE GUARDIAN: TONY ABBOTT'S CUTS DIRECTLY HURT ABORIGINAL CHILDREN
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Tony Abbott's cuts directly hurt Aboriginal children
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/20/tony-abbotts-cuts-d...
20 Feb 14: "Indigenous specialist services have been slashed by a tidal wave of cuts. This has a direct impact on the health and safety of thousands of Aboriginal children ... Aboriginal Early Childhood Support and Learning Inc (AECSL), a NSW organisation which has been funded by the federal government for over two decades, received an email one week before Christmas explaining that all of their funding will be withdrawn. Similar agencies in other states have also been cut." Padraic Gibson
Padraic Gibson - The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/profile/padraic-gibson
"Padraic Gibson is a senior researcher with the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology Sydney. He has lived in Alice Springs and traveled extensively in Central Australia researching the impact of the NT Intervention. He is also an organiser with the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney and co-editor of Solidarity magazine."
* SNAICC NEWS: ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED SERVICES NEED FUNDING
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release 12 February 2014 - Aboriginal community-controlled services need funding
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1342
13 Feb 14: "The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (SNAICC) has again called for long-term funding certainty for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early childhood services, following the Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap report this morning. ...
SNAICC asserts that Indigenous community-controlled early childhood services must be supported to play a pivotal role in assisting families and improving the educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - given that the critical phase of development in children occurs before they go to school.
SNAICC has urged the Australian Government to commit to a ten-year funding model for the 300 Indigenous community-controlled early childhood services across Australia. These services include long day care centres, out of school hours care services, Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services (MACS) and the 38 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family centres (ACFCs).
The services face an uncertain funding future beyond June 2014. ... "
* SNAICC NEWS: FACT SHEETS ON OUR EARLY YEARS SERVICES - WHAT IS THE ISSUE AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?
- News
SNAICC News: Fact sheets on our early years services - what is the issue and what needs to happen?
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1346
http://www.snaicc.org.au/_uploads/rsfil/03273.pdf
17 Feb 14: "SNAICC has developed a series of fact sheets to provide background information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood needs, the current concerns around ongoing funding of services and what needs to happen."
* SNAICC NEWS: SNAICC AND PARTNERS HOST PARLIAMENTARY BREAKFAST TO ENGAGE WITH FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARIANS ON EARLY YEARS ISSUES
- News
SNAICC News: SNAICC and partners host Parliamentary Breakfast to engage with federal Parliamentarians on early years issues
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1353
19 Feb 14: "SNAICC was delighted to hold a Parliamentary Breakfast on 13 February 2014 - Joining the Dots to secure a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children - in partnership with ECA, UNICEF and ACOSS. We were really excited to have 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member services from 4 states - including from Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing in WA, Logan in QLD, Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Ballina, Tamworth and Campbelltown in NSW, and Sheparton and Thomastown in Victoria) - also travel far to join us in the breakfast and 33 meetings with Members of Parliament organised around the breakfast. Their commitment, passion, knowledge and expertise was a powerful message on the importance of these services to our children and families, and the need for ongoing support."
* SNAICC NEWS: LISA THORPE SPEAKS ON PROPOSED FUNDING CUTS TO EARLY YEARS PROGRAM ON NITV
- Video
SNAICC News: Lisa Thorpe speaks on proposed funding cuts to early years program on NITV
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1352
18 Feb 14: "NITV spoke to Gunditjmara and Gunnai woman, Lisa Thorpe, who is a member of the SNAICC National Executive. She talks to the importance of the early years and ongoing support for critical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood programs. Check out the video!"
* PAUL WILES, CAAMA RADIO: TOM CALMA - SCHOOL HAS TO BE APPROPIATE FOR ABORIGINAL KIDS
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Tom Calma - school has to be appropriate for Aboriginal kids.
http://caama.com.au/tom-calma-school-has-to-be-appropriate-for-aborigina...
26 Feb 14: "A veteran Northern Territory Aboriginal rights campaigner who has climbed the heights of mainstream academia while maintaining " a fire in the belly " for the rights of his people, has questioned the Abbott Governments primary focus on school attendance as the best way of closing the disadvantage gap between his people and mainstream society. INCOMING Canberra University chancellor Dr Tom Calma talks to Paul Wiles about some of the issues which impact on the education of Aborignal children in remote communities."
* ANTaR: JUSTICE TARGETS ARE NEEDED FOR ACTION ON ABORIGINAL JOBS AND EDUCATION
- News
ANTaR: Justice Targets are needed for action on Aboriginal Jobs and Education.
http://antar.org.au/news/justice-targets-are-needed-action-aboriginal-jo...
http://antar.org.au/reports/justice-targets-are-needed-action-aboriginal...
3 Mar 14: "ANTaR supports the calls made today by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples for the Governments of Australia to adopt Justice Targets. Dr Lewis said that the Abbott Government has a commitment to improving Aboriginal education and employment, but the continued high rates of incarceration are a major barrier to achieving it."
* MEL BARNES, GREEN LEFT: ABBOTT'S ABORIGINAL POLICY: MORE POLICE AND TRUANCY COPS
- Analysis / Opinion
Green Left: Abbott's Aboriginal policy: more police and truancy cops
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55884
15 Feb 14: ""One of the worst forms of neglect is failing to give children the education they need for a decent life," he said. "That’s why every state and territory has anti-truancy laws. That’s why the former government, to its credit, tried to quarantine welfare payments for families whose children weren’t at school." Abbott spoke about the 40 new truancy officers employed in remote communities as part of a $30 million federal government program. He did not mention that his government cut $1.6 million in funding in November for a school bus service that transported students from town camps to five schools in Alice Springs." By Mel Barnes
Mel Barnes - Green Left Weekly
https://www.greenleft.org.au/taxonomy/term/967
"Mel Barnes lives in Wollongong and is a co-editor of Green Left Weekly. She has been an activist for environmental and social justice issues since 2003, and is a member of Socialist Alliance."
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ISSUES NEED COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: School attendance issues need comprehensive solutions
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/school-att...
20 Dec 13: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Australian Greens have raised concerns over plans to send truancy officers into remote communities, saying the complex issues which prevent kids going to school need broader and more comprehensive solutions.
"Rushing the placement of untrained truancy officers in time for the new school year is unlikely to have a sustained impact, given the complex issues that Aboriginal families and children are struggling with that contribute to poor attendance at school," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today.
"Nobody argues that education is a key to helping end Aboriginal disadvantage but it is simplistic to imply that these issues are as easy to overcome as putting a few truancy officers in place.
"Any efforts to improve school attendance need to address the underlying factors that prevent kids going to school in the first place, and then ensure that their experience at school is a strong and nurturing one. ... ""
* DANNY TEECE-JOHNSON, NITV: RESEARCHERS USE MUSIC TO PRESERVE ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE
- News
NITV: Researchers use music to preserve Aboriginal language
By Danny Teece-Johnson; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/20/researchers-use-music-pres...
20 Feb 14: "Songmen from the Daly region of the Northern Territory, who created and performed songs for their communities and the general public over the past fifty years, are the subject of a new Sydney University Press publication. ‘For the Sake of a Song: Wangga Songmen and their Repertories’ is a multimedia project preserving the languages of Wangga across different platforms. As the internet streams global culture into remote communities, the loss of language and ceremony is a constant battle for traditional owners." By Danny Teece-Johnson
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