THE NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO1

EMPOWERING THE CENTRAL COAST ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY THROUGH A UNIFIED VOICE. Barang Regional Alliance Ltd (Barang) is a not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation supporting the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on Darkinjung Land on the Central Coast of .

We advocate to reform current thinking, systems and processes to deliver more effective service delivery outcomes and accountability to the Central Coast Aboriginal community.

We achieve this through our participation in the innovative Commonwealth Government Empowered Communities (EC) initiative which is being piloted in 8 regions across Australia. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet provides funding to Barang to lead the design and delivery of this major Aboriginal reform agenda. BARANG’S ARTWORK AND LOGO

Barang is also supported through our Barang’s artwork and logo is sourced from participation in the NSW Government an original painting by Ammie Howell. This ‘Local Decision Making’ (LDM) initiative represents community groups coming together which aims to increase local Aboriginal on Darkinjung Country working and uniting involvement and decision making in the towards our future. Ammie is a Penangke Skin services being delivered to the community woman from the Arrernte people, Alice Springs, by NSW Government service providers. who lived on Darkinjung Country for many years.

IN THIS ISSUE: MESSAGE FROM CHAIR ...... 2 CORRIE’S STORY ...... 6 MESSAGE FROM GM/ACTING CEO ...... 2 DALE’S STORY ...... 6 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESULTS ...... 3 KATE’S STORY ...... 7 EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM ...... 4 THE BARANG BOARD ...... 7 WHAT’S NEXT FOR BARANG? ...... 5 CONTACT LIST ...... 8 MESSAGE FROM CHAIR

I’ve been the Bara Barang Director we can”. Aunty Di is our Mingaletta on Barang Regional Alliance Board Director. since November AGM and elected as Deputy Chair at that meeting. When • A big shout out to Kim Walker Sean Gordon resigned as Chair in for his 10 years of leadership as March I became the Acting Chair NAISDA CEO and building the until our next AGM. organisation to where it is today. Kim is our NAISDA Director “I’m very excited to be involved in Barang Regional Alliance. We are • Suzanne Naden, CEO of Bungree uniquely positioned as the only recently attended the UN Region in Australia with both State Permanent Indigenous forum in and Commonwealth Government New York. Suzanne is a member support for our Regional Alliance, representative for Bungree. to pioneer how Government does We have recently completed our business with our community. CEO recruitment process and would We understand where we are like to welcome and introduce Dale now and where we want to be - Keehne to the team (see his story in empowering our people through the newsletter) as our new CEO who community led decision-making will start at the end of June. I’d like a way that it results in changing the and reform”. to personally thank Russell Irving for way the Government interacts with us. ably covering this vacancy for the The Board are looking forward to past 9 months. Corinne Hodson, our Community continuing to work closely with Engagement Manager is always our community and all levels of With the buy in from both Federal interested in what you think about Government this year to progress and State Government with our how things can or need to be these exciting initiatives. Alliance we work both locally and on changed. This information tells us a State and National level. This gives what we need to say and how to I’d like to acknowledge some us access, and also responsibility, to influence the people who make the achievements of some of our Board meet the needs of our community decisions. Directors: now at both levels as well as accountability for current services Thank you for allowing us to walk • Aunty Di O’Brien - when in being delivered on the Coast. with you as we seek a better future keep an eye out for a BIG picture for our peoples here on Darkinjung of her at Central Station. This is a long term process and the land. Aunty Di has been nominated as role of Barang Regional Alliance a strong black woman under the is to ensure that the voices of the With the greatest of respect NAIDOC theme “Because of her community are being heard in such Kate Kelleher

MESSAGE FROM GM / ACTING CEO

This has been our first newsletter in We will now take this mandate over twelve months as our focus for to the Commonwealth and State most of 2017 was the strengthening governments to formally negotiate of our internal Board structures, regional reform agreements and to policies and procedures and to build the partnerships to improve engage with the broader Central the services and funding allocations Coast Aboriginal Community to to tackle these issues. The “What’s listen and understand the key issues Next” section on page 5 provides they want us to focus on. further details on this.

The focus of this newsletter is to Finally, our small team (see picture) report back on the results of this has recently expanded with 3 community engagement which new appointments (CEO, Youth has provided the community driven Development Project Officer, young people across the Coast and mandate for our Board to endorse Capacity Development Manager) implement our reform agenda. ‘Empowered Youth’ as our first which will significantly increase regional reform priority (refer to our capacity to support our smaller Regards page 4). community organisations and Russell Irving

2 OUR COMMUNITY ARE THE EXPERTS RESULTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Barang was very busy during 2017 • Over 400 surveys with our young CULTURE IS CRITICAL connecting with the Aboriginal people In the surveys, we asked young community. • 5 Community Workshops across people and community separately the region what they identify as the most • Attending many Community important issue for young people. WHAT OUR Events A majority of young people said • Ongoing consultation with 7 Culture was most important. Our YOUNG PEOPLE SAY... ‘Opt In’ Aboriginal Organisation young people are talking and we are members listening! MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE... A majority of young people rated WHAT IS THE BIGGEST Culture as the most important AGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE HEALTH CONCERN... issue for young people (38%) WHO RESPONDED... Mental Health - 50.32% BEST WAY TO GET Addiction - followed by Health & Well-Being INFORMATION... 12 or under - 4.94% 24.22% (27%) and (19%) 13 - 15 yo - 46.30% Physical Health - 18.01% Education Facebook - 60.25% 16 - 18 yo - 27.16% Other Health Issues - 7.45% Phone - 17.39% 19 - 21 yo - 10.49% Text/SMS, Email, Mailbox and 22 - 24 yo - BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE posters were selected by under 6.79% HOUSING SITUATION... 10% of young people 25 or older - 4.32% Living with parents or relatives - 85.80% Independently - 12.35% WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Homeless - 1.85% WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR Wyong/Watanobbi - 22.64% EMPLOYMENT SITUATION? Bateau Bay/The Entrance - 13.84% ON A SCALE OF 1 - 10, Studying FT - 52% Gorokan/Lake Haven - 12.58% HOW CONNECTED DO YOU FEEL TO: Working PT/Casual - 24% Terrigal/Avoca - 11.95% Your Aboriginal Culture & Identity - 7.6 Looking for Work - 17% San Remo/Blue Haven - 10.69% The Aboriginal Community on the CC - 6.8 Working FT - 10% - 9.43% To your Family or Mob - 7.9 Studying PT - 6% Budgewoi/ - 8.81% Unable to find work -5% Woy Woy/Peninsula - 5.66% Kariong/Mangrove Mountain - 4.40%

These survey have highlighted:- WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS … The issues of most significance to our MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED AS... young people (162 surveys) were FOR YOUNG PEOPLE... Aboriginal - 76.12% • Culture (38%) A majority of community members rated Torres Strait Islander - 0.75% Employment as the most important issue Both Aboriginal & Torres Strait • Health and wellbeing (27%) – with for young people (31%) followed by Health Islander - 1.49% 50% of those citing mental health (28%) and then Culture (25%) Don’t identify as either - 21.64% as their biggest concern • Education (19%) WHERE DO YOU LIVE? The issues of most significance to our Wyong/Watanobbi - 18.69% BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE general community (240 surveys) Gosford - 17.76% HOUSING SITUATION... were Woy Woy/Peninsula - 15.89% Private (renting) - 43.08% Bateau Bay/The Entrance - 14.10% Private (buying) - 32.31% • Employment (31%) Gorokan/Lake Haven - 10.28% Living with Family - 7.69% • Health and wellbeing (28%) Terrigal/Avoca - 8.41% Housing NSW - 5.38% Budgewoi/Lake Munmorah - 7.47% Community Housing - 4.62% • Culture (25%) Kariong/Mangrove Mountain - 3.73% Homeless - 3.85% In addition, our Aboriginal San Remo/Blue Haven - 3.73% Aboriginal Housing - 3.08% controlled community backbone organisations who provide services HOW OLD ARE YOU? WHAT BEST to the central coast community WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DESCRIBES YOUR HEALTH CONCERN... 18 - 24 yo - 0.75% EMPLOYMENT have identified early childhood Mental Health - 53.6% 25 - 34 yo - 23.88% SITUATION? intervention and integrated parent Physical Health - 23.2% 35 - 44 yo - 32.09% Working FT - 50.4% & family support programs as having Addiction - 45 - 54 yo - 21.64% 21.6% Unable to find work -19.20% critical importance to the long term Other Health Issues - 1.6% 55 - 64 yo - 16.42% Working PT/Casual - 16% empowerment of our youth. 65+ yo - 5.22% Looking for Work - 9.6% Studying FT - 8.8% Studying PT - 8% 3 Through this engagement and Empowered through culture OUR YOUNG PEOPLE with close to half of the Aboriginal and leadership, we want ALL ARE OUR PRIORITY population on the Central Coast young people to have access and being under 18 years of age and with opportunities to: an Aboriginal youth unemployment rate of 31-39%, our community • Meaningful employment and has asked Barang to focus on the education empowerment of our youth as our • Live in a safe place Fastest growing Aboriginal first priority. • Be healthy and well population in Australia

2,521 between 15 and 24 years old up from 1,932 in 2011 ALL ABORIGINAL Median age is 20 yo Youth unemployment NSW average is 40 rate 31% - 39% YOUNG PEOPLE ARE:

Able to Participate in Healthy Employment & Able to live & Well Education in a Safe Place

All of which are underpinned by a Strong Connection to Culture and Leadership

Empowered Youth First Priority Regional Reform Priority

the local community and is being refining the program, and once this EMERGING LEADERS driven by Corinne Hodson, our has been completed, our plan is to PROGRAM Community Engagement Manager. hold forums across the community We are currently in the process of in order to attract future leaders who Barang Regional Alliance is currently will benefit from this in the process of designing a program program. Please feel that is aimed at providing local free to contact us if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island you want some more leaders of tomorrow with a structured information about leadership program that will include this program, and the formal academic qualification, development of our cultural training as well as personal future leaders. development in order to prepare them for future leadership and Image from the Healing community life. Forum. Front row left to right - Amanda Shields, Rubi Bourke, Talara Freeman, This program has been informed Jessica Wheeler. Back by a local young leadership group, row left to right - Anthony Freeman, Gary Field, Tyson as well as leaders of influence in Samuel, Tyson Adams.

4 in the decisions Governments make affirmation, family, youth and parent WHAT’S NEXT FOR on the funding and design of services support programs can be expanded. BARANG? that are delivered so that priority is We will seek to establish transitional given to those that invest in building accommodation services linked Formal Regional Agreements with the capability and aspiration of to these hubs for young people Government Aboriginal people and organisations transitioning from out of home care, as core business activity so that juvenile detention or with mental Inspired and directed by this united lasting empowerment is achieved. health care arrangements. community mandate and informed by their ideas on how to empower This will include seeking You can find out more by our youth, we will now be seeking Commonwealth and State downloading our ‘Statement of Claim’ formal regional reform agreements government support to fund document from the News and Events with the Commonwealth and State Aboriginal controlled ‘youth and section on our website governments. These agreements will family’ community hubs in Umina, barang.org.au/latest-news-events seek direct community involvement Gosford and Wyong where cultural

Gary Field (Youth Development Project Officer), Kate Kelleher (Chair), Russell Irving (GM / Acting CEO), Dale Keehne (newly appointed CEO), Corinne Hodson (Community Engagement Manager), Andrew Malloch (Capacity Development Manager), Glenda Simpson (Admin & Finance Officer), Monak Morris (Trainee, inset)

ONGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DRIVING OUR WORK

As community, we ask you to join us the voice of our community and service participants and/or on this journey! support community wide action, community members. change and systems reform. Here are some ideas of how you • Answer our quarterly survey: might take part…but we’d also love to • Join us in conversations with every quarter we will be asking hear your ideas! community: Tell us what you want the Aboriginal Central Coast for your community and your ideas Community questions which we’ll • Have a chat with us – give us a call on what it will take to make it track over time to see whether you on (02) 4351 3225. happen. think things are getting better. Please help us to get as many • Share with us passions/hobbies • Facilitate conversations with responses as possible. that you’d like to contribute to the community: ask your friends, community. family, service users, community • Please get involved – let us know members what they want for their how you’d like to get involved, • Send through good news or stories community. We’ll provide you with contributing your passions and gifts about something that’s happening the questions and we’ll support you with community. in the community. to make it happen. We look forward to hearing from you • Lots of Feedback! Please tell us • Hand out community conversation and your mob! what we can do to better capture questions to your friends, family,

5 CORRIE’S STORY

I am a proud Wiradjuri working life, but coming woman with family links back to Barang to work to the Riverina region of directly in community New South Wales. is definitely my dream job and community I have lived on the engagement and Central Coast for the working to reach past 5 years, and I now the whole of our call it home. I love living community is definitely on Darkinjung country what drives me and is and I feel so much something that I am connection to the bush, incredibly passionate the waterways and the about beaches in this beautiful part of the world. My work background has been in project Since I moved to the management coast, I have become and community really involved with engagement – working the local community, in both Government and I am currently and not for profits for the chair of Bara the past 20 years. In Barang Corporation, as this time I have lived well as on the board and worked in many of Yerin - Eleanor regions across Australia Duncan Aboriginal including Sydney, Medical Centre. I Newcastle as well as was lucky enough to Perth and the Pilbara gain employment region in regional WA. as the Community My major focus Engagement Manager is to push for the with Barang Regional development of Alliance in May 2017, but Aboriginal youth I was previously involved leadership and as a board member providing avenues prior to this. for all people to I have lived and worked have connection to in Aboriginal positions Darkinjung culture. for the whole of my

DALE’S STORY

I have dedicated most government reform of my working life to processes. the empowerment of Aboriginal I look forward with people, families and a sense of gratitude, communities - in the excitement and Northern Territory, anticipation for what as well as Western collectively we can Australia. achieve through the historic opportunity Much of my experience before us here - to has been directly create a genuine and engaging with, lasting shift in power representing and and agency from advocating for local government to the Aboriginal people people. with major whole of

6 I’m investing my time KATE’S STORY and energy in Barang I am a proud Palawa Trouwunna Regional Alliance woman from the Pyemairrenner because I’ve witnessed mob in Tasmania, which includes the the experience of many Trawlwoolway and Plairmairrenner where the current and related clans. Pictured here at systems just don’t Manalargenna Day, I’m creating a empower our people. traditional water carrier made from We need to be at the bull kelp endemic to the land of my decision making tables ancestors, Tebrakunna country. and determining our own paths, in our own ways. I moved up to the land of the Darkinjung people in September 1994 Here on the Central to be near my ageing parents and Coast we have a unique other members of family including opportunity through sister Avron and her family. the Empowered Communities model It’s really since launching out on my (Federal) and the Local own that I have found my voice as an Decision Making Model Aboriginal woman and, as my sisters (State) to influence how would say, picked up their baton of funding is most effectively working with community. It looks distributed and used. and feels different to their path but We are the only region in I’m very aware that I stand on their Australia to have both. shoulders as I do on many that have come before us. For our landscape to change here locally not I’ve deliberately chosen to work just in delivery of services I am personally committed to with and for our mobs in my but responding to the full spectrum systemic reform. It’s not enough business. I have a passion for change of community needs – whether its that a few individuals here and there management processes that allow business; parenting; early childhood shine. All our mob need to be able self-determination and authentic development or elder care will to pursue life free from the effects of partnering with our mobs to live and take courage, resolve, curiosity and colonisation. A big call... Not gonna work in ways that are meaningful and a willingness to lift our head from happen overnight … It will take years culturally appropriate to us whilst where we have been. For those in of determination, resilience, pushing navigating our 21st century world. I’ve a leadership capacity it will be a ahead together. It will take everyone found myself in many paddocks over willingness to develop a new way of to care, to bother, to put aside our the past 8 years. I was very pleased walking together. Casting off the old own agendas for the greater good. to be given, for the first time, the survival patterns of fighting over the opportunity to work with my local crumbs that fall off the table of the I believe we can and will do it! That’s community here on the Central Coast. current systems. what inspires me!

Our current Board is comprised of the following member REPRESENTATIVES : -

Kate Kelleher Adam McEwen Suzanne Naden Tina West Director & Acting Chair Director Representative Director

Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Bara Barang Bungree Aboriginal Association Bungree Aboriginal Association Darkinjung LALC

TBA Rowena Lawrie Simone Hudson Dianne O’Brien Representative Director Representative Director

Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Darkinjung LALC Gudjagang Ngara Li-dhi (GNL) Gudjagang Ngara Li-dhi (GNL) Mingaletta

Kim Walker Mark Colless Michael Pittman David Myers Director Representative Director Representative

Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation Opt in Organisation NAISDA NAISDA Yerin Yerin

7 CONTACT LIST

BARANG Address Shop 3, 61 Howarth St Wyong NSW 2259 Phone (02) 4351 3225 Email [email protected] Web www.barang.org.au Facebook barangregionalalliance

BARA BARANG MINGALETTA Address Anglican House Address 6 Sydney Ave Umina NSW 2257 3 Mann St Gosford NSW 2250 Phone (02) 4342 7515 Phone (02) 4312 5133 Fax (02) 4341 9254 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Web www.barabarang.com.au Web www.mingaletta.org.au Facebook barabarangcorporationltd Facebook mingaletta

BUNGREE NAISDA Address Suite 20/1 Reliance Drive Address 31 The Avenue Tuggerah NSW 2259 Kariong NSW 2250 Phone (02) 4350 0100 Phone (02) 4340 3100 Fax (02) 4355 4256 Fax (02) 4340 3160 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Web www.bungree.org.au Web www.naisda.com.au Facebook bungreeaboriginal Facebook naisdadancecollege

DARKINJUNG YERIN (Eleanor Duncan Address 168 Pacific Hwy Aboriginal Medical Service) Watanobbi NSW 2259 Address Suites 8-9/36 Alison Rd Phone (02) 4351 2930 Wyong NSW 2250 Fax (02) 4351 2946 Phone (02) 4351 1040 Email [email protected] Fax (02) 4351 1037 Web www.darkinjung.com.au Email [email protected] Facebook darkinjung Web www.yerin.org.au Facebook YerinAHS GUDJAGANG NGARA LI-DHI

Address Literary Close The Newsletter is published by Barang Regional Alliance Ltd. Kanwal NSW 2259 Material in this publication comes from a variety of community and government-based sources and therefore does not necessarily reflect Phone (02) 4394 2501 the views of Barang or its members. Material submitted may be subject to editorial changes. Material that includes dates, times and Email [email protected] contact details is correct at the time of publishing. Therefore, Barang Facebook gnlistentothechildren cannot be held responsible if it is not informed of any changes to that information prior to publication.

Printed on recycled paper using environmentally friendly inks.