• justice • equity • social inclusion • reconciliation • update Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples: Stories of good practice in the community sector Inside...
Tuggeranong Arts Centre – 2 First Nations Story What is “good practice” in the context of Aboriginal Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait housing from an Aboriginal 4 Islander peoples: Stories of good Community Housing Provider perspective? practice in the community sector Good practice at 8 Beryl Women Inc. By Dr Emma Campbell, CEO, ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS) Dhunlung Yarra Service 9
Supporting culturally am delighted to present this is required to ensure high quality appropriate primary health I edition of the ACTCOSS journal. and culturally appropriate practice care for Aboriginal and 10 ACTCOSS has long supported standards are developed across Torres Strait Islander people the establishment and funding all sectors, including community in the ACT of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait service organisations. Mulleun Mura: Aboriginal Islander community-controlled and Torres Strait Islander We must all share responsibility and 12 organisations to provide safe, Women’s Access to play our role in challenging and appropriate and effective support Justice Program changing the racism, discrimination, for First Nations peoples in injustice and inequity experienced Reconciliation Peer Network 13 Canberra. These organisations are by First Nations peoples. Cultural Awareness beacons of good practice and we 14 Self-Assessment Toolkit must all support and learn from One small step is for the ACT’s their work. community sector to determine Gulanga Good 15 how we can ensure our services Practice Guides There are also examples of respond and deliver culturally good practice in the wider ACT Do you have an Aboriginal appropriate services to First and/or Torres Strait Islander community sector. Many non- 15 Nations peoples. worker or volunteer at Aboriginal organisations have your non-profit? worked hard to engage with the This edition of the ACTCOSS journal Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait shares examples of good practice, Aboriginal Cultural tools and resources to assist in Awareness Education 16 Islander community to ensure that improving and developing services. Program – 19 March 2021 First Nations peoples and their families can safely and confidently I hope you enjoy this edition of Save the date: 13th access the services that will best Anniversary of the the ACTCOSS journal and that 17 meet their needs. National Apology to the it provides a useful reference to Stolen Generations The experiences of many First support your organisation to develop safe and inclusive services Article footnotes 17 Nations peoples in Canberra, and the poor health and wellbeing accessible to and appropriate for ACTCOSS AGM, new Board Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait 18 outcomes for many First Nations and annual report peoples, highlights that more work Islander peoples. Tuggeranong Arts Centre – First Nations Story
By Lorena Quinlivan, Committee Member, Tuggeranong Community Arts Association
n 2017 I was invited to join the Management ICommittee of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre to be the representative for our First Nations peoples. I immediately felt welcomed in the centre and as a Management Committee member. The Tuggeranong Arts Centre team have also been welcoming and supportive of our First Nations peoples. While attending events I have noted that they are always inclusive and ensure someone is available to either “Welcome” us all to the land or at least Aunty Agnes receives the 2018 Heritage Award for the ‘Acknowledge’ the First Nations people here as the Violet’s Park project, 2018. Photo by Martin Ollman. traditional owners. The organisation measures its success by the fact Being able to work with Nevanka, who is a wonderful that there are always Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait documentary filmmaker from Western Australia, was Islander people attending functions. This indicates again a valuable learning process for the team. Her a close relationship with the local communities, as ability to connect the arts centre with other First they feel safe and welcome at the centre. Nations artists and musicians across the country was significant. The Tuggeranong Arts Centre is across cultural awareness and displays this at every event Nevanka ensured that processes were adjusted to by ensuring there is an invitation to our First what was culturally appropriate and she engaged Nations peoples, showing an appreciation and many local community members with interesting understanding of the unique culture. activities and films that highlighted the significance of culture and the importance of reconciliation and The Tuggeranong Arts Centre highly values diversity understanding. Nevanka has since moved on and is and is non-discriminatory, treating all with respect now in Darwin. and affording each person a voice. The centre has First Nations participants in many programs Although the arts centre has not been able to including the Fresh Funk Dance Program and the replace her, there is a clear understanding of how Messengers Youth Arts Program for kids at risk. valuable and important it is to continue to work with First Nations artists and staff whenever possible. I find a great example of the work they have done was the making of the excellent documentary film In past years, key staff from the arts centre were Footprints on Our Land about Canberra’s most senior able to access excellent cultural awareness training Ngunnawal Elder, and now the Patron of the arts tailored specifically to arts and cultural work. The centre, Aunty Agnes Shea. training was offered by the Footscray Community Arts Centre in Melbourne and the financial Researching and telling her story allowed the arts investment made to train staff was very worthwhile. centre team to meet many Elders from the region and also gave everyone a deeper understanding The centre has a strong and inclusive cultural and of what family means to us. It was wonderful to be community focus and works with LGBTQIA+ First able to work with First Nations associate producer Nations community members on interesting projects Nevanka Mckeon, who remained part of the arts for 2021. One project will showcase queer black centre team for quite some time and initiated artists and performers and look behind the scenes at another significant project, The Violet’s Park project, the challenges they face. Again, the staff are working that recognised the life and legacy of Ngunnawal closely with local First Nations community leaders Elder Violet Bulger in Gungahlin. and artists.
2 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Overall, the arts centre’s programming has a strong link to social justice and advocacy. The staff seek out themes and artists who dare to challenge the norm and raise awareness of issues related to minority groups and oppression. Tuggeranong Arts Centre became the home of the annual Deadly Funny Program of the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2016. The arts centre prides itself on knowing that many First Nations comedians first took the stage in the little lakeside room in Tuggeranong. Comedy always has a strong element of advocacy and pride when it comes to Comedy Workshop with Kevin Kropinyeri at the Belconnen Black Comedy. Child & Family Centre, 2017. Photo by Martin Ollman. We have seen the amazing Rachel Maza of Ilbijerri Theatre Company offer acting workshops while presenting the play Which Way Home to Tuggeranong audiences, including the young ones from Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation. Many of us witnessed the outstandingly brave and outspoken Jacob Boehme deliver Blood on the Dancefloor in the Tuggeranong Theatre. In 2018 the exhibition Another Day in Paradise showed the work of Myuran Sukumaran, the young man who was executed in Indonesia along with other members of the infamous Bali Nine. Katie Beckett from Ilbijerri runs a writing workshop at The exhibition was chosen to raise awareness of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 2018. Photo by Martin Ollman. death penalty, yet it also touched on the difficult and relevant theme of racism and disadvantage. In 2019 a bold element was added to Southfest in Tuggeranong by bringing First Nations queer performers to the main stage. The community enjoyed Electric Fields and Constantina Bush along with the fabulous Merindas and many more. “While there is still much work, learning and connecting to do, we will continue to make reconciliation and decolonisation a key objective for our work into the future, and perhaps one day we will have a First Nations program producer who Sean Choolburra & MAdB at Southfest, 2019. Photo by will lead this work together with the First Nations Martin Ollman. Canberra community,” says the arts centre’s CEO Rauny Worm. Small yet important steps have been taken, and as a Committee member of the organisation I will continue to support this.
Tuggeranong Community Arts Association Inc tuggeranongarts.com facebook.com/tuggeranongarts
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 3 What is “good practice” in the context of Aboriginal housing from an Aboriginal Community Housing Provider perspective?
By Thomas Slockee, Chair & Kim Sinclair, CEO, SEARMS Aboriginal Corporation (SEARMS)
ood practice from an Adequate housing depends mental health and social and GIndigenous perspective is on a range of factors including emotional well-being, welfare based on relationship. Good inter alia legal security of tenure, dependency, poor living means to recognise, be respectful habitability, local and cultural skills, high levels of domestic and value the shared knowledge adequacy. Each of these factors violence and substance in the exchange. To acknowledge for Aboriginal people is charged abuse, and low levels of that we need each other to with generational trauma due educational attainment.2 help stay smart and strong. To to the oftentimes brutal conflict And while this report says remember that together we all as they sought and continue there has been improvement share and serve, with the future of to seek acknowledgment of in housing situation for our communities at the heart of the desecration of their sacred Indigenous Australians, the gap what we do. cultural country and cultural between Indigenous and Other practices throughout Australia’s Colonisers believed “good practice” Households remains significant. colonisation journey. was to steal land and create Other factors that make up subservience and dependency The AIHW 2019 Aboriginal and appropriate and adequate for Australian Indigenous people. Torres Strait Islander people: a housing which are incredibly We still struggle against these focus report on housing and important to Aboriginal peoples postcolonial interventions and homelessness1 reinforces that – are our belonging and conditioning in an effort to regain stable and secure housing is connection to Country, our family our autonomy as self-determining fundamental to other important and extended families (kin): peoples. This disconnect between health and wellbeing outcomes, a coloniser’s value system and and speaks directly to the effect The history of being a First Nations value system of colonisation: dispossessed, displaced makes it essential to have and dispersed has had Historical experiences Aboriginal community controlled a devastating effect on of Indigenous people in organisations delivering services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australia and the lasting our own people. Islander peoples. Before impacts of colonisation colonialism and even for have had a significant Housing as a human right a time after the invasion, impact on Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait While the protection of human housing conditions and Islander people lived a rights is covered by a number of homelessness. This has harmonious, well balanced international treaties, adherence included displacement of and highly ordered and by government is not a given. Indigenous people from their structured lives. The family Housing which comes under traditional lands, separation and tribe’s responsibility were the International Covenant on of children from their families, to care for each other. Shelter Economic, Social and Cultural and policies and services was a prime responsibility. Rights (ICESCR), Article 11 states: that conflict with Indigenous Responsibilities were shared. values and culture. The Every person has the right to Shelter was more than a impact of these experiences an adequate standard of living, Gunyah but included trees, transcends generations which includes the right to water, sources of plants and includes poverty, low adequate housing. and food. self-esteem, poor physical,
4 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Uncle Tom Slockee conducting cleansing ceremony after the New Year’s bushfire events.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Each state and territory may or connection to the country on Islander people became may not have a specific strategy which the organisation operates, disconnected when the to address housing and housing which means decisions are political powers and services for its Aboriginal citizens. made and priorities are given government authorities More than likely, funding for in an environment of care and enacted policies and programs Aboriginal people and their concern for family and extended to remove the Original services is housing are channeled family members. It is seen and Custodians from their Land. through government and accepted by some people in the mainstream providers. communities as an implicit and Missions were created entitled way of making decisions. to corral Aboriginal and Various Commonwealth and The power that was denied for so Torres Strait Islander people state/territory housing policies long is taken back and exercised into submissiveness and have resulted in a “mixed-bag” to decide the best for family and subservience. Simple and of housing results for Aboriginal self. Some see it as an improper cheap housing was built on people and Aboriginal housing use of power and it is usually a the Missions and managed by organisations. The sector conflict of interest. Mission Managers. is complex – with multiple Aboriginal housing owner As an Aboriginal community- This created a dependency on organisations – under various controlled organisation, our government to provide and governance frameworks. “good practice” takes into manage. It was a deliberate account compliance with the controlling element Many of these governance various laws and regulations but frameworks by their very nature, – Uncle Tom Slockee also the values of caring and place a heavy burden on elected sharing inherent in Aboriginal office bearers. Current context culture, which is layered with In Australia, the Aboriginal Eligibility for appointment onto direct experience of historic and community housing sector is the board of an Aboriginal current trauma of a dispossessed, vastly different to the “mainstream” housing organisation usually systemically discriminated community housing sector. means having a historic local against people.
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 5 “good practice / 2006 (Cth). Since formation, it “good practice / good governance” has operated under a “moving safe workplaces” feast” of Aboriginal housing SEARMS was formed in 2003 as a policy under locally set policies SEARMS’s values and our co-operative between a number and procedures along with vision to be a leader in of Aboriginal organisations who compliance requirements under the provision of culturally held housing assets in the NSW the AHO’s Provider Assessment appropriate housing and far south coast region as part of and Registration system (PARS). housing services to our clients a pilot-programme for regional It has a Board with courage and and communities are founded management services by the tenacity to make hard decisions on creating employment, NSW Aboriginal Housing Office yet with a heart to engage training opportunities and safe (AHO). The AHO had recognised and listen and act in the best workplaces to develop a fledgling the need for an independent, interest of our Aboriginal people Aboriginal community housing yet community-controlled and communities. sector workforce and increase vehicle to support local boards capabilities and capacity for to better manage their local In January this year, SEARMS also recognition as a professional and housing programmes. achieved registration under the sustainable sector. National Regulatory System for In 2011, SEARMS moved from the Community Housing (NRSCH) Safe workplaces acknowledge co-operative model to a company providers Tier 3 Registration. the inherent conflicts of under the Corporations (Aboriginal interest in working in and for and Torres Strait Islander) Act Aboriginal communities.
SEARMS’s commissioned artwork United Lands which depicts SEARMS as the octopus travelling across land and water in our service to many communities. The black duck is the totem of the Batemans Bay Walbunja people.
6 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Safe workplaces acknowledge which will build the capacity the trauma of colonisation on of Aboriginal organisations About the authors our employees and our tenants and communities. Tom Slockee is an and the ongoing frustrations We need a national Aboriginal Aboriginal elder with over of systemic discrimination that Housing Strategy and new 40 years experience in continues to see disproportionate national funding stream Aboriginal housing. He grew representation in justice and to meet new housing and up under the Aboriginal corrective systems, out-of-home homelessness targets. Elders of the Minjungbul care and poverty. We look forward to the day people of the Bundjalung Safe workplaces accept the when there are appropriately Nation, marrying a Walbunja expectations of Aboriginal resourced and focused policies woman. He was adopted community on our Aboriginal and housing programs that will into Walbunja Country by organisations and workers, produce the positive effect on the Aboriginal Elders and that you will look after them as the social, economic, and general hold status as Elder and family whether blood related prosperity of Aboriginal people Spiritual Leader. He chaired or not, regardless of what your and communities. the Aboriginal Housing position description says, or Development Committee whether you receive funding SEARMS continues to focus on which advised the NSW for case management or service delivery, advocating State Housing Minister on support pathways. nationally and locally for better Aboriginal housing. This led provision of services to and housing The recent signing of the National to the enactment of the options for Aboriginal people. With Agreement on Closing the Gap3 NSW Aboriginal Housing its main office based in Batemans and priority reforms which Act 1998, and he became Bay, it acknowledges and pays its commit government to sharing the inaugural Chair of the respect to the elders of the three decision making with Aboriginal NSW Aboriginal Housing nations it crosses – the Walbunja, and Torres Islander people on Office. He has also served Ngambri-Ngunnawal and Wiradjiri policy and programs that impact on the board of Aboriginal peoples. It has recently employed on them is a step in the right Hostels Ltd and is currently an Aboriginal remote worker in direction. By clarifying a “good the Chair of SEARMS and Sydney and opened a satellite practice” framework by which the a Board Member of the office in Canberra, employing their government can meaningfully recently formed Aboriginal first Canberra-based Aboriginal engage with Aboriginal and Community Housing Housing Officer. Torres Islander people, it is Industry Association NSW. expected that collaborations and Kim Sinclair is a New partnerships will become more See page 17 for footnotes. Zealand born Maori with balanced moving forward. Nga Puhi and Tuwharetoa ancestry. Migrating to SEARMS Aboriginal Corporation Good practice in action Australia with her family in searms.com.au Real progress in Aboriginal 2001, she brings her wealth housing requires authentic of government, military, reconciliation and a shifting of private and community power and control away from expertise to community government and mainstream housing. With over a decade organisations and back to of combined mainstream community owned solutions. and Aboriginal community housing experience We need genuine systemic including affordable reform and approach to housing development, addressing inequality and a her passion for the sector commitment to adequate remains resilient. funding for Aboriginal housing,
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 7 Good practice at Beryl Women Inc.
By Chelsea Malinas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Specialist Domestic Violence Worker, Beryl Women Inc.
irstly, I want to acknowledge within the Aboriginal community Aboriginal women, we are Fthe Ngunnawal people of Canberra for over 20 years. aware of the challenges our as the traditional custodians Trust when working within sisters in the community of the land we work on. We the Aboriginal community is a regularly experience. pay our respects to the Elders genuine prerequisite for working Beryl Women Inc. staff are past, present and future for with Aboriginal women and made up of seven women and they hold the memories, the being transparent and honest is half are Aboriginal, and there traditions, the culture and the important to develop that trust. are two Aboriginal women hopes of Aboriginal Australia. Mainstream organisations must on our Board of Directors. We remember that the land we understand their unconscious We support our Board and work on, was and always will be bias within society and educate colleagues to engage in cultural traditional Aboriginal land. your staff about these issues. opportunities within the Beryl Women Inc. is committed Workers must own and recognise community like NAIDOC Week, to providing high quality support their own privilege and the Survival Day, Anniversary of the and accommodation to women imbalance of power experienced National Apology to the Stolen and children escaping domestic/ by Aboriginal women within Generations or events. Over the family violence. The organisation most social systems they are past two years, we have held recognises that violence against forced to have contact with. public events during NAIDOC women is prevalent in our society Week. Recently we have The reasons attributing to family and that injustices such as sexism, dedicated two years with a violence within Aboriginal and racism, economic inequality view to educating government Torres Strait Islander communities and homophobia contribute and non-government according to ANROWS research, to families living in crisis. To organisations delivering “is increasingly being understood redress this, Beryl Women Inc. community education about to be shaped by the specific will provide a professional and working with Aboriginal context of colonialism, systematic accountable service that is based people and hopefully raise disadvantage, cultural disruption, in social justice, recognising and their awareness about their forced removal of children, and fostering cultural diversity. own white privilege and their the intergenerational impact organisations’ white privilege Beryl Women Inc. is committed of trauma.”1 with an Aboriginal lens when to working with women and When compared with other working with Aboriginal children in crisis and for two women, Aboriginal and/or people. We are always happy to women, they have had multiple Torres Strait Islander women share knowledge and ideas. stays within the service over are 34 times more likely to be several years. We have retained Beryl Women Inc. policies hospitalised from family violence a connection with them as and procedures reflect our and 10 times more likely to die their lack of support is evident. commitment to creating as a result of violent assault2; Building trust is vital when genuine respect for cultural they experience genuine poverty working with women who have competence in practice. Staff and financial stress which often experienced multiple traumas are supported to maintain leads to homelessness; they do in their life. connection to the community. experience overt systematic The professional practices are Quite often the trusting racism and regular incidences how we deliver our service with relationship is why the women of racism within schools, sport a trauma-informed Aboriginal return to Beryl Women Inc. We or the general community. lens. We are committed to have workers who have worked So as practitioners as well as
8 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. creating genuine sustainable sitting on the steering committee our sister survivors with their change for all women and for the Our Booris, Our Way report3 children to live in safety, free from children survivors of domestic into the overrepresentation of domestic and family violence. and family violence. Aboriginal children in out of home care in the ACT. We have maintained positive See page 17 for footnotes. relationships with other The other report, which was Aboriginal services in Canberra shelved for over ten years by the and surrounding areas. We have current government until last Beryl Women Inc. informal referral pathways with year when it could no longer be beryl.org.au them when they are required and ignored, is the We Don’t Shoot Our understand the importance of Wounded report.4 Nevertheless, maintaining a united front with they are again discussing its our Aboriginal community. findings and we hope to see implementation of the suggested Our Chief Executive Officer, changes identified. Robyn Martin, sits on many boards and has a strong Beryl Women Inc. looks forward commitment to working with her to the new year working in community to create change by solidarity to ease the burden on
The Dhunlung Yarra Service provides confidential, flexible and culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team is qualified and experienced in working in community. We work with individuals, families and couples on relationship issues, loss and grief, separation and family violence. We provide a cultural approach that Our logo includes outreach options, meeting The Centre represents people meeting and you at a location where you might feel yarning. White, green and dark brown panels are comfortable. We keep culture central in the Country and land. Red is our cultural diversity. work that we do. White dots represent the stars. Light orange lines are the restraints that hold us back from talking. The goanna is freedom from troubles and To yarn with us healing. Artwork provided by Budda Connors.
Call all us at Relationships Australia Dhunlung Yarra means ‘Tell, Talk’, using words from Canberra & Region on 1300 364 277 to both the Ngunnawal (Dhunlung) and Wiradjuri make an appointment or to learn more. (Yarra) languages. Christmas and New Year period: Our service will close on 23 December 2020 and resume on 7 January 2021.
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 9 Supporting culturally appropriate primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT
By Dr Naomi Houston, Indigenous Health GP Advisor and Sharon Storen Indigenous Health Officer, Capital Health Network
e respect the Ngunnawal people of this region We know that culturally appropriate and safe primary Was the Traditional Custodians and cultural health care services are essential in supporting First knowledge holders of this land. Nations people with detection and management of health risk factors, social and emotional wellbeing Capital Health Network (CHN) recognises the issues, and chronic illnesses. So we have partnered importance of partnerships to improving the with local organisation, Coolamon Advisors, to co- health and wellbeing of First Nations people in design a Cultural Competency Framework which will the ACT. Central to this, CHN facilitates the co- ensure collaboration with First Nations community design, funding and support programs and services members when planning, commissioning and that improve access to culturally safe health and evaluating our projects. We understand the wellbeing services that take a holistic and integrated importance of improving relationships, and approach to meeting the needs of the more than acknowledging and respecting cultural differences 7,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between First Nations and non-Indigenous people living in the ACT. We acknowledge and strive to when working with the local Aboriginal and Torres work together with the many other organisations Strait Islander community. providing important services to the First Nations community in the ACT. Coolamon Advisors also provides Cultural Awareness Training for primary health care providers in the Approximately 40% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ACT, services commissioned by CHN and CHN staff. Islander people in the ACT report having excellent Over 65 primary health care professionals and 29 or very good health1,however, we know that 64% Commissioned Service professionals working in of the total burden of disease among First Nations mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) people in Australia is due to chronic disease2, 37% of have been trained prior to COVID-19, with ongoing the burden of disease in First Nations people could bi-annual training planned. This training is supported be prevented by reducing risk factors3 and 39% of by the CHN Indigenous Health Team which delivers the gap between First Nations and non-Indigenous in-practice education to improve the capacity of Australians’ health outcomes can be explained by primary health care services to provide culturally social determinants of health.4 safe environments and care for First Nations people, and to improve understanding and utilisation of government initiatives by health care providers to help close the gap. These initiatives include comprehensive health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, access to reduced cost medicines and access to the Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program. It is pleasing to see that in the ACT the uptake of health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has increased by almost 20%5 in the last 10 years, however, there is still a long way to go. To support local First Nations people with chronic Capital Health Network’s Indigenous Health Officer, disease, CHN partners with local organisations to Sharon Storen and Indigenous Health GP Advisor, Dr Naomi Houston. provide care coordination services and funding for
10 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. certain approved medical equipment to eligible First Nations people with chronic disease. The ITC Case study: “I couldn’t afford to Program assists First Nations people who require keep living that way”6 coordinated, multidisciplinary care to access Ashleigh* (not her real name) is a local timely and culturally appropriate health care and is Aboriginal woman living with chronic illness funded by the Australian Government’s Indigenous who was referred to the ITC Program at Grand Australians’ Health Programme. Pacific Health (GPH) through her GP. Ashleigh As the ACT Primary Health Network, CHN has was struggling to afford specialist visits and as partnered with Grand Pacific Health to support a result wasn’t managing too well. She suffers clients who have been referred to them through from sleep apnoea and was using a 10-year- mainstream GPs and Winnunga Nimmityjah old mask with her Continuous Positive Airway Aboriginal Health and Community Services to Pressure (CPAP) machine – held together provide the program for their clients. The ITC with sticky tape, which also had tubes that Program makes a real difference to people’s lives contained mould. Ashleigh’s other conditions which is evident in the case study featured in included an injured foot, reflex sympathetic this article. nervous dystrophy, chronic pain, asthma, major depression and anxiety. “I couldn’t afford CHN provided advocacy and support for the to keep living that way,” said Ashleigh. establishment of three GP Respiratory Clinics to conduct COVID-19 testing in the ACT, including Her Support Worker, Taylor, a Registered at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Nurse with GPH, helped get Ashleigh a Community Services which provides culturally referral to a private pain specialist and GPH appropriate testing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait assisted with funding this. GPH’s ITC Program Islander people and existing clients. CHN is providing also paid for a new mask and tubes for her ongoing support to the clinics which are funded by CPAP machine, which means she is able to the Australian Government. use the equipment and sleep through the night. An MRI revealed how far her dystrophy The CHN Indigenous Health Team also recently condition had degenerated in her right foot developed a COVID-19 information flyer to support meaning specialists can now target that our mob and communities through this difficult effectively, and she was also assisted to obtain period. The flyer was co-designed with the team a Mental Health Care Plan to access affordable from the ACT Health Directorate – Aboriginal and psychological services. Torres Strait Islander Health Partnerships: tinyurl.com/chn-covid-flyer “Taylor has been wonderful, open and honest about the services GPH can and cannot CHN’s Indigenous Health Team can be contacted on assist with. She has helped to connect me 02 6287 8099 and further information can be found with services I wouldn’t otherwise have been here: tinyurl.com/chn-first-nations-health able to find or afford. She also came with me to appointments, which sometimes meant See page 17 for footnotes. wiping dribble off the floor from my service dog who comes with me to help manage my anxiety in public,” said Ashleigh. Capital Health Network chnact.org.au “Ashleigh was in a really bad place with her health management when I met her and was clearly struggling financially with her medications as well. Seeing her so much happier and healthier now is why I got into health care,” said Taylor.
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 11 Mulleun Mura Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Access to Justice Program
The Mulleun Mura Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Access to Justice (MMA2J) program provides culturally appropriate law and justice services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Canberra and surrounding region. MMA2J is staffed by a dedicated family lawyer and Aboriginal Contact us on 02 6257 4377 Case Manager, who provides the to see how we can help. You Program’s cultural leadership. can ask to speak with the We provide legal assistance in Mulleun Mura team, or the combination with culturally informed support, including Client Services Team can make case-management services and you an appointment with us. connecting women to community and culture to build strength We will yarn with you to work and resilience. out what you need to reach your goals. Women’s empowerment and We can help you with: decision making is at the centre of • Domestic and family violence our work. • Engaging with Child Protection We are also happy to come and meet with you somewhere you feel • Arrangements for children and safe, including another service you property following separation are already working with, at home • Divorce and separation or a café etc. • Problems at work • Discrimination • Compensation for victims of crime.
12 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Reconciliation Peer Network
By Ryan Joseph, Capability Officer, ACTCOSS
o ensure we are truly driven deliver culturally appropriate and advocacy undertaken by Tby people-led outcomes, services. Examples of these organisations like ANTaR ACT. ACTCOSS’s work is enriched by resources include: Equally important and a common our people-led peer networks. • Aboriginal and Torres Strait strain across all our people-led Our peer networks are spaces Islander Cultural Awareness networks is the opportunity to where individuals interested Self-Assessment Toolkit identify cross-government service or working in the community (CASAT) or policy issues that may require sector can regularly engage in further analysis and advocacy • Gulanga Good Practice Guides advocacy, policy and capability by ACTCOSS. Peer networks are conversations. These networks • Aboriginal and Torres Strait a key pipeline of knowledge include specific issue areas such Islander Cultural Resource for that informs our social change as reconciliation or justice reform, Community Sector Workers agenda and the development of or are built around job roles like (ACT & Region). good practice in our community communication practitioners or Where further support may sector. They are underpinned 1 human resource professionals. be useful in unpacking these by a community development approach, which seeks to Our Reconciliation Peer Network resources or supporting empower and provide the widest (RecNet) is a free, informal, and organisations through specific range of individuals possible with safe meeting space to support issues, the Aboriginal and/ an opportunity to directly engage our sector to work towards or Torres Strait islander staff with the work ACTCOSS does. reconciliation by developing employed within the ACTCOSS authentic and respectful Gulanga Program lend their If you would like to learn more or relationships with Aboriginal experience and expertise. This to get involved, please contact and/or Torres Strait Islander includes providing input on us on 02 6202 7200 or email peoples. Network members are organisational and other policy [email protected]. areas within organisations connected through an email list and illustrating how these and meet quarterly. 1. J Ife, ‘Chapter 12: Principles of practices may impact the Workers and volunteers in community development and their broader Aboriginal and/or the sector in the process of application to practice’, Community Torres Strait Islander peoples developing and implementing a Development in An Uncertain World: and communities in the ACT Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Vision, Analysis & Practice, Cambridge and region. who have been appointed to University Press, 2019, pp.253-285. a RAP working group, or who At the Reconciliation Peer are more broadly interested in Network, we also celebrate work driving a reconciliation agenda in in our sector that authentically Join RecNet embeds an organisational culture their workplace are welcome to Sign up to the that values and resources work come along with their questions, Reconciliation Peer Network: towards reconciliation. During ideas and past experience. actcoss.org.au/recnet COVID-19, this has included The conversations in this sharing from YWCA Canberra network are varied. Often, we about their challenges and delve deeper into the suite of learnings in developing their third resources developed by the Stretch RAP and understanding ACTCOSS Gulanga Program staff how our sector can support the that assist our community sector locally grown public campaigns services to better respond and
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 13 Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit
he Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural TAwareness Self-Assessment Toolkit (CASAT) is a Example of good practice set of good practice standards developed to assist The ACTCOSS Gulanga Program has provided community service organisations improve the quality the following example of good practice for of their services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait your information. Islander clients and communities and to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Attending a one day or two-day cultural and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures. awareness training has become part of everyday business for many workplaces. The CASAT is a set of 6 good practice standards: A trainer will try to cover important topics • Standard 1: Respect and Commitment that are easy to understand within a limited • Standard 2: Staff Knowledge and Development timeframe. It is also the best opportunity you will have to ask questions and engage with • Standard 3: Aboriginal and Torres Strait your peers. Islander Employment The topics may have challenged your • Standard 4: Culturally Appropriate opinions, knowledge and assumptions. They Service Delivery may also challenge what you have learnt from • Standard 5: Engagement with Communities other people, from textbooks or what you • Standard 6: Service Development and Evaluation. have read online or in the media. Each standard includes between 4 to 7 features of Below are some examples on how you can good practice where your workplace can document: continue to improve your knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres • Current evidence of good practice Strait Islander peoples: • Areas identified for improvement 1. Learn more about the Aboriginal peoples • Priority actions to improve against standard. of Canberra and the surrounding region. The CASAT is a free resource you can download and 2. Learn more about the Aboriginal peoples work through at your workplace at your own pace. in the region you associate most with. Download the CASAT here: actcoss.org.au/casat 3. Attend webinars, seminars, workshops and ACTCOSS can offer assistance in understanding conferences that include Aboriginal and/or the CASAT standards or process if required. We can Torres Strait Islander perspectives. provide advice, staff training and service mentoring, 4. Canberra is home to many national depending on your organisation’s needs and institutions who exhibit and host events preferences. Please contact us on 02 6202 7200 or with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander email [email protected]. peoples. Visit their websites and subscribe to their news to see what’s on. Attend as a workplace or in your personal time. 5. Share examples of good practice within your workplace and develop ways to embed into everyday business. 6. Become an ally for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Celebrate their achievements and milestones and support their challenges. 7. Support local community celebrations and offer to share resources and information.
14 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Gulanga Good Practice Guides
he Gulanga Good Practice Dates of Significance - The Apology (pdf) | (docx) Guides provide information T Confirmation of Aboriginal Identity form (pdf) | (docx) on topics that aim to assist organisations implement and Reconciliation (pdf) | (docx) embed good practice when Celebrating NAIDOC Week (pdf) | (docx) working and engaging with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country (pdf) | (docx) Islander peoples, particularly Preferences in terminology when referring to Aboriginal and/or Torres within the ACT and region. Strait Islander peoples (pdf) | (docx)
Each guide provides a general Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ‘warning’ (pdf) | (docx) overview, which we hope will Reproducing images and recordings of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait generate change and discussion Islander peoples and cultures (pdf) | (docx) within a workplace. Links are Photographing and recording Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander provided at the end of each peoples and cultures (pdf) | (docx) guide for further information and research. Purchasing Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artwork (pdf) | (docx) Commissioning Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artwork (pdf) | (docx) Feedback on the guides can be directed to [email protected]. Find more Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander resources at the au or by phone to 02 6202 7200. ACTCOSS website: actcoss.org.au/gulanga-resources
Do you have an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander worker or volunteer at your non-profit?
he ACTCOSS Gulanga Program runs the TATSIComSec Network for Aboriginal and/or How to join the email network Torres Strait Islander workers and volunteers in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community sector. workers or volunteers in the ACT community ATSIComSec consists of lunch meetups sector can ask to join by subscribing to the every two months and an email network for ATSIComSec Network here: information sharing. lists.actcoss.org.au/mailman/listinfo/ atsicomsec Our aim is to reach as many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers and volunteers in the Your subscription request will be reviewed by region as we can to facilitate discussion, information our network moderator. sharing, networking and inform members of job vacancies, training and community sector news. Find out more If there are any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Find out more by contacting a member of the Islander workers or volunteers at your organisation ACTCOSS Gulanga Program on 02 6202 7200 who may be interested, please forward on or email [email protected]. this information.
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 15 Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Education Program – 19 March 2021
Facilitated by Julie Moore When: Friday 19 March 2021, 9.30am-4.30pm from Koorimunication Where: ACTCOSS Meeting Room, 1/6 Gritten Julie Moore was born in Berry, NSW and raised at Street, Weston Wreck Bay on the NSW South Coast. She is a proud Food: Morning tea, lunch and afternoon member of the Wandandian people of the Yuin tea provided. nation. It is Julie’s long professional experience Cost: $330 ACTCOSS Member | $360 Non-Member | coupled with her Aboriginal community roots that $390 Government/Corporate. form the cornerstone of Koorimunication’s services. Too much for you or your organisation? Please Julie has extensive experience in Aboriginal contact us and we will do our best to offer support mentoring, cross-cultural communications, to participate. developing and evaluating Aboriginal employment strategies, community consultations, human services Register: julie-moore-19mar2021.eventbrite.com.au policy and program development and evaluation, Please register before 5 March 2021. This will secure training, strategic planning, and public relations. your place and assist us to confirm numbers for this The Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Education training to occur. If you are unable to attend, we Program aims to provide participants the suggest you send another person in your place, or opportunity to take part in an interactive learning contact us to discuss other options. program based around Aboriginal culture – history Waitlist: If the workshop is sold out, we encourage and present. The day includes topics such as past you to register your interest to be place on the and present history, past policies and practices that waitlist. We may be able to offer you a space, have impacted upon Aboriginal peoples, cultural sometimes at short notice, or invite you to a future competence, engagement and protocols, and date for the workshop. building respectful relationships. Terms and Conditions: Cancellations made less We envisage participants will leave with: than 14 days prior to the workshop will incur a • A greater level of confidence in their capacity full charge. Bookings are essential. We ask that to more effectively engage with both their participants attend the full duration of the program. Aboriginal colleagues and the broader Contact: Julie Butler, ph: 02 6202 7200, Aboriginal community [email protected] • Practical tips and information to apply within their workplace on a day-to-day basis. All program participants receive handouts as a More learning and development reference point for both the program and as a starting point to further reading/research. Find out more about our learning and development opportunities and how to register at the ACTCOSS website: actcoss.org.au/learn We can assist in organising training for the ACT community sector. If you have training requests, please contact us on 02 6202 7200 or email [email protected].
16 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Save the date: 13th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations
When: Friday 12 February 2021, 10.30am to 12.30pm identities are judged and undermined by others who say, “but you don’t look Aboriginal”. We will learn that Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed being Aboriginal is not about the colour of a person’s Street, Greenway skin, but rather the colour of their heart and where This year will be the 13th Anniversary of the their heart belongs. National Apology to the Stolen Generations. As Her story is similar in some ways but also different the anniversary – 13 February – falls on a Saturday, from many others who were removed from family we will hold the anniversary event on Friday 12 as part of the Stolen Generations. The journey this February 2021. woman took was lonely and hard, and left her ACTCOSS, the Gulanga Program team and the struggling to find herself in the turmoil of trying to Dhunlung Yarra Service team from Relationships live in two worlds. We will walk with her as she shares Australia Canberra and Region would like to invite how she listened to her heart about belonging you to come and reflect together on the resilience to the Aboriginal people and how she learned to and survival of our First Nations people in Australia. accept this for herself. This year we will focus on the theme of Resilience, Volunteers will perform through storytelling survival and being Aboriginal at heart. and dance to allow you to share in the strength Through listening to the story of one woman’s and resilience of Australia’s First Peoples. We journey, we will hear about the experience of remember that this always was and always will be Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia, whose Aboriginal land.
accessed 8 December 2020, https://twitter.com/NATSILS_/status/133 Article footnotes 1420873845207041?s=20. What is “good practice” in the context of Aboriginal 3. Our Booris, Our Way Steering Committee, Our Booris, Our Way Final housing from an Aboriginal Community Housing Provider Report, Our Booris, Our Way Steering Committee, December 2019, perspective?, pp.4-7 https://www.strongfamilies.act.gov.au/our-booris,-our-way. 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Aboriginal and 4. ACT Victims of Crime Coordinator, “We Don’t Shoot Our Wounded…” Torres Strait Islander people: a focus report on housing and homelessness, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Victims of Family Violence Access to Cat. no. HOU 301, AIHW, Canberra, 2019. Justice and Access to Services in the ACT, ACT Government, April 2009, https://www.victimsupport.act.gov.au/who-we-are/publications. 2. Keys Young, Homelessness in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Context and its possible implications for the Supported Accommodation Supporting culturally appropriate primary health care for Assistance Program (SAAP), (final report), Prepared for the Department Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT, pp.10-11 of Family and Community Services, Sydney, 30 November 1998, 1. AIHW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/42867/20060807-0000/www.facs.gov. Framework 2017 report: Australian Capital Territory, AIHW, 2017, au/Internet/facsinternet.nsf/VIA/keys/$File/KeysYoung.pdf, in AIHW, https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/78d3c0b5-3eff-4890-8105- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a focus report on housing a01de429b09d/aihw-ihw-188-2017-hpf-act.pdf.aspx?inline=true. and homelessness. 2. AIHW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance 3. Coalition of Peaks, New National Agreement on Closing the Gap [web Framework 2017 report. page], Coalition of Peaks, 2020, https://coalitionofpeaks.org.au/new- 3. Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), Checking check-ups to national-agreement-on-closing-the-gap/. help Close the Gap, HMRI, 12 July 2019, https://hmri.org.au/news- Good practice at Beryl Women Inc., pp.8-9 article/checking-check-ups-help-close-gap. 1. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety 4. AIHW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance (ANROWS), Understanding the role of Law and Culture in Aboriginal Framework 2017 report. and Torres Strait Islander communities in responding to and preventing 5. AIHW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance family violence: Key findings and future directions, Research to Policy Framework 2017 report; AIHW, Indigenous health check (MBS 715) data & Practice, Issue 19, June 2020, https://www.anrows.org.au/project/ tool, AIHW, 6 December 2017, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/ understanding-the-role-of-law-and-culture-in-aboriginal-and-or- indigenous-health-welfare-services/indigenous-health-check-mbs- torres-strait-islander-communities-in-responding-to-and-preventing- 715-data-tool/data. family-violence/. 6. Grand Pacific Health,Real Stories 2019, n.d., https://www.gph.org.au/ 2. National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSILS), about-us/news/gph-real-stories-2019-collection/. ‘In comparison with other women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women…’ [Twitter post], NATSILS, 25 November 2020,
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 17 ACTCOSS AGM, new Board and annual report
Online AGM: 12-13 November 2020 • Beth Slatyer, Associate Member This year, to ensure the safety of our members during • Cathi Moore, Parentline ACT and the pandemic, ACTCOSS held its Annual General Associate Member Meeting (AGM) online using the video conferencing • Darlene Cox, Health Care Consumers’ Association platform Zoom and voting platform ElectionBuddy. • Dorji Tshering, Associate Member Voting via ElectionBuddy opened during the AGM • Elizabeth Samra, Associate Member and closed the following day at 4pm. This was the • Lee Maiden, Communities@Work first time we have held an AGM and election online. The AGM and voting ran smoothly, and we received • Sarah Murdoch, Anglicare NSW South | positive feedback from our members. NSW West | ACT. Our deepest thanks go to our Returning Officer, Peter If you would like to contact the Board, please email Sutherland of Softlaw Community Projects, who [email protected] or call the ACTCOSS office on helped us navigate constitutional requirements to run 02 6202 7200 and we will put you in touch. an AGM and Board election online and ensure a fair and robust process. Outgoing Directors The Operations Team is documenting the process of We farewell and thank outgoing Directors: running our AGM and election online, and we will • Glenda Stevens, Associate Member share with other organisations. (ACTCOSS Chair)
Board • Martin Fisk, Menslink (ACTCOSS Vice Chair) • Petrea Messent, Associate Member (ACTCOSS At the ACTCOSS AGM, the new Board for 2020-21 was Ordinary Director). elected. Please join us in congratulating all ongoing and newly appointed Board Directors. Thank you for your commitment and service on our Board. Office Bearers • Chair: Frances Crimmins, YWCA Canberra Annual and financial reports • Vice Chair: Andrew Rowe, Havelock The ACTCOSS Annual Report 2019-20 is now Housing Association available. It highlights some of the great work and • Treasurer: Bruce Papps, outcomes we achieved during the last financial year. Northside Community Service The Financial Report 2019-20 is also available for Ordinary Directors your review. • Alicia Flack-Konè, ACT Down Syndrome Association You can access the reports at actcoss.org.au/ar-2019-20 • Andrew Scotford, CIT Student Association
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18 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. ACTCOSS staff welcome and farewell Welcome...
Carmen Byrne Ada Fitzgerald-Cherry Operations Manager Administrative Support Officer Carmen joined ACTCOSS in July Ada joined ACTCOSS in June 2020 2020 as the Operations Manager as the Administration Support (maternity leave placement). Officer. She provides officewide operational support, assists in the Carmen is an experienced business planning and delivery of major ACTCOSS events, and leader, spending most of her career in the health is the first point of contact for membership, accounts care manufacturing sector. Her corporate career and general inquiries. spans a diverse range of roles from clinical research, quality management, sales, marketing, general Before joining ACTCOSS, Ada worked in high-end management, industry association board member hospitality management and event logistics. She is and an international assignment. Carmen is a pleased to bring her attention to detail and passion Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company for service to the community sector. Directors, and has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science, Masters of Business Administration and Post Farewell... Graduate Certificate in Health Policy. Tara Prince More recently, Carmen has embarked on a career Policy and Development Officer and tree change, moving from Sydney to the Tara served in the ACTCOSS team Canberra region and dividing her time between work since 2014. She was involved in with ACTCOSS and leadership-related coaching and ACTCOSS’s policy development and facilitation work. advocacy, particularly in service Bianca Williams system reform for people with disability and older CASP Development Officer people, as well as community connectedness in the ACT. Tara also convened the ACT Community Bianca joined ACTCOSS in 2020 Assistance and Support Program (CASP) Network. and works on the coordination and Tara’s achievements included the launch of the Choice development of the Community and control paper on person-centred support for Assistance and Support Program the NDIS and contributions to the ongoing work (CASP) Network and policy related to health, and development of the CASP executive and peer disability and ageing. Bianca has over a decade’s networks. ACTCOSS valued Tara’s strengths-based experience working in the ACT community sector approach to this work and we wish Tara the best. and has served on various ACT boards, including two years as the President of Brindabella Women’s Anna Cirocco Group. She has project managed, and contributed Capability Officer to a number of women’s community art projects. Anna joined the ACTCOSS team in Additionally, she was a regular host of the Yes She February 2020 and hit the ground Can multicultural women’s radio show. running on a variety of projects Bianca is a final year PhD Candidate in Gender, amidst our adapted activities during Sexuality and Culture at the Australian National COVID-19. These projects included facilitating our University. Her research interests include feminist advocacy and capability engagement with services, history, intersectionality, maternal wellbeing, supporting multicultural communities in the ACT, Reconciliation and disability rights. and coordinating the first comprehensive update to the CASP Service Directory with the ACT Health Directorate. We valued the vast global experience Anna brought to ACTCOSS during this challenging year. We are delighted that she will continue to work in the ACT community sector in a frontline role.
Update • Issue 92 • Summer 2020-21 19 Next issue: Update Issue 93 Celebrating and supporting the ACT’s community sector workforce The ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS) Members are welcome to contribute articles on is the peak representative body for people living the theme. with low incomes or disadvantage, and not-for- profit community organisations in the Australian Copy deadline: 22 March 2021 Capital Territory. Space is limited! To guarantee your spot, let us ACTCOSS acknowledges Canberra has been built know as soon as possible. on the land of the Ngunnawal people. We pay Email: [email protected] respects to their Elders and recognise the strength Ph: 02 6202 7200 and resilience of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Issue 93 will be distributed in April 2021. Islander peoples. We celebrate Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander cultures and ongoing Advertise in Update contributions to the ACT community. Would you like ad space? Contact us! ACTCOSS Size/Type Member Non-member Address: Weston Community Hub, 1/4 page $25 $60 1/6 Gritten St, Weston ACT 2611 1/2 page $40 $85 Phone: 02 6202 7200 Full page $60 $120 Email: [email protected] Web: actcoss.org.au Twitter: twitter.com/actcoss Facebook: facebook.com/actcoss ACTCOSS board ACTCOSS welcomes feedback. Please visit the Chair ‘Contact’ page on our website for our feedback Frances Crimmins, YWCA Canberra form, or contact us using the details above. Vice Chair ACTCOSS staff Andrew Rowe, Havelock Housing Association CEO Policy & Treasurer Dr Emma Campbell Development Team Bruce Papps, Northside Community Service Craig Wallace Operations Team Ordinary Directors (Policy Manager) Carmen Byrne Geoff Buchanan Alicia Flack-Konè, Dorji Tshering, (Operations Manager) ACT Down Syndrome Associate Member Eliza Moloney Stephanie Crosby Association Ryan Joseph Elizabeth Samra, (Operations Manager, Andrew Scotford, CIT Associate Member maternity leave) Bianca Williams Student Association Suzanne Richardson Lee Maiden, Gulanga Program Team Beth Slatyer, Communities@Work Ada Fitzgerald-Cherry Julie Butler Associate Member Holly Zhang Kim Peters Sarah Murdoch, Cathi Moore, Anglicare NSW South | Parentline ACT and NSW West | ACT Associate Member Update is a quarterly journal that provides an If you would like to opportunity for issues relevant to ACTCOSS’s Darlene Cox, Health contact the Board, membership to be discussed and for information Care Consumers’ please contact us: to be shared. Views expressed are those of Association www.actcoss.org.au individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy views of ACTCOSS.