Newsletter date: 5 June 2013
Contents:
* STICS: Do forced adoptions mean forced assimilation?
* SBS Living Black: Adopting Out Children in the NT [Interview with SNAICC CEO Frank Hytten]
* SBS Living Black: Adopting Children In the NT - Listen to the Elders [Interview with Graham Mundine, ACM]
* NITV: Indigenous kids need Indigenous carers: Expert
* CAAMA: Children's Commissioner calls on Government to commit to future of Territory
* NIRS: NT Government looking at child protection changes
* Northern Territory (NT) Forced Aboriginal Adoption Media Coverage
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* SNAICC's Fifth National Conference: For Our Children - Living and Learning Together (4 to 6 June 13)
* SNAICC News: Programs for vulnerable children and families must consider impacts of trauma
* SNAICC News: Child protection issues a major focus at SNAICC National Conference (4 to 6 June 13)
* 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 (4 to 6 June 13)
* ABC Newcastle: Helping Aboriginal survivors of child abuse and trauma
* Red Tape: PSA against apartheid of income management
* SBS Radionews: Opposition puts Land Councils on notice
* Other articles
* STICS: DO FORCED ADOPTIONS MEAN FORCED ASSIMILATION?
- Media Release
Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS): Do forced adoptions mean forced assimilation?
http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/press-releases/do-forced-adoptions-...
4 Jun 13: "The Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) has joined Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders and the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry denouncing insensitive comments made by the Chief Minister Adam Giles that his government will "remove neglected Aboriginal children from their parents and place them in adoptive homes if necessary". ...
Mr Giles’ comments appear to confirm STICS’ long held belief that the 2007 Intervention, which was to care for and protect Aboriginal children has been a failure. ...
in today's Australia, Indigenous children are being placed in out-of-home care at ten times the rate of the non-Indigenous children and young persons. ...
STICS calls on the NT government to respond to and address the entrenched social and economic factors that contribute to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the statutory child protection system; and also establish Aboriginal specific intensive family support services ...
This is a much more suitable alternative to removing children from their families, culture, community and country and almost guaranteeing the creation of another "Stolen Generation"."
- Campaign
Keeping Them Home Campaign
'concerned Australians': http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Respect and Listen: http://www.respectandlisten.org/
Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS): [scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
* SBS LIVING BLACK: ADOPTING OUT CHILDREN IN THE NT
- Audio Interview
SBS Living Black: Adopting Out Children in the NT
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/269600/t...
29 May 13: "Is is the best solution for the protection of children? ... In the Northern Territory - Chief Minister Adam Giles recent comments on adopting out neglected Aboriginal children have continued to receive strong responses, from organisations around the country. One of them is the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Island Child Care - which says the comments echo paternalistic attitudes of bygone times. SNAICC says that the NT Government is proposing an ill-conceived 'solution' that runs counter to accepted practices of what's needed to best enable children to grow up safe and cared for. Michelle Lovegrove is speaking with with SNAICC CEO Frank Hytten."
* SBS LIVING BLACK: ADOPTING CHILDREN IN THE NT - LISTEN TO THE ELDERS
- Audio Interview
SBS Living Black: Adopting Children In the NT - Listen to the Elders
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/269606/t...
29 May 13: "The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry says solutions lie with genuine conversations. ... Meantime a leading Catholic advocate organisation has urged the Northern Territory Government to sit down with community leaders - to find a real solution to the care and growth of First Nations children. The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry has come out strongly in support of Yolnu elder Dr Djiniyini Gondarra - who has demanded the government restore the family support services and funding it has removed since the Northern Territory intervention began in 2007. The Executive Officer of the Aborginal Catholic Ministry, Graham Mundine says he has serious issues with what seems to be, a government taking the cheap and easy way out."
* NITV: INDIGENOUS KIDS NEED INDIGENOUS CARERS: EXPERT
- Video
SBS World News: Indigenous kids need Indigenous carers: Expert
Source: Jeremy Geia, NITV
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769658/Indigenous-kids-need-Indigeno...
22 May 13: "A Canadian expert specialising in youth violence says the government must increase the number of Indigenous families that care for Aborignal and Torres Strait Islander foster children. Raymond Corrado, from Canada's Simon Fraser University, spoke at the National Institute of Crimonology's Australian Youth Justice Conference (tue), about ways to reduce the rate of repeat offending by young adults. Indigenous children make up a third of all children in out of home care in Australia. Mr Corrado told NITV that placing these children with non-Indigenous families makes them more likely to be in trouble with the law later on in life."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/am-22-05.mp3
22 May 13: "* Top End Yolngu Elder Djiniyini Gondarram says Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory are being taken away at numbers not seen since the stolen generations and there is an urgent need for more family support programs in communities.
* The launch of a major exhibition in Canberra will serve as a strong reminder to both Government and the wider non indigenous community of the trauma and struggles that Aboriginal and islander peoples have endured in the last 100 years."
- Related News
Australian: Child removal rate rise slammed
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/child-remova...
3 Jun 13: "NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward has blamed a "punitive" and "risk-averse" culture in child-protection departments for the spiralling rate of Aboriginal children in the out-of-home care system that dwarfs the numbers in other parts of the country. More than 8 per cent of Aboriginal children in NSW have been removed from their families, a situation the peak body for indigenous childcare services is now openly comparing to another Stolen Generations." Natasha Robinson
Australian: Keep care for kids 'within family'
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/keep-care-fo...
27 May 13: "THE Australian Centre for Child Protection is calling for more funding to support Aboriginal communities look after neglected children, rather than taking them from their family and culture. Centre director Fiona Arney said yesterday the federal government had wasted millions of dollars on ineffective measures to remove children from indigenous families and take them to regional centres or cities when it could have considered support networks such as extended families." Verity Edwards
* CAAMA: CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO COMMIT TO FUTURE OF TERRITORY
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Children’s Commissioner calls on Government to commit to future of Territory
http://caama.com.au/46121
31 May 13: "The Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner has urged the Giles CLP Government to consider the potential long term impacts of failing to provide services to children who are at risk and their families. Dr Howard Bath recently co hosted seminars in both Darwin and Alice Springs which discussed issues affecting child safety and well being across the Territory. Dr Bath told CAAMA Radio that for kids to have a successful life, attend school and have positive relationships which will allow them to contribute to society...someone has to pay !"
* NIRS: NT GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT CHILD PROTECTION CHANGES
- Audio
NIRS: NT Government looking at child protection changes
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29324/NT-Government-looking-at-...
28 May 13: "By NIRS/ABC: The Northern Territory Child Protection Minister, Alison Anderson, says the Government wants to make changes to better care for children who go from foster home to foster home. Ms. Anderson says she’s has been travelling to communities to recruit more Aboriginal carers. ... Ms. Anderson says the Government is considering changes to long term child protection orders, but isn’t considering forced adoption."
* 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: 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...
* 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'S FIFTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE: FOR OUR CHILDREN - LIVING AND LEARNING TOGETHER (4 TO 6 JUNE 13)
- 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: PROGRAMS FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES MUST CONSIDER IMPACTS OF TRAUMA
- Media Release
SNAICC News: Media Release 3 June 2013 - Programs for vulnerable children and families must consider impacts of trauma
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1092
3 Jun 13: "Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson will tell a major children’s conference this week that government programs and services for distressed children and parents must consider the impacts of trauma or they will continue to fail.
Professor Atkinson, a Jiman and Bundjalung woman and an expert on trauma and healing, will run a workshop and give a keynote speech at SNAICC’s Fifth National Conference in Cairns from 4 to 6 June. ...
"Government policies influence service development and delivery. If governments fail to understand the critical need for a trauma-informed approach to distressed children and their families services will fail. ...
"I work from a healing model which is trauma informed, embodied within the belief I have, that 'educaring' is the most important response to the needs of Indigenous children," she [Professor Atkinson] said.
"The use of cultural tools for healing, in art music theatre dance and story, all provide a nurturing space for children to grow and reach their full potential.
"The emphasis we have on the three 'Rs' should be balanced by the seven 'Rs': respect, rights, responsibility, relatedness, reciprocity, resilience-resonance, which support the growth of creative caring human beings.""
* 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
[SNAICC: 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.""
* 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
[SNAICC: 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
[SNAICC: 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."
* ABC NEWCASTLE: HELPING ABORIGINAL SURVIVORS OF CHILD ABUSE AND TRAUMA
- News
ABC Newcastle: Helping Aboriginal survivors of child abuse and trauma
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/28/3769039.htm?site=newcastle
28 May 13: "Denise Kelly is a Wiradjuri woman who has been working with Liz Mullinar's Heal For Life Foundation since 2005. Denise is now translating her experience in culturally appropriate education to helping support Aboriginal people who are survivors of child trauma and abuse." By Carol Duncan (ABC Newcastle)
* RED TAPE: PSA AGAINST APARTHEID OF INCOME MANAGEMENT
- News
Red Tape: PSA against apartheid of income management
http://psa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RedTapeAprMay13WEB.pdf
April/May 2013: "Since July 2012, PSA members in Community Services have had blanket work bans in place on the implementation of income management (IM) which was expanded to include the Bankstown LGA." page 6
* SBS RADIONEWS: OPPOSITION PUTS LAND COUNCILS ON NOTICE
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Opposition puts Land Councils on notice
By Ron Sutton
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/270362/Opposit...
3 Jun 13: "The federal opposition says it intends to take away some of the powers of two major Aboriginal Land Councils in the Northern Territory, if elected. The Northern and Central Land Councils cover about half of the Territory. Opposition Indigenous affairs spokesman Nigel Scullion recently addressed the Northern Land Council at a meeting in Timber Creek, south of Darwin. He says many people expressed a desire to have the two councils broken up because they don't feel they represent them well. However, Senator Scullion told Ron Sutton stripping back some of the Councils' powers could be the better solution."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Media Releases
Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA): Sorry Day 2013 - Acknowledging and respecting our Stolen Generations
http://www.als.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=268:s...
26 May 13: "The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA) urged fair minded Australians to learn about the wrongs of the past and acknowledge our Stolen Generations for their strength and resilience.
ALSWA CEO Dennis Eggington said the forced removal of children had created a tragic inter-generational legacy for many Aboriginal people, the effects of which are still evident today.
"Many of the clients accessing ALSWA’s services have been personally affected through removal policies of the past, and I have no doubt that this continues to contribute to the spiralling over-representation of Aboriginal people within the court and prisons systems" said Mr. Eggington.
He said that Sorry Day, held annually on 26th May, played an important role in maintaining a focus upon our Stolen Generations, their heartache, courage and resilience. ... "
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert & Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt: Greens mark Sorry Day and join the Journey to Recognition
Rachel Siewert: http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-mar...
Adam Bandt: http://adam-bandt.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-mark-so...
26 May 13: "The Australian Greens say this year's National Sorry Day provides Australians with the opportunity to both reflect on the past and look forward to important new campaigns to deliver on the spirit and intent of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt, MP for Melbourne are commemorating Sorry Day in Melbourne today.
"The launch of the Journey to Recognition is very exciting and signals the start of what is being described as an ‘epic relay' across Australian as part of building momentum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said today. ...
"The Greens have worked hard in the current Parliament to progress the issue of constitutional recognition," Mr Bandt said today. ... "
- Audio
The Wire: 'Sorry' doesn't go far enough
Produced by Ellen Leabeater
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10404
27 May 13: "It's been 15 years since the first Sorry Day, a day of remembrance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families. Today also marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. This year’s Sorry Day commemorated the 5th anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s apology speech, which both apologized to the Stolen Generation and promised to reduce the inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. However, many have argued that not enough has been done in the past five years to honor the promises made in 2008.
Featured in story:
* Margaret Gonais- Chairperson Bankstown Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee
* Caroline Carter- Deputy Chairperson Bankstown Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee
* Katrina Gonais- Young Person"
The Wire: Sorry Day Celebrations
Produced by Matthew Newton
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10399
24 May 13: "National Sorry Day will be observed this Sunday 26th May. For many Australians, the day is as much a remembrance of past wrongs as it is a celebration of the future. Sorry Day also marks the start of Reconciliation Week and The Wire found out how different people across the country will be marking these important events. This Sunday the 26th May marks National Sorry Day, a commemoration for the victims of the Stolen Generation. The 26th May holds special significance for Australia's indigenous population. It was the day that the landmark 'Bringing them home' report was tabled before Parliament back in 1997. ...
Featured in story:
Charles Passi - Chair of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation
Julie Tongs - Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service"
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/am-23-05-updated.mp3
23 May 13: "The boss of South Australia’s peak Aboriginal Social Welfare Organisation has told a forum in Alice Springs that ongoing trauma suffered by several generations of her people continues to impact on families and children.
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