indigenous resources
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The Clearinghouse respectfully acknowledges and honours the Gadigal people and Eora nation, on whose land the Clearinghouse office is located. |
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News | Training | Conferences and events | Grants, Scholarships, Awards and funding | New books, report and papers| New resources | New journal articles | Links to indigenous services
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Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes proposal to reinstate Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) in the Northern Territory
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the governments proposed amendments to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) in the Northern Territory but has indicated that more needs to be done to make the Northern Territory fully compliant with human rights.
http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=235&loadref=8
Commissioner Calma welcomes first UN publication on the state of the world’s indigenous peoples
Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has welcomed the launch of the United Nations first report, ‘State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’. The report brings attention to the plight of indigenous communities all over the world and reveals alarming statistics in key areas of poverty, health, education, employment, human rights and the environment. Details at:
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2010/2_10.html
The full report can be downloaded at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/sowip.html
New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples announced
The federal government has agreed to initial funding of the New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples which will be established by Tom Calma. Commissioner Calma convened the Indigenous Steering Committee which presented recommendations to the government which have now been accepted. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have been without a representative voice for too long," Commissioner Calma said. Initial funding of the organisation has been agreed until December 2013.
NT child sex laws overturned after concerns
The Northern Territory Government has modified legislation recently introduced which was designed to protect children from sexual abuse. The ‘Care and Protection of Children Act’ made it mandatory for all people, including doctors, to report sexually active teenagers under 16 years of age. Health workers and legal organisations have expressed concern about young people being reluctant to seek medical advice and assistance from GPs or parents for contraception and sexual health advice. Section 26 of the legislation has since been amended to require that:
- all people to report harm and exploitation, including sexual abuse
- all people to report sexual offences (which includes underage sex) against children aged under 14 years
- health practitioners to report sexual offences (which includes underage sex) against children aged 14 or 15 years where there is a greater than two year difference between the alleged victim and offender.
A full review of the Act, including section 26, is planned for April 2010
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/bill/capocab2009359/
UN human rights envoy, James Anaya, considers NT intervention is racist
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous people, James Anaya, has reported in The Australian newspaper (28 August 2009) that he finds aspects of the Commonwealth Government’s initiatives to remedy situations of Indigenous disadvantage concerning, particularly the Northern Territory Emergency Response. In his article, Mr Anaya draws attention to the Intervention’s income management regime, imposition of compulsory leases, and community-wide bans on alcohol consumption and pornography. He considers that these measures overtly discriminate against Aboriginal peoples, infringe their right of self-determination and stigmatise already disadvantaged communities.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25993255-601,00.html
Newspaper articles
Calma T, 'Let's finally give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a voice', The Age, 21 September 2009
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/lets-finally-give-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islanders-a-voice-20090921-fxo2.html
Robinson N, 'Intervention 'abandoned', with no leader', The Australian, 17 September 2009
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26084646-5006790,00.html
Evaluating the Children's Koori Court of Victoria
15 March, 2010
Griffiths, ACT
Despite the investment of considerable resources over the past two decades, the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal and juvenile justice systems persists. An important strategy for addressing overrepresentation has been Indigenous participation in sentencing. The first formal Children's Indigenous Court - the Children's Koori Court of Victoria - began operation at the end of 2005. This seminar will report on the evaluation completed in 2009, its findings and the considerable challenges encountered in undertaking the study.
- Online details: http://www.aic.gov.au/en/events/seminars/2010/borowski.aspx
Social Determinants of Indigenous Health - Working Beyond the Health Sector
30-31 March, 2010
Brisbane, QLD
This conference will bring together case studies from successful programs, which go some way to close the gap in their community. It will bring policy from federal and state government to address how policy can be effectively delivered to the community. Addressing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander definition of health, the conference examines factors such as housing, education, family, community and self esteem to improve health.
- Online details: http://www.improvingindigenoushealth.com/overview.php
National Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum
19-20 May, 2010
Mackay, QLD
The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR), in partnership with the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and Charles Darwin University (CDU) will present the first National Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum.
2010 SNAICC National Conference - For Our Children: Local Strengths, National Challenges
27-29 July, 2010
Alice Springs, NT
The conference will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, policy makers, researchers, government representatives, other non-government organisations and various industry representatives to gather and make renewed commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=166&loadref=8
For general news relating to domestic and family violence, see our What’s New page
Grants, Scholarships, Awards and Funding
Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarships Program
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program, which already includes 'Indigenous Access Scholarships” (IAS) and “Indigenous Enabling Scholarships” (IES) will be introducing two new scholarship categories in 2009: National Priority Scholarships (NPS) targeting undergraduate students enrolling in priority disciplines; and National Accommodation Scholarships (NAS) for students relocating interstate to study specialist courses not available near their home. http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/programmes_funding/programme_categories/scholarships_awards_prizes/commonwealth_learning_scholarships_programme.htm
Awards
A community-based project in a remote Indigenous Queensland community has received $195,000 to continue the project, ‘Domestic Violence – it’s not our game’ which was run in conjunction with the Normanton Stingers rugby league team. The funding will allow the continuation of the project and allow its expansion to include rugby league teams from Doomadgee, Richmond, Hughenden, Cloncurry and Julia Creek. More details at: http://www.alp.org.au/news/award-winning-domestic-violence-project
The 2010 Indigenous Governance Awards
Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton are proud to announce the 2010 Indigenous Governance Awards. Nominate your organisation for an Indigenous Governance Award today! Details at: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/igawards/
CDFVR 2009, ‘Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum Report’, Mackay
This report from the annual Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum indicates that the forum was successful with participants providing feedback reflecting satisfaction with the three-day event. The forum will become national from 2010, being held every three years, with the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum continuing to be held in Mackay in intervening years.
http://www.noviolence.com.au/public/forum2009/forumreport.pdf
National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework 2009 – 2015
The draft National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework has been developed by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to provide a national approach to serious and complex justice issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The main goals of the draft Framework are to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system, reduce alcohol and substance abuse, and increase community safety. SCAG agreed at its April meeting to release the draft Framework for a three month targeted consultation. Details at:
http://www.scag.org.au/lawlink/SCAG/ll_scag.nsf/vwFiles/NationalIndigenousJusticeFramework-Draft.pdf/$file/NationalIndigenousJusticeFramework-Draft.pdf
ACT Victims of Crime Coordinator, April 2009, ‘We don’t shoot our wounded…’, ACT Government, Canberra
This research was undertaken to: provide a snapshot of Indigenous victims of crime within the ACT criminal justice system; investigate Indigenous victims of crime seeking help from the criminal justice system; and provide an overview of research and information on Indigenous victims of crime from ACT and the rest of Australia.
http://www.victimsupport.act.gov.au/res/File/Community%20Report.pdf
Indigenous family violence (including child protection) website
The Australian Indigenous Health Info Net has launched an Indigenous family violence website, providing a 'one-stop info-shop' for people working, studying or interested in addressing family violence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/related-issues/family-violence
‘Hey Dad! For Indigenous dads, uncles and pops’, Indigenous Parenting Program
This program is funded through the Family and Relationships Services Program and administered by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCHSIA). The aim of the program is to build individual and community skills and is designed to be delivered by Indigenous men in their own communities, in language and content that is culturally appropriate. ‘Hey Dad’ links with other family relationships programs and is an evidence-based parenting program. Details at:
http://www.aifs.gov.au/afrc/pubs/newsletter/n12pdf/n12e.pdf
DVD tackles child sexual assault
On 4 September 2009, the NSW Government launched a new resource called ‘Speak Up’, which is aimed at preventing child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities. The resource is part of the Government's response to the ‘Breaking the Silence’ report. The ‘Speak Up’ resource comprises two packages, including documentary interviews, dramatic scenarios and commentaries, with over four hours of materials on two DVDs. One DVD is for use only by skilled facilitators within training contexts across government human services, agencies, non-government organisations and with communities. The resource is being rolled out by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in consultation with local Aboriginal communities. Details at:
http://www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au/ecav/speakup.htm
AUSTRALIAN FEMINIST LAW JOURNAL 2009, vol 30
Cox D, Young M & Bairnsfather-Scott A, ‘No Justice Without Healing: Australian Aboriginal People and Family Violence’, pp 151-170
AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL WORK
Taylor J, Cheers B, Weetra C & Gentle I (2004), ‘Supporting community solutions to family violence’, vol. 57, issue 1, pp. 71-83
AUSTRALIAN and NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Jesia G. Berry, James E. Harrison, Philip Ryan, 2009, ‘Hospital admissions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians due to interpersonal violence, July 1999 to June 2004’, vol 33, issue 3, pp. 215-222
You can link to the organisations and services providing information, support and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
health
Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) Peak body for Aboriginal health in NSW
The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) maintains a list of all Aboriginal Medical Services in Australia
Ngwala Willumbong (Pitjantjatjara for "Dry Place") Co-operative provides specialist alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation and outreach support services to Aboriginal communities in Victoria.
HealthInfoNet provides comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge and information accessible to people interested in the health of Indigenous Australians.
housing
Elizabeth Hoffman House is a refuge with the primary function of providing emergency shelter for Aboriginal women and their children in need of care due to domestic violence.
legal/justice
Family violence prevention legal services assist Indigenous adults and children who are victims of family violence, including sexual abuse, or who are at immediate risk of such violence.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Legal Services
Wirringa Baiya is a community legal centre for Aboriginal women, children and youth living in New South Wales.
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) provides legal aid and assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and maintains a strong client service focus.
The Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse promotes discussion and disseminates relevant Indigenous justice information to government policy makers and those working in the Indigenous justice field.
The Indigenous Law Centre is based at the University of NSW and develops and co-ordinates research, teaching and dissemination of information in the multi-disciplinary area of Indigenous peoples and the law. The three core activities of the Centre are publication of the Indigenous Law Bulletin, the Australian Indigenous Law Reporter and the undertaking of community education projects.
research
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies has a range of resources about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including community-based research, films, photographs, video and audio recordings and printed and other resource materials for Indigenous studies.
The Aboriginal Studies WWW Virtual Library contains information and resources about Indigenous Australians.
Jumbunna: Indigenous house of learning, University of Technology Sydney
Areas of study: Indigenous human rights, international law, public law, criminal justice.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
Areas of study: Language maintenance, governance, education, natural resources management, family and community histories, cultural transmission and transformation, archaeology and cultural heritage management.
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University
Areas of study: Indigenous economic and social circumstances, development options for sustainable Indigenous futures, education, governance and capacity development.
policy
The NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council (AJAC), made up of Aboriginal community members, advises the state government on law and justice issues for Aboriginal people.
The Commonwealth Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) is the primary source of advice on Indigenous issues to the Minister and the coordination point for a whole-of-government approach to the delivery of programs and services for Australia’s Indigenous people.
advocacy
The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) is the national non government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
