WGAR News: Seven per cent of the Kimberley homeless!: Gerry Georgatos interviewed by CAAMA's Kyle Dowling

Newsletter date: 7 May 2015

Contents:

* Audio Interview: Kyle Dowling, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA): Seven per cent of the Kimberley homeless! [Featuring Gerry Georgatos]
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Seven per cent of the Kimberley homeless - but hey, who cares?
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Perth City Council fob off Matargarup homeless & say they cannot help homeless

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: 52 times more likely to go to jail - Aboriginal children jailed at the world's highest rate

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: St*ff the reports, research - Sam Cook has shown the way, let's hit the streets to end the racism

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Plato said engage with our politicians or risk being governed by the 'dumb' - "the suicides crises"
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Another misguided reductionist plan to reduce rates of suicide & self-harm

* Crisis Support - Talk to Someone - 24-hour/day 7-days/week:
Lifeline - Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Beyond Blue - Talk it through with us: 1300 22 4636 http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

* WGAR Background: Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal deaths in custody
* WGAR Background to Suicide and Self-harm in First Nations Communities
* WGAR Background Info Web-Pages

WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

- Audio Interview

CAAMA: Seven per cent of the Kimberley homeless!
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA)
http://caama.com.au/seven-per-cent-of-the-kimberley-homeless
28 Apr 15: "Western Australia’s Kimberley region continues to see rising levels of homelessness with a new report claiming seven per cent of the region’s predominately Aboriginal population is currently homeless. Gerry Georgatos ... says the current extent of homelessness in the Kimberley demonstrates the State Governments disregard in dealing with the inequalities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face. ... Mr Georgatos also discusses the adverse effects the looming community closures will have on residents within the Kimberley and surrounding regions over a chat with Kyle Dowling."

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Seven per cent of the Kimberley homeless - but hey, who cares?
http://thestringer.com.au/seven-per-cent-of-the-kimberley-homeless-but-h...
26 Apr 15: "Seven per cent of the Kimberley is homeless and for years this has not raised a word or whisper in our national media. I have been the only person in the nation writing about the Kimberley’s endemic and pernicious homelessness. How is this possible? Nearly half the population of the Kimberley is comprised of First Peoples and nearly all the homeless are First Peoples. But this is why it has barely raised a mention because the majority of the 97 per cent of the Australian population that is not Aboriginal just do not care enough. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Perth City Council fob off Matargarup homeless & say they cannot help homeless
http://thestringer.com.au/perth-city-council-fob-off-matargarup-homeless...
3 May 15: " ... The conduct of the Council in their handling of the Matargarup homeless precinct appears a throwback to the 1940s. On Thursday scores of police in militia formation marched into Matargarup escorting scores of City of Perth workers led by their CEO, Gary Stevenson who was wearing a hard hat directing the show. It was a sad sight. Police were unusually aggressive in their responses - six move on notices (I was one of them) and three arrests - two Aboriginal Elders - Yamatji Elder Julie Dwyer and Nyungah Elder Bella Bropho. ... "

" - Declaration of impartiality conflict of interest - Gerry Georgatos, the writer of this article, and Jennifer Kaeshagen, producer and editor of The Stringer have been supporting the Matargarup refugee camp for the homeless. They have both met with Mr  Stevenson to discuss the ways forward for the Matargarup camp. Both are heavily involved in homelessness issues."

The Stringer: Jennifer Kaeshagen sets up The First Nations Homelessness Project
http://thestringer.com.au/jennifer-kaeshagen-sets-up-the-first-nations-h...

"To support or be supported by The First Nations Homelessness Project, email contact@thestringer.com.au or phone/text 0449 655 282." Jennifer Kaeshagen, coordinator

Jennifer Kaeshagen - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/production-manager-contributing-editor-writer-...
"Jennifer Kaeshagen is an award winning documentary filmmaker. ... Jennifer is the Founder of The Stringer. Jennifer is The Stringer’s Principal Editor and Producer. Jennifer contributes irregularly articles to The Stringer however also coordinates various advocacy through The Stringer. Jennifer has been successful in housing homeless families and individuals and currently coordinates The First Nations Homelessness Project."

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: 52 times more likely to go to jail - Aboriginal children jailed at the world's highest rate
http://thestringer.com.au/52-times-more-likely-to-go-to-jail-aboriginal-...
5 May 15: "We are on the Titanic and we are sinking while those at the helm carry on as if they are oblivious to the fact we have hit the iceberg. For the third consecutive year we learn that the incarceration rates of our First People youth and adults have increased. This is an indictment of our leaders as if mission managers who think their sick system will somehow miraculously prevail. We need to start from scratch. ... The only ways forward are to do away with our parliamentarians and to hit the streets and demand change. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: St*ff the reports, research - Sam Cook has shown the way, let's hit the streets to end the racism
http://thestringer.com.au/stuff-the-reports-research-sam-cook-has-shown-...
5 May 15: "The youth of the First Peoples of Western Australia are incarcerated at 52 times the rate of non-Aboriginal youth. ... Seven per cent of the Kimberley’ total population is homeless - nearly all of this homelessness is of First Peoples. ... Many of us who know better are exhausted by report after report, research after research. ... There is little political will, if any, to support anything other than assimilation ... Nikyina Samantha Cook has proven that we can get to the streets ... " By Gerry Georgatos

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Plato said engage with our politicians or risk being governed by the 'dumb' - "the suicides crises"
http://thestringer.com.au/plato-said-engage-with-our-politicians-or-risk...
5 May 15: "Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian teenagers. Suicide is a leading cause of death for Australians 15 to 50 years of age. Suicide touches nearly every First Peoples family; on average each year taking one life in every 20 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander deaths. This is the reported rate of suicide but it is likely as high as one suicide in every ten deaths. Western Australia’s Kimberley and Queensland’s Far North have disproportionately higher suicide rates with the brunt of it borne by First Peoples. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a researcher suicide prevention and in racism

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Another misguided reductionist plan to reduce rates of suicide & self-harm
http://thestringer.com.au/another-misguided-reductionist-plan-to-reduce-...
11 Apr 15: "Yesterday, the Northern Territory Government released another near useless policy plan in the hope that it can reduce rates of suicide, self-harm and the impacts of self-harm. It will not achieve any of this because it does not go to the heart of the problems. It does not go to overall social health, does not go to the suite of social determinants and to the suite of psycho-social determinants, to self-determination, to what ‘empowerment’ should and truly means. The Government’s reported, the NT Suicide Prevention Strategic Action Plan 2015-2018, is more cheap hogwash, ... " By Gerry Georgatos

Gerry Georgatos - The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/gerry-georgatos-contributing-editor-and-journa...
"Gerry Georgatos is a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, and a multi-award winning investigative journalist. His predominant work is in suicide prevention research and in unveiling racism and in articulating the ways forward. ... Some of his stories on homelessness in First Nations communities have led to many people housed and to restorative cultural projects. His social justice campaigns include his ongoing work with the homeless, ... people in prison and post-release, ... fighting racism and discrimination, ... "

The Stringer's Editorial policy:
[scroll down page] http://thestringer.com.au/about-us
"Independent news media contributes to the unfolding landscape of human rights and social justice. It is The Stringer’s aim to provide every opportunity to the rise of voices that far too often are denied. If The Stringer believes in the importance of a story we will sustain coverage - this is what The Stringer terms through-care journalism. The Stringer has become known for breaking stories that others initially were not prepared to investigate and report. The Stringer’s contributors are experts in their fields, ... "

Fund The Stringer
http://thestringer.com.au/fund-the-stringer
"We know how much you like reading the news on The Stringer website. If you’d like to help us continue to shine a massive great big flood lamp on the political injustices of this country and, indeed, the world then please contribute whatever you feel able to using the form below. ... "

- Crisis Support - Talk to Someone - 24-hour/day 7-days/week:

Emergency:
For immediate assistance when life may be in danger
Call 000
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/emergency

Lifeline's 24/7 hotline
13 11 14
Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention services
https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
Twenty-four hours a day seven days a week
The Suicide Call Back Service provides free nationwide professional telephone and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide.
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

Beyond Blue
1300 22 4636
Depression. Anxiety.
Talk it through with us, day or night
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

Useful national contact numbers - Suicide Prevention Crisis Contacts
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Suicide_Pr...

Mens Line
1300 78 99 78
MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men
http://www.mensline.org.au/

Kids Help Line
1800 55 1800
aged 5 - 25 yrs
http://www.kidshelp.com.au/

- Background

WGAR Background: Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal deaths in custody
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-justice-reinvestment...
(last updated: 25 April 2015)

WGAR Background to Suicide and Self-harm in First Nations Communities
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-suicide-and-self-...
(last updated: 16 April 2015)

WGAR Background Info Web-Pages
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-info-web-pages
(last updated: 5 May 2015)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

About WGAR News:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news

Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.

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

* The Freedom Summit's National Freedom Movement;
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA);
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* Suicide and self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities;
* Removal of Aboriginal children and the continuing Stolen Generation;
* Aboriginal peoples and the impact of the Australian Federal Budget;
* Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.

'WGAR News' gives priority to grassroots Aboriginal voices and grassroots voices in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples' rights.

The role of 'WGAR News' is to facilitate the voices of others, and as such, 'WGAR News' rarely writes its own articles.

'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 5-6 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.

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)