NSW Ombudsman - Special Report to Parliament - Addressing Aboriginal disadvantage: the need to do things differently

"...Community leaders have repeatedly told my office that they want ‘the truth’ to be told about the problems they continue to face and the reasons why. They are tired of seeing much needed resources poorly targeted because of a lack of coordinated planning around the funding, design and delivery of critical services by government agencies. Communities mostly attribute this failure to provide integrated and efficient services, to the absence of positions on the ground with the necessary ‘clout’ to drive decision-making and related service delivery... In order to change direction, there is a need for government to work with Aboriginal leaders in developing a new ‘roadmap’ for building on the social and economic capital of Aboriginal communities in this state..."  Bruce Barbour, NSW Ombudsman

Link to report:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework report Queensland - 30 Nov 2011

Latest report against indicators in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework for Queensland.

  • The infant mortality rate declined by 35% between 2001 and 2007
  • The avoidable mortality rate declined by 33% between 2001 and 2007.
  • Hospitalisation rate for all major health conditions among Indigenous people was twice the rate of other people in Queensland during the period 2006–2008
  • Life expectancy at birth among Indigenous males and females was nearly 10 years lower than that of all males and females in Queensland
  • Indigenous children aged 0–16 years were more likely than other children to be the subject of child protection substantiation (27 per 1,000 compared with 4 per 1,000).

FIND OUT MORE: Click here for more statistics and information.
Cooperation not intervention: a call for a new direction in the Northern Territory - 23 Nov 2011

ACOSS Media Release

Aboriginal peak bodies, community welfare and public health groups from around the country are calling for a new direction in policies affecting Aboriginal Australians based on cooperation, not ‘intervention'.

The groups support new investment in secure jobs for Indigenous Territorians but raise concerns about the proposed extension of a program that withdraws social security payments from parents whose children don't attend school regularly....

Link here http://www.combinedvoices.org.au/node/81

PDF version of media release for Print >>
Media Release - Anti-Poverty Week ideal time to re-think Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child protection - 20 Oct 2011


The Combined Voices coalition of community groups says Anti-Poverty Week is an ideal time to look at re-thinking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child protection in Queensland. Combined Voices highlights statistics showing only 7 per cent of people aged under 17 in Queensland are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander but this group accounts for more 37 per cent of children in the state care.

 

Read out Media Release here >

http://www.combinedvoices.org.au/node/83/edit
Access All Areas campaign - Sept 2011

Access All Areas is all about choice. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the service options available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – what they are and how to find them. From health and housing, to education to employment, we want to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people find, choose and use the wide range of services available in their local community. Access All Areas supports a cooperative, collective approach that brings together multiple providers, referrers and campaign partners to improve service access and quality.

Access All Areas are grateful to have a number of inspirational campaign ambassadors on board representing a broad segment of the human services sector. Our ambassadors are inspirational role models who have an important role to play in helping us ‘spread the word’ and championing this campaign for Queensland.

FIND OUT MORE: Visit our website at www.access-all-areas.org.au or contact Laraine Griffiths, Campaign Coordinator on info@access-all-areas.org.au or 07 3004 6912, or

Combined Voices Workshop - Brisbane - Tues 9 August 2011

This workshop was a huge success. THANK YOU to the 120 people who attened!
The slides and notes are now available: 
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (4 August 2011)

The 2011 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day theme was: "From small to big: growing stronger each day".

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (NAICD) is a celebration of our children. Held on 4 August each year, NAICD was first observed by SNAICC in 1988. Each year SNAICC produces and sends out resources to help you celebrate NAICD.

www.snaicc.asn.au
NAIDOC Week (3-10 July 2011)

This year we will continue celebrating the culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during NAIDOC Week.

2011 National NAIDOC theme is about taking responsibility for our future. To control the change we need to plan and take action to make it happen. It's our future - "change: the next step is ours".

www.naidoc.org.au
National Reconciliation Week (27 May - 3 June 2011)

Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is the ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme for NRW 2011 is "Let's talk recognition".

www.reconciliation.org.au
National Sorry Day (26 May 2011)

On the 26th May 1997 the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families was tabled in Federal Parliament. The 'Bringing them Home' Report, revealed the extent of forced removal policies, which went on for more than 150 years and in the 1980s.

http://antarqld.org.au