Diplomacy Training Program
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DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM AFFILIATED WITH THE FACULTY OF LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES A training program for peoples of the Asia-Pacific region
Human Rights Advocacy – A Capacity Building Program for Young Australian Indigenous Advocates
Organised by the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) in collaboration with Oxfam’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Program/ATSIP Program
10 – 15 February 2008 Sydney, Australia Final Project Report Prepared for Oxfam Australia
“The training has given me a new perspective on this issue that I work with everyday. I now feel empowered to challenge the status of Indigenous people and the law at an international level if necessary.”
1. Executive Summary
From 10 – 15 February 2008, the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) hosted and facilitated a special capacity building program for young Indigenous Australian advocates. The program aimed to provide the participants with information and knowledge of international human rights standards and the UN system, to explore the relevance of these standards to the issues they are concerned with, and to assist them in building their advocacy skills. The program was made possible through the funding and support of Oxfam Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Program/ATSIP Proram. The curriculum and program was developed in partnership with Oxfam Australia.
This capacity building program brought together 27 young Indigenous Australians from around the country. Participants were selected through Oxfam Australia’s Indigenous Australian Youth Participation Program and also through DTP’s Indigenous networks. Participants came from organisations and communities across Australia—from Mornington Island to Melbourne, Cape York to Alice Springs and Palm Island to Sydney.
DTP’s Founder and Patron, Jose Ramos-Horta, recognised the treatment of Indigenous Australians as the single most pressing human rights issue facing Australia when he moved to Sydney from New York in 1989 and ensured that DTP had a focus on working with Indigenous advocates here, as well as human rights defenders in the region. Although DTP has been working with Indigenous Australian advocates since it was established in 1989, this was the first course that DTP has organised and facilitated specifically for young Indigenous advocates. This course was a valued opportunity to engage with a new generation of young Indigenous advocates taking leadership roles in their communities and organisations.
This course was held during a time of increasing awareness of the challenges facing Indigenous Australians, but also at a time of great opportunity with a change of national government, and the
1 building momentum of the “Close the Gap” campaign on Indigenous health. During the program Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the historic National Apology to Indigenous Australians and to the Stolen Generations.
The program provided an opportunity for participants to articulate their experiences and concerns, build support networks and to explore approaches to developing effective advocacy strategies and skills to engage with processes to promote and secure their rights. The program was evaluated by participants in a session at the end of the program, and in a number of anonymous evaluation forms. The following report of the program draws on these evaluations and aims to give a snapshot of the content and the experience. Based on these evaluations and on subsequent feedback, DTP believes the course met its objectives. DTP notes that a number of the participants in the program were subsequently selected and supported to attend the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
The program was held at the Faculty of Law at UNSW and DTP would like to acknowledge with appreciation the generous in-kind support provided by the Faculty of Law, as well as the individual trainers and resource people who were generous in donating their time and expertise. DTP would like to thank its board members Dr Sarah Pritchard and Philip Chung, and Founding Board Member Emeritus Professor Garth Nettheim, along with Jacqui Katona, James McDougall, Les Malezer, Katie Kiss, Helen Esther and Brian Wyatt for their contributions to the program. Finally, DTP would like to thank both Oxfam Australia and also the participants in the program who inspired each other and the trainers and facilitators in the course with their passion and commitment.
2. Background, Context and Rationale
The DTP has focused on working with Indigenous advocates to develop knowledge of human rights standards and the UN system and to build advocacy skills since its establishment in 1989. The partnership with the Oxfam Indigenous Australia Program (OIAP) has developed in recent years, based on a shared commitment to the rights of Indigenous Australians and a shared understanding of the need to build the capacity of advocates.
Oxfam Australia is committed to working with young Indigenous Australians, and with young advocates globally, through its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Program and International Youth Partnership Program. In contrast to the broader population, the median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is only 20.5 years.
A new generation of Indigenous advocates is emerging through Indigenous organisations and structures established in recent years. The political context in which they have grown up has been dominated by the 11 years of the previous conservative government. That government expressed its hostility to what it termed “the rights agenda” generally and to international scrutiny of Australia’s record on Indigenous issues in particular. Criticized for breaching its obligations under the Convention of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in relation to amendments to Native Title legislation, it spurned recommendations of the official Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Inquiry into the Stolen Generations, and closed down the independent nationally elected representative body, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
There is a perception that these emerging young leaders have had less exposure to the broader international human rights movement, and fewer opportunities to learn advocacy skills than many of their predecessors. Therefore, there is a need to introduce younger advocates to the human rights framework, and to familiarise them with past achievements, whilst teaching them the lessons of past advocacy approaches in order to shorten the learning curve for new leaders.
2 The last decades have witnessed significant advances in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights at the international level—and in a number of countries. Australian Indigenous advocates have been at the forefront of these developments—working with Indigenous colleagues from Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America and taking significant leadership roles at the global level.
Yet, in Australia it is clear that the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not respected, protected or fulfilled to the same extent as the wider Australian community. It is also evident that governments at all levels have not, to date, been willing to apply human rights language and standards to policy and practice in relation to Indigenous Australia.
There is clear demand from within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to learn more about human rights standards and governments obligations to these standards. There is strong interest in exploring how these standards can be used in advocacy and in practice—in bringing international accountability, in providing a framework of reference for government policies and in interactions with government officials. This interest is evident in the number of applications that the Diplomacy Training Program receives from Indigenous Australia.
It is in this context that the DTP and OIAP have worked together to develop “Human Rights Advocacy—A Capacity Building Program for Young Australian Indigenous Advocates.”
3. Program Description
The final program schedule is attached as an appendix.
The Opening Ceremony – Setting the Scene
The program was officially opened with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Norm Newlin of the Eora people. Professor David Dixon, Dean of the UNSW Law Faculty welcomed participants on behalf of UNSW. DTP co-founder and Board member, Emeritus Professor Garth Nettheim warmly welcomed participants on behalf of DTP and provided an engaging introduction to the history and philosophy behind the establishment of DTP. He also drew attention to the upcoming National Apology that was set to take place on 13 February 2008, the opening day of the new Parliament, as the first act of the new government and drew parallels between this and the period of activism for recognition of Indigenous rights in the 1960s. This was a period of great change for Australia and for Indigenous Australians. Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians worked together to ensure the passage of the Referendum in 1967 that was seen as the final recognition of Aboriginal Australians as full citizens of Australia. This period also saw the organisation of Aboriginal workers in the pastoral industry, the rise of the land rights movement that led to the NT Land Rights Act, the passage of the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975 and ultimately led to the recognition of Native Title in the 1990s.
Trainer Jacqui Katona spoke of the opportunities the training program provided to look at government structures, the standards governments are required to meet and what can be done to hold governments accountable to those standards. She recounted how she had worked with her family and community to prevent the Jabiluka uranium mine going ahead in Kakadu National Park. She recalled what an uneven contest this was, with traditional landowners standing up to one of the largest mining companies in the world and to the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments. She emphasised that she had learnt from experience the value of learning about international standards and agreements and how these could be integrated into advocacy. Success finally came in the campaign to stop the Jabiluka mine from proceeding through appeals to the international committee that oversaw the system of World Heritage sites.
3 Introductions and Expectations - Session 1:
In the first session participants introduced themselves, issues they are concerned with and their work. They participated in an activity to help them identify their hopes and expectations from the program.
The recurring expectation among participants was to gain a better understanding of human rights and the UN System, to understand the Australian government’s obligations to protecting these rights and to learn how to use this framework as a tool to agitate and advocate for change in their communities. Participants also expressed a desire to learn how to use this framework as a tool to address everyday issues in their community, and to learn from each other and to build their support networks.
Executive Director Patrick Earle provided an overview of the program schedule and Programs Coordinator Geoff Hazell outlined the practical and logistical arrangements for the program.
Selected Participant Expectations
“To gain an understanding of a system and mechanisms that I can use to agitate for change in my community and nationally, given that existing legal mechanisms have failed us to date.”
“Learn how to address injustice and issues that affect my people and their community.”
“To have a better understanding of human rights and to be able to voice concerns or opinions that are affecting my community.”
“Learn about obligations of the Australian government.”
“Understand how human rights impacts on laws governing our country.”
“Learn the meaning of human rights as I have no knowledge in the area and would like to know how to use the skills to help my people.”
Day 1-2: Human Rights – A Framework of Standards, Common Values and Principles
The first two days of the program were dedicated to providing participants with a solid grounding in the framework of international standards that has been developed since the Second World War. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the adoption by the UN of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the foundational document for subsequent standards addressing civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and the rights of vulnerable and marginalised groups that require special protection—including women, children, migrant workers and their families, and persons with disabilities. Most recently, Indigenous Peoples rights have been recognised in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007.
Day One sessions introduced participants to the International Bill of Rights—the UDHR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocol, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights—the foundation of the international human rights framework. Participants were introduced to the key values and principles underpinning human rights—recognition of human dignity, the inherent and universal nature of rights, and the indivisibility and interdependence between different rights along with the importance of both participation and accountability to understanding the practical application of human rights.
4 Day Two developed participants’ understanding of different human rights standards. There was a particular focus on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The general obligations of governments to respect, protect and fulfil human rights was explained before exploring the different obligations imposed by specific treaties and the more general nature of declarations. Australia has signed and ratified most of the core international human rights treaties, meaning that it has agreed to the content of these treaties, and accepted a level of accountability to the international community for implementing their provisions. Declarations, including the recently adopted Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recognise and provide accepted definitions of rights, but do not impose direct obligations on governments. Dr Sarah Pritchard introduced and explored some of the key concepts in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and broke participants into small groups to encourage discussion of how these rights related to the experiences and challenges of the participants.
The final session of Day Two looked at the process of government reporting to UN Treaty Bodies. Though a weak mechanism, this is one of the main accountability mechanisms under international human rights standards and participants explored existing opportunities for NGO interaction in this process at the national and international level.
Dr Pritchard’s approach to teaching ensured a large proportion of each session was open to participant discussions and exchange to ensure that students gained a solid understanding in the basic human rights principles and how they relate to the situation in their community. Participants were given a practical group exercise in which they were consulted by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (‘CERD’) Committee and required to provide their opinion on Australia’s implementation of its obligations under CERD. The participants enjoyed bouncing ideas off each other and practicing public speaking. All the groups expressed their concern at the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in 2004, arguing that it violated the human rights of Indigenous peoples. This activity gave participants an understanding of how the UN Treaty Body Reporting Process can be integrated into advocacy strategies for promoting human rights.
What was the most useful session? “Dr Sarah Pritchard’s lecture on human rights and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I thought that the way in which she presented the information was great and the group activity helped me to understand more.” Quote from participant evaluations
Day 3: National Apology, JTV, Rights of the Child, HREOC
Initially two sessions had been allocated in the morning of Day Three to enable participants to explore the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, these plans were adjusted to enable time to watch the National Apology on the opening day of the new parliament.
As the day of the National Apology approached, the sense that this would be a significant day in Australia’s history grew. Indigenous people from around Australia converged on Canberra—to witness the day, to participate in the proceedings and to protest at the continuing emergency Federal intervention in the Northern Territory. As Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians made plans to watch the live telecast of the National Apology—in schools, workplaces and on large open-air screens, the program participants discussed amongst themselves where they would prefer to watch the speech. A number of the participants had been approached by ABC’s JTV youth channel to be interviewed in the centre of Sydney as they witnessed the apology, others planned to take part in events in Redfern. After much discussion the participants decided that they would like to watch the National Apology with each other at the live telecast in the Law Faculty. JTV was invited to come to UNSW.
5 Witnessing the National Apology to Indigenous Australians together was a deeply moving and memorable occasion for all involved. Following the National Apology there was an opportunity for all to share and to reflect on its meaning. The National Apology concerned policies, attitudes, actions and events that were at the heart of this training program. A National Apology was just one recommendation of the Bringing Them Home Report, resulting from the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission’s Inquiry into the forced removal, over most of the 20th Century, of Indigenous children from their families.
Given the history of Australian government policy in relation to Indigenous families and children, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has particular significance to participants. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was the focus of the next session of the program, though it was cut short by the morning’s events. Over a number of years the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has raised its concerns in relation to levels of violence and abuse experienced by Indigenous children and young people, the lack of effective government action, and the impact of the criminal justice system on Indigenous children and young people. Australia’s next report to the UN is due in 2008.
Given the morning’s events, it was particularly valuable to make a visit to the offices of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC), to learn more about its mandate and work, to explore how individuals can bring complaints, and how to access its reports and use the human rights education materials it produces. One of the presentations was given by Katie Kiss, a graduate of the DTP who now works for HREOC.
What was the best session? “HREOC – it’s good to know there are people out there who will listen and fight for the rights. Also just knowing there’s somewhere to go.” Quote from participant evaluation
Day 4: - International Advocacy – Getting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Adopted/ Using the Internet for Research and Advocacy
On Day Four Les Malezer, Director of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research and Action (FAIRA), led a session on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Whilst this session revisited some of the ground covered earlier in the program, Les Malezer focused on the process of getting the Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Les was centrally involved in the coordination of international advocacy efforts by Indigenous Peoples organisations and their allies to overcome resistance to the Declaration by a number of governments including Australia and the United States. Following over twenty years of negotiation, Les was able to tell an insider’s story of how this resistance was overcome through identification of government delegations open to discussion and persuasion, and careful preparation of arguments and facts.
In the afternoon sessions, DTP board member Philip Chung focussed on developing participants’ internet skills—how to navigate, search and research effectively with a particular focus on using the AustLII database. Philip also discussed the internet’s increasingly vital role as a tool in advocacy efforts.
Day 5: Media Skills and Evaluation
The final formal sessions of the training were dedicated to developing media skills. Whilst the media is vital to most advocacy efforts, the challenge for most advocates is getting their message out through the media to reach different target audiences to build support for their cause.
6 For Indigenous advocates there are often specific challenges—including the challenge of overcoming negative stereotypes, and the way in which the mainstream media can reinforce wider negative stereotypes. Experienced media practitioner and trainer Helen Esther had prepared a comprehensive presentation on these issues. Unfortunately, there were fewer opportunities for participation and interaction in the sessions than was hoped for, and the sessions therefore suffered from coming at the end of an intense and information packed week.
4. Training Methodology and Materials
The approach that the DTP takes to training is grounded in participatory teaching methodologies, recognising the value of participants’ own knowledge and experience. While there is very substantive content and expert input from experienced resource people, time is made for small group work and discussion, including practical exercises and role plays.
The participatory methodology is also extended to the organisation of the training program. At the beginning of the program, the participants were divided into groups and each group was allocated a specific day for which they were responsible for many of the practical aspects of the training. This approach emphasises that the training program is for the participants, it belongs to them and the success or failure of the program is partly their responsibility. This approach also helps to build the organisational skills of participants, and encourages working together from the beginning of the program.
Participants were asked to prepare a brief presentation on an issue that they were concerned with and their work experiences. The presentations were a maximum of five minutes and for many of the young participants this was their first experience of public speaking. These presentations were a real highlight of the program:
What was the best part about the program? “Hearing everyone’s journey and receiving responses from participants for my stories”
Quote from participant evaluation
Trainers were given session notes and a formal briefing to help them prepare for their sessions. Evaluations indicated that there was a feeling of some overlap in a few of the presentations. This reflected difficulties that arose as a result of one of the trainers cancelling at short notice and the subsequent substitution.
At the beginning of the program all participants were provided with a hard copy of the DTP Human Rights Defenders Manual as a resource tool for the training and as a subsequent source of reference (see attached table of contents). Dr Sarah Pritchard’s chapter “An Introduction to Human Rights Law” was provided as reading material in the weeks prior to the program.
7 5. Program Venue
The Program was held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney in the Faculty of Law. The second half of Day Three was held at the HREOC offices in the Sydney CBD which provided a welcome change of venue for participants. Participants had almost exclusive access to the Faculty of Law Building as the program was held out of session. Participants stayed in UNSW student accommodation.
In the evaluation some participants noted that the program was detached from their culture and the communities they were working in and that perhaps future programs could be held in Indigenous communities. On the Thursday evening of the program a solidarity night was held for the participants at Yaama Dhiyaan in Redfern, an Indigenous owned and operated hospitality training college that works with unemployed Indigenous and non-Indigenous people seeking careers in the hospitality industry. Yaama Dhiyaan founder Aunty Beryl shared her experiences of founding the college and working with the Indigenous community with the participants.
6. Participant Selection
The DTP and OIAP worked together in the lead up to the program to promote the program to Indigenous youth aged between ages 18 – 30 who are passionate about Indigenous rights. The DTP promoted the program through its alumni, while Oxfam Australia drew on a range of their youth networks and also Indigenous Australians in the OIYP program. Selection was carried out in partnership with both organisations. Initially applications were very slow to come in for the program. This was primarily due to the application period ending just prior to Christmas. The closing date for applications was extended into January with a number of people having to be turned away from the program.
30 Participants were selected for the program; however, the late cancellation of 3 participants as a result of family and work issues meant that 27 joined the program in Sydney with 19 female and 8 male participants.
Participants were drawn from a wide range of communities around Australia and from a mix of urban, regional and remote communities. Participants were involved in a diverse range of activities including students from High School, TAFE and University as well as participants working for a diverse range of organisations including government, NGO, and community based organisations (land councils and aboriginal corporations). The diversity of the participants added to the richness of the learning experience and was evident in the bonds that were formed during the program.
7. Participant Biographies
In the lead up to the program participants were asked to submit a profile. This was a first for many and the DTP worked with a number of participants to assist them with this process. Participant profiles received only minor editing to ensure that participants felt they were a useful tool to introduce themselves to others.
See Appendix 2 for Participant Biographies
8 8. Program Objectives and Participant Evaluations
The program’s specific objectives were:
To develop participants’ understanding of human rights and particularly those most relevant to Indigenous youth and children To build participants’ understanding of the international human rights framework and different legal mechanisms that can be used to support Indigenous rights. To provide an opportunity and a forum for Indigenous Australian youth to network with each other and to develop collective advocacy strategies. To extend participants support networks for furthering the cause of Indigenous rights in Australia. To improve practical skills for effective human rights advocacy and lobbying at community, state and national level, including working with the media
DTP has engaged in a comprehensive evaluation process that aims to gauge the success of the program by looking at a number of areas. This was done through both written evaluation and a facilitated evaluation session on the final day of the program that gave the participants the opportunity to reflect on the program and the learning that had taken place whilst also providing a place for people to give constructive feedback.
Participants completed a three-part written evaluation form that covered the content of the program, evaluation of each trainer, and an evaluation on the extent to which the program objectives were met.
The overall evaluation of the program was extremely positive and indicated that the program met its objectives. There were a range of useful suggestions and feedback that would improve the program should it be run again. Constructive feedback is examined more closely in the “Lessons Learned” section of this report. Participant evaluations indicate that the program objectives were substantially achieved and that participant expectations were exceeded in most cases.
“I was unaware of any of these things before – now I have the knowledge and confidence to fight for human rights. For example, I didn’t know that housing was a right; this will change my approach in advocating for homeless youth.”
“I do not need to simply accept unsatisfactory/inadequate laws and policies – I can challenge these using international mechanisms, especially in relation to native title (an unsatisfactory system). I am excited to take all that I have learnt back to my community.”
“The training has given me a new perspective on this issue that I work with everyday. I now feel empowered to challenge the status of Indigenous people and the law at an international level if necessary.”
Quotes from participant evaluation
One of the highlights of the program for most participants was having the opportunity for sharing stories and learning from each other. This was done formally through participant presentations, through group work and informally over evening meals. Participants commented that being able to share the experience of listening to the Federal Government’s Apology to the Stolen Generations and to then reflect as a group was one of the highlights of the program. This reinforced the supportive environment engendered by the program, and encouraged people to be very open about their experiences. The program provided a place for participants working across the country in a diverse range of communities to come together and share stories and understand that they are
9 not alone. Friendships and bonds of support were built and it is hoped that they will provide a sustainable basis for continuing solidarity among the participants and their organisations. Participants exchanged email addresses and created groups on the social networking sites of Bebo and Facebook to keep in touch and have become part of the DTP alumni network.
“The best part of sharing experiences was finding out that we all experience the same struggles.”
“Three of the participants are from Alice Springs. It is my plan to collaborate with them to advocate human/Indigenous rights. I want to work closely with remote community to determine any issues they want addressed.”
I have gained the tools and network to provide a more specialised service where we can address the various human rights issues in remote Indigenous communities.”
Quotes from participant evaluation
Federal Apology to the Stolen Generations
The program coincided with the Federal Government’s national Apology to Indigenous Australians and to the Stolen Generations. This event was not initially factored into the organisation of the program; however, coinciding with this event added great significance to the program, and it was possible to link the Apology directly into the content of the curriculum. For many participants the highlight of the program was hearing the Apology together and then reflecting on the Apology as a group.
9. Reflections and Lessons Learnt
The participant feedback from the program was extremely positive overall; however, the evaluation process has highlighted a number of areas that could be improved in future programs:
Length of Course
The days were long and intense and packed with information that was new to many of the participants. Fears that the subject matter of international human rights standards might prove too abstract or remote from the experiences of the young participants quickly faded in the face of their enthusiasm and commitment. Formal sessions began each day at 8.30 and continued to 6.00pm most evenings. The majority of the participants commented that the five day program was a good length, though some suggested making the program longer. A number of people were clearly struggling with the amount of information that was crammed into the program and by the end of Day 4 and 5 some of the participants were struggling with information overload. Some participants suggested shorter days and more interactive sessions, although there were no suggestions on what could or should have been dropped from the program.
Field Trips
The Challenge of a five day program is to compress the significant content into the five days while ensuring participants are not overloaded with information and also have the opportunity for learning outside of the formal classroom. The visit to HREOC was useful in this regard, but in hindsight breaking up the last 2 days with an additional field trip or community visit would have been beneficial.
Resource Materials
10 Participants expressed a desire to share the information they had learnt during the training program with their communities once they had returned home. They expressed energy and enthusiasm to share their knowledge, but many seemed unsure how to do this with the materials available, or did not have the resources. For many, especially the younger participants, the program manual was an inaccessible document. More youth friendly materials and resources could have both assisted in the learning process and would also have provided participants with a way of communicating and sharing what they had learnt with their community and organisations on their return.
Media Training
The course was intended to finish with two practical sessions to develop media skills. Regrettably, these sessions disappointed the participants. Rather than a more participatory and hands-on approach, the approach taken by the trainer was very reliant on a formal presentation, which was hard to absorb at the end of a very full week. However, participants did have the opportunity to spend the morning of the Apology with two reporters from JTV, (the TV arm of the Youth Radio network JJJ). This was an extremely rewarding interaction with the media and all the participants that wanted to speak on camera had the opportunity to do so.
10. Recommendations
The program was positively received, and participants left the program enthused. The organisers and facilitators also felt encouraged that a training program that was usually targeted at older and more experienced advocates resonated so strongly with the participants. If it is possible to run such a program again then the following recommendations are made:
If possible ensure that subsequent programs have two field trips or community visits that break up the program and classroom time. Plan to have the program coincide with a significant Indigenous event such as NAIDOC week. Work closely with presenters to ensure that presentations do not overlap and that each session is as interactive as possible. Investigate the possibility of holding the program in an Indigenous community. Look at how to integrate more skills sessions into the program--some participants suggested a session on presentation skills. A questionnaire prior to the program could assist in identifying areas that people would like to develop at the program. Lengthen the application and selection process to allow more time for people to become aware of and apply for the program. Engage more Indigenous facilitators into the program in a mentoring role. Develop simpler, easier to use course materials that can be used in communities.
One very positive outcome of this program is that a number of the participants were subsequently selected and supported to participate in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. This meeting is held every year and brings together Indigenous peoples from across the world. The program participants attending the Permanent Forum had the immediate opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they had developed in the program.
11 APPENDIX 1: Manual Table of Contents
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER MANUAL “A Capacity Building Program for Indigenous Australian Advocates”
DIPLOMACY TRAINING PROGRAM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: Patrick Earle, Executive Director of the DTP
Section 1 Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Self determination – Dr Sarah Pritchard
Section 2 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination CERD
Section 3 Convention on the Rights of the Child
Section 4 Concluding Observations, Committee on the Rights of the Child
Section 5 Racial Discrimination Act
Section 6 A Short Guide to Parallel Reporting to UN Treaty Bodies – Rachel Young and DTP
12 APPENDIX 2: Participant Expectations
DTP’s Indigenous Youth Program, February 2008: Participant Expectations
To gain understanding and knowledge of the Indigenous human right for my community
Learn more about human rights and the relationship to health and Indigenous peoples
Get ideas on how to explain/argue the whole ‘sorry/apology’ with people
Get to know people from Australia
I want to gain an extensive knowledge about human rights on a local level and national level
Learn how to address injustice and issues that affect my people and their community
To have a better understanding of human rights and to be able to voice concerns or opinions that are affecting my community. One day I hope to help change the constitution to suit Aboriginal people of Australia
Support and advocate
To learn how to advocate in my line of work
To understand about human rights to teach others
I would like to discuss the remote Aboriginal communities I work in – particularly the South Australian remote ones – the lifting of the RAE’s – the intervention and how it affects the people in remote communities
To learn about the United Nations system and how it works (how it can work for me, my community and people)
To gain an understanding of a system and mechanisms that I can use to agitate for change in my community and nationally, given that existing legal mechanisms have failed us to date
Meet people, and be inspired
To network with other leaders
To gain insight into justice
Leave with implementation ideas
Voice my role and vision in my community
To learn about what programs and programs I can access for support in Indigenous rights justice for Indigenous people
How to use my current job to promote and make changes in relation to human rights and international law To gain understanding of the international system of human rights and advocacy
13 Human rights in relation to the law of the sea
To take skills and implement them into my role as a CSSO to help families/children reunify to traditional home lands
I expect to understand more broadly the current equal rights policies and movements and expect to network with my brothers and sisters today and Oxfam representatives unna
I expect to learn about human rights and Indigenous affairs so that hopefully I’ll be able to help my people
To be familiar with the human rights framework specific to Indigenous peoples
Learn about the obligations of the Australian government
How to advocate to and lobby in my community
Indigenous rights: land and sea rights
To gain an understanding of the concepts of the human rights
Learn new ideas on how to advocate for indigenous people
How can we in communities use a piece of paper to change things?
I would like to gain a strong understanding and knowledge of human rights
To have more of an understanding of human rights in general
Learn the meaning of human rights as I have no knowledge in the area and would like to know how to use the skills to help my people
To learn more about human rights and advocacy
Network
To gain a better understanding of human rights
To meet new people, social networking
Understand how human rights impacts on laws governing our country
How human rights can benefit Indigenous people
Learn how to change the situation for the gay and lesbian Indigenous people
Better understanding of human rights and ways to advocate
Learn how to recognise and change human rights violations
14 APPENDIX 3: Participant Evaluations
General Comments about the Program
The training has given me a new perspective on this issue that I work with everyday. I now feel empowered to challenge the status of Indigenous people & the law at an international level if necessary.
I was unaware of any of these things before - now I have the knowledge and confidence to fight for human rights. For example, I didn’t know that housing was a right; this will change my approach in advocating for homeless youth.
I do not need to simply accept unsatisfactory/inadequate laws & policies - I can challenge these using international mechanisms, especially in relation to native title (an unsatisfactory system). I am excited to take all that I have learnt back to my community.
Best Part of the Course
Networking with others Indigenous people from all over Australia, learning about the different communities, sharing the apology with others.
The facilitators were brilliant I and many others feel that they were integral to our journey at becoming human rights activists.
What was the most useful session?
Sarah Pritchard was excellent! Very interesting! I will remember that session always.
Will the training assist you in your work? How?
Yes, the training has given me a new perspective on this issue that I work with everyday. I now feel empowered to challenge the status of Indigenous people & the law at an international level if necessary.
Most definitely, I have gained the tools and network to provide a more specialised service where we can address the various HR issues in remote Indigenous communities.
Could you describe how knowledge of human rights and the UN system might be influence your work or your approach to the particular issues you are working on? Could you give an example?
I was unaware of any of these things before - now I have the knowledge and confidence to fight for human rights. For example, I didn’t know that housing was a right; this will change my approach in advocating for homeless youth.
I do not need to simply accept unsatisfactory/inadequate laws & policies - I can challenge these using international mechanisms, especially in relation to native tittle (an unsatisfactory system). I am excited to take all that I have learnt back to my community.
Do have a plan to share what you have learned in this training with others in your community or your organisation? Can you give any details?
15 Three of the participants are from Alice Springs. It is my plan to collaborate with them to advocate Human/Indigenous rights. I want to work closely with remote community to determine any issues they want addressed.
What was the best part of sharing your experiences with other participants in the course of the workshop?
It opened my eyes to a lot of other issues & to be more empathetic towards other people.
The best part of sharing experiences was finding out that we all experience the same struggles.
Do you have any suggestions for other sessions or issues that DTP should focus on in training programs?
Come to Alice Springs. Seriously & give the city Indigenous Australian brothers and sisters to see the issues up front & see culture.
16 APPENDIX 4: Evaluation Table
Diplomacy Training Program Human Rights Advocacy for Young Indigenous Advocates – 10 – 15 February 2008 In partnership with Oxfam Australia’s Indigenous Australia Program
OBJECTIVES EVALUATION
Your honest evaluation will help us to continue improving the program for future participants. Your evaluations are confidential.
This specialised training program has the objectives listed below. Please could you tick the box (1- 5) that best reflects your judgment on whether the program was successful in achieving these objectives. 1 is the best and 5 is the least.
Objective Very Excellent Good Average Poor poor Develop understanding of human 16 06 01 rights and particularly those most relevant to Indigenous youth and children
Build participants’ understanding of 18 05 the international human rights framework and different legal mechanisms that can be used to support Indigenous rights
Provide an opportunity and a forum 17 04 02 for Indigenous Australian youth to network with each other and to develop collective advocacy strategies.
17 APPENDIX 5: Program Schedule
WEEK 1 Monday 11th February Tuesday 12th February Wednesday 13th February Thursday 14th February Friday 15th February Participant Presentations Feedback Session Participant Presentations – Feedback Session Participant Presentations Feedback session Morning 1 Welcome to Country, The Declaration on the The National Apology to Getting the Declaration Campaigning and 9.00 to 10.30 Participant introductions, Rights of Indigenous Indigenous Australia Adopted – A Case History Advocacy – Developing Uncle Norm Newlin Peoples – An introduction in International Lobbying Strategies Professor Garth Nettheim Professor David Dixon Jacqui Katona Facilitator(s) Dr Sarah Pritchard The Participants Les Malezer Brian Wyatt Morning Tea 10:30- 10:45 Training outline & Local Indigenous Peoples, The Convention on the Where to go now on the Media and Advocacy – Morning 2 Orientation International Human Rights of the Child – an Declaration? Applying the Getting Listened To Rights Standards and Introduction Declaration to Policy and 10:45-12:30 Australia Practice – Group Exercise Facilitator(s) Jacqui Katona & Patrick Dr Sarah Pritchard James McDougall/Annie Les Malezer Helen Ester Earle (DTP) Petit/Teena Balgi 12.30-12.50 Participant Presentations Participant Presentations Lunch 12:50.-2:00 Afternoon 1 What Are Human Rights? Indigenous Peoples and Field visit – HREOC Internet Media and Advocacy – 2:00-3:30 the UN System - Domestic Mechanisms for Role Play Opportunities and Promoting and Protecting Challenges Human Rights - The Role of HREOC Facilitator(s) Dr Sarah Pritchard Dr Sarah Pritchard Katie Kiss, Domenic Vircillo Philip Chung Helen Ester and Jonathan Hunyor Afternoon Tea 3:30-3:45 Afternoon 2 The International Human Practical Exercise – UN Field Visit – HREOC Internet Course Evaluations 3:45-5:30 Rights Framework and the Treaty Bodies Human Rights and and Feedback: Obligations of Australian Government Policy – A Closing Ceremony Governments Perspective from HREOC - Facilitator(s) Dr Sarah Pritchard Dr Sarah Pritchard Fabienne Balsamo, Katie Philip Chung Brian Wyatt, Patrick Kiss and Chris Holland Earle and Garth Nettheim 10 minutes Diary Session Diary Session Diary Session Diary Session
Reception at Parliament House
18 Night Schedule
10th – 15th February, 2008 Sydney, Australia
WEEK 1 Sunday Monday 11th Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 15th 10th February 12th 13th February 14th February February February February
6:45pm 6:30 PM Meet For Dinner Meet for Meet 6:30: Participants Meet For Outside Law dinner Travel to Return Home Dinner Building Main outside Outside Entrance Law Law Building Building Main Main Entrance Entrance Dinner Welcome Dinner: Chinese (Greek) Free Time: Dinner : 7- Dinner: Banquet “Yong Skara Bar : Participants to Yaama 9:00pm Gourmet Jing’s Kitchen Randwick arrange own Dhiyaan Pizza Enlightenment” dinner (Redfern) Kitchen
19 APPENDIX 6: Trainer Biographies
Jacqui Katona
Jacqui Katona is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation. She is an editor, development worker, campaigner, researcher and writer. She is currently engaged through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board of the Australia Council to develop a manuscript analysis of the political, economic and environmental barriers and opportunities surrounding indigenous Australians assertion of rights.
From 1996 to 2001 Ms Katona was the Executive Officer of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Association representing the Mirrar clan, traditional owners of parts of Kakadu National Park. She was the campaign leader in the Mirrar people’s successful national and international advocacy to prevent a new Uranium mine at Jabiluka. Previously she was the Coordinator of the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations Secretariat. She represented this organisation at the United Nations Working Party on Indigenous Populations. In 1995, she was Stolen Generations Project Officer for North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service, providing assistance for the coordination of litigation in High Court and Federal Court cases on behalf of the Stolen Generation of the Northern Territory. She is the recipient of Peter Rawlinson Environmental Award, Australian Conservation Foundation, 1997 and Goldman Environmental Prize, Island Nations, 1999.
Sarah Pritchard
Dr. Pritchard is an experienced international human rights lawyer. She is currently practicing in Sydney as a Barrister, following a distinguished academic career at the University of New South Wales and a decade of training at human rights courses run by the Diplomacy Training Program. She is a Board Member of the DTP, and has worked extensively with issues regarding Indigenous rights and human rights in Australia and internationally. She addressed the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva when it held a special session on East Timor and has played an important supportive role in the development of Indigenous issues at the UN.
Lez Malezer
Les Malezer is the Chairperson of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA). FAIRA is an accredited non-government organisation to the United Nations and has accreditation to meetings of the Commonwealth. For the past decade Lez Malezer has been a delegate to the United Nations forums on Indigenous Issues. He holds the position of national coordinator for the Indigenous Peoples Organizations’, an association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations participating in national and international developments on Indigenous issues. He also is Chairperson for the Pacific Region Indigenous Peoples Caucus at UN and, since mid-2006, has presided as the Chairperson of the Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus to the UN.
20 James McDougall
For the past 3 years James McDougall has been the Principal Solicitor for the National Children's & Youth Law Centre based at the University of NSW. The National Children’s & Youth Law Centre provides legal information to young people to answer questions they have about the law and their rights. The centre is currently working on 2 new ambitious programs; one is to improve services specifically to Indigenous young people and young people with disabilities; the second is working in partnership with UNICEF and Oxfam to develop better monitoring of Australia’s implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. James has also worked as a lawyer, a policy advisor and policy/management consultant around Australia and the South East Asia region.
Brian Wyatt
Brian has more than 30 years experience in community and government administration of Indigenous affairs. He has been Executive Director of the Goldfields Land and Sea Council (GLSC) since 1999. The GLSC is the peak representative organisation for more than 3000 Indigenous people from Western Australia’s Goldfields region, and is the Federal Government-recognized native title representative body for the region. Brian is the current Chairman of the recently established National Native Title Council of Australia which has been created to provide an effective voice for traditional owners and native title holders at national level. Brian is a strong advocate of land justice for Aboriginal people, protecting Indigenous heritage, and providing economic and employment opportunities. In 2002 his speech to a national forum led to the Human Rights Commission inquiry into racism in the Goldfields, which reinvigorated the push for reconciliation across the region. In 2003 Brian was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research land rights and economic development in South Africa, Canada and North America. Brian represented NNTC at the 6th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues in 2007 and a subsequent UN PFII expert workshop in Russia on relationships between Indigenous peoples and industrial companies.
Katie Kiss
Katie was a participant in the 15th Annual Diplomacy Training Program held in Timor Leste, she is currently working at HREOC with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma. Prior to that she was employed as a Research Assistant in the Native Title Centre at James Cook University, which conducts research aimed at advancing the incorporation of Native Title into the social, economic and legal fabric of Australian land and sea management, planning and use. The Centre aims to be influential in agreement-making between Indigenous Peoples and others in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Katie’s prior work experience in NGOs includes: Cape York Land Council, working with Aboriginal rights activist Mr Noel Pearson. Also, she has experience working with the Commonwealth National Native Title Tribunal and the Queensland State Government Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Cape York Strategy Unit.
21 Philip Chung
Philip is an Executive Director of an Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII). AustLII is one of the most informative websites in the world providing free access to legal materials. Apart from lecturing in the computerization of law, Philip has computerized legal research and cyberspace law at the University of Technology, Sydney. Philip is a member of the international consultant team for the Asian Development Bank, which works on the project of Internet Development for Asian Law. His work on this latter project has led him to many Asian countries where he took part in training judicial and legal professionals. He has also provided training to DTP Annual Programs for the last three years and has composed a specialized DTP Internet training manual, which is provided to participants. His extensive knowledge of the varied experiences of DTP trainees allows him to tailor his
Garth Nettheim
Garth is Emeritus Professor at UNSW. He created the Diplomacy Training Program in 1989 in conjunction with Nobel Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta. A founding board member and chair of the DTP, Garth was also a resource person at DTP's first training in Sydney in 1990 and at numerous subsequent trainings. Garth is a distinguished lawyer and professor specializing in Indigenous Legal Issues and Human Rights Law. He is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law, a member of the International Commission of Jurists Australian Section and is the Chair of the Indigenous Law Centre. Garth has co-authored and edited several legal texts including Understanding Law; Indigenous Peoples and Governance Structures; and Indigenous Legal Issues: Commentary and Materials.
22 APPENDIX 7: Participant Biographies
Sherry-Ann Toomey I am Wiradjuri woman from Wellington NSW, I am 22 years old. I have grown up in Western Sydney for the majority of my life.
Having completed my HSC I decided to further my studies and completed a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies. After completing my diploma I worked part time for a community organization Junaya for Families, the organization worked with families to provide support with strategies for families to provide a happy, healthy environment for children to grow in.
I am a currently participating in the Indigenous Australian Contract Management Development Programme as a Trainee Contract Manager for the Department of Education and Employment and Workplace Relations.
I would like to gain from attending the DTP a broader understanding of human rights on an International and National level in today’s society and learn of others experiences with human rights and advocacy and lobbying.
Renee Williamson I am a Murri woman from the nation groups of North West Queensland. I am currently working as the Aboriginal Legal Access Program (ALAP) Coordinator at the Combined Community Legal Centre’s Group (NSW). I have recently been elected as the chairperson of the NSW Reconciliation Council, prior to this I was the Deputy Chairperson of the NSWRC.
I have a keen interest and high level of participation in work concerning Indigenous social justice. I also have a strong interest and participation in the arts, Indigenous contemporary music, Community Cultural Development and ‘creative action for social change’.
In 2008 I will be returning to university to study a combined Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Communications (Social Inquiry). I have a strong history of employment with NGO’s including NSW Reconciliation Council (A/Executive Officer, Project Officer), Arilla Paper (Temp Project Officer/Consultant), Music NSW (Indigenous Music Officer), and National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia (National Coordinator) and various tertiary student associations and unions. I also have a strong history of volunteer work including ReconciliACTION Youth Network (Former Indigenous Co-Convenor) and Oxfam International Youth Parliament 2004 (Member Indigenous Reference Group, Facilitator, Volunteer).
Roxanne Highfold I was born in South Australia and I have lived In the Northern Territory most of my life. Before moving to Darwin, I lived in Central Australia (Alice Springs). My Family came to live in Darwin several years ago to carryout a more fulfilling and better life in the Top End. I currently work as an Early Childhood Educator/Field Officer at Regional and Remote Aboriginal Children Service Support Unit (RRACSSU) at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. RRACSSU is only one of the units that recognize themselves as a National Indigenous Professional Support Unit, which provides support and training to Indigenous Remote Communities Children Services within the Northern Territory and Australia.
23 I have always been involved with youth, children and their families through community projects, forums, programs, and previous employment. Recently I have been invited to get involved with SNAICC as an invited Executive Member to sit in on the SNAICC Exec Board, to discuss current national issues effecting Indigenous children and their families. I’m currently involved in various local youth and indigenous support programs within the Northern Territory and I would like to further knowledge so I can get involved on a national level as well as a local level. Working with Children and their families, I believe that every person and child has a right to feel safe, loved, and respected no matter who you are and where you come from.
John Leha My people come from Cherbourg Queensland. I have lived in Sydney all my life. My father’s families are from Tonga in the south pacific. I went to school in the inner west of Sydney attempted University in Canberra and NSW.
I am currently working for the Department of Education, Employment and work place Relations as an Indigenous contract manager. I have been in this current position for about a year and a half. I am now part of a committee looking to improve the employment rate for Aboriginal people.
Kraig Hixon I grew up in a small old town called Mount Morgan in Central Queensland. I decided to leave high school after Year 11 and went straight into the workforce at my Aunt’s café. Then I came to Alice Springs and worked as an Administration Officer at an aged care facility and at night I cleaned dishes at a colleague’s restaurant. I went back to Queensland and worked at my old high school as a Teacher’s Aid and also did some Youth Support work in the community.
Now I’m back in Alice, I have a great job working at the Remote Employment Consultancy and have a positive future. Working at the Remote Employment Consultancy has given me a unique opportunity to see some of the wildest places in the country. The ITEC Remote team is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities.
Danielle King My name is Danielle King, I am 21 years old and I come from Mount Isa, which is in North West Queensland. I am currently undergoing a traineeship in administration at an organization called job futures Isa skills, which is an employment service.
I strongly believe that the law and rights of individuals is an important part of the Australian society, and all citizens should abide by the law and treat every human being with respect and dignity.
This is a Great opportunity to extend my skills, to help me reach my goal in becoming a representative of the law to help and protect my people. I am hoping to gain knowledge and learn a lot from this program, as in the future I would like to study in different areas and ways to learn a variety of talents I like to think that is going to help in future.
24 Hannah Nancarrow Hi! I was born in Perth WA, yes I am a Noongar. I grew up in Kununurra (Kimberley’s) and loved it! I moved to Perth to complete high school and then went onto university and studied Occupational Therapy. I married in 2003 at 20 years of age! Then we moved to Sydney and now we have been here for 3 years. I am currently working in a project in Indigenous Health Promotion at the University of Sydney where I am also currently studying for my Masters of Public Health.
I love sport, I do a lot of exercise, go to church regularly and pretty much just love hanging out with friends- nothing too crazy! I have come to the Diplomacy Training because my passion is to work at improving the health situation of Indigenous people of Australia, but I would love to work in a position that supported all indigenous peoples. I have a strong sense of social justice and I just want to learn more about how to best spend my efforts and time.
Kirstan Dowling My name is Kirstan Dowling I am 20 years old and was born in Alice Springs but grew up in Darwin then moved back to Alice. I am the eldest out of eight children, being the eldest out of eight I have always tried to set a good example for my younger siblings and cousins. I graduated year 10 at Alice Springs High School, then went straight into the workforce with a 4 year Traineeship in Business Administration Cert II which I completed in 2 years.
I have always been a quick learner and am always eager and willing to learn more and more. I would describe myself as a team player, shy and quite but at the same time outgoing, very creative and imaginative; I am easily bored so I try to be busy all the time. I interact in sports I play for a local Basketball club in Alice. Currently I am a quarter of the way through my 18 month Apprenticeship as an Aboriginal Health Worker Cert IV at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. CAAC runs health and well being clinics and programs for Indigenous Australians in central and remote areas of the country. Programs are run in range of areas from childcare to male health.
Lineesha Johnson Hi All, my name is Lineesha Johnson I am of Aboriginal (Gooreng Gooreng) Torres Strait (Mer Island) South Sea Islander (Tanner Island) decent.
I am currently working at Bidgerdii Community Health Service as a Bookkeeper. I enjoy cooking; shopping & spending time with family & friends I believe that laughter is the best medicine.
Katrina Mckechnie Hello!!! My name is Katrina Mckechnie. I am 20 years old. I am both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. I love Netball, Rugby League and Tennis. I'm currently studying a bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Alcohol & Other Drug Studies.
Once I complete my degree I would like to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in the education department as an Alcohol and other drug councillor or with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in juvenile detention as a drug and rehabilitation councillor. I think it's pretty obvious that I am passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth...
Aaron Matthews
25 In July 2007 I commenced as the Mount Isa Safe Communities Coordinator with James Cook University. My role is to assist the Mount Isa Safe Community Project Advisory Team to achieve World Health Organisation Safe Communities accreditation through supporting the planning, implementation and evaluation of injury prevention and safety promotion initiatives. My role involves building, strengthening and maintaining partnerships with Government and non-government agencies, the local community, health services, the private sector and other Queensland Safe Communities, in relation to injury prevention initiatives.
Prior to commencing work with MICCRH, I undertook a three month contract with Oxfam Australia as the Special Event Coordinator for the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. I was employed as a Project Officer with Mount Isa Youth Pathways Program for 12 months which involved designing and implementing projects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students. I worked for Kalkadoon Aboriginal Sobriety House as Administration Officer for about 14 months while also completing my final year of my Bachelor of Applied Science in Indigenous Community Management and Development. Prior to this I worked in various administration and financial management roles while also studying by correspondence and completing a certificate in Business Administration.
Kyla Flick My name is Kyla Flick and I’m from the Gamiloroi tribe in Western New South Wales. I’m a very happy and easygoing person. I stand up for what I believe in and I’m outspoken. I dropped out of school in Yr 11. I’m now back at school doing my HSC. I play lots of Netball and have represented at State Level. I’ve also played in the Far West Academy Squad at the Academy games. When I’ve finished school I plan to become something big. My main goal in life at the moment is to better the Indigenous population in both areas of Health and Education.
From attending this program I hope to come out of it with a better understanding of Human Rights and how they affect Indigenous people. I hope that what I learn will benefit me later in life when I’m out educating the next generation.
Wesley Stubbings I am 22 yrs old; I was born & raised in Townsville. I am the second eldest having 2 brothers, I have other brothers & sisters from my father’s side he had to another woman before I was born. I identify as Aboriginal from my father who was born in Katoomba Blue Mountains, NSW. In our family we have very important heritage, as we are decedents of Yarramundi who was part of the naming of Australia Day. My grandfather Pastor Cooper was the founder of NAIDOC week. We have a large highway bridge named after my Aunty Dawn & my grandmother was recognized by the queen with an honouree medal. My father was part of the stolen generation; we now have our own land named a sacred site which no building is allowed down in the Katoomba Gully.
I am a youth worker for the region of Townsville, Ayr, Charters Towers, and Palm Island. I do mentoring programs for disengaged youth who need motivation & inspiration to succeed in life. I am a youth Pastor of a local Church called; International indigenous flame Ministries (AOG) I am also a musician & a keen sportsman.
26 Neri Winton I am a Gurindji and Djaru women from the Kimberley region. I work for the Kimberley College of TAFE in Halls Creek as the Aboriginal Liaison Officer.
I constantly travel to remote communities in the Shire, to set up appropriate courses for the people. My community Halls Creek is a dry, dusty, remote part of the country with a high population of Aboriginal people. I would like to see more young Aboriginal people being involved in the community and be part of the decision making process.
The young people today have lost their identity and I hope to be a positive role model for the young kids. I would like to gain basic knowledge of human rights and pass it onto my community so that my people can have confidence to challenge conversations.
Rebecca Richards I have just completed a three month summer internship at the National Museum of Australia in the Indigenous Programs Unit. I was working in their Indigenous repatriation services and organizing and delivering their Indigenous Australia Day Celebrations.
I am currently completing a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology and Anthropology) at the University of Adelaide. I am involved in Oxfam because I wish to speak out for the rights of Indigenous people in psychiatric care around Australia.
Lluwannee George My name is Lluwannee George; I am 23 years old and currently living and working in Sydney. My heritage hails from Darnley Island (Erub) in the Torres Strait and from Ghana in West Africa.
I am currently enrolled at UNSW in a Masters in International law and International Relations.
I love my communities; Indigenous, spiritual, social and political and I am passionate about learning and promoting Indigenous rights and human rights. Most of all I love learning from other people, about their experiences, wisdom, knowledge, concerns and achievements they have accomplished. I am a big believer in sharing knowledge and wisdom for not only personal growth but for communal and societal growth & healing as well.
Zanniece Bickey My name is Zanniece Bickey. I am an Australian South Sea Islander. I currently work as a Family Support Worker and Youth Worker in my community Bowen. I hope to utilize what I learn from this training program to improve the service that I provide and help the other employees that I work with improve their service provision as well.
I work for Girudala community Cooperative Society Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation. It is mainly a housing organisation with several other disciplines working out of the cooperative. Girudala has a Youth Health Promotions Officer, Sport & Recreation Officer, Nutrition Promotion Officer, a Housing Officer, ATODS Prevention Officer and the Administrator of Girudala Community Cooperative. We are all dedicated to educating the community about the services that are out there in the community and the services that can help people improve their life styles.
27 I am interested in helping the youth of my community better their lives. They have the natural talent to do basically anything that they put their minds to. I feel that they just need the support for them to achieve.
Peter Nathan I am a descendent of the Lardil tribe of Mornington Island and the Pitta Pitta tribe of North-West Queensland. My family has both lived on Mornington Island and in Mount Isa, sharing our time with both my mother’s and father’s families. This kept my siblings and I grounded by maintaining both our traditional knowledge and family connections.
I have taken part in many youth initiatives whilst I was in high school that promoted leadership, education and success. In turn I utilized these skills in my daily life. My role currently is working for the Department of Child Safety as a Child Safety Support Officer. I am based on Mornington Island and work intensively with families towards preventing removals and maintaining family structure.
I have a passion for helping my people and advocating for equality in the modern Australian society for Indigenous people. My dream is to one day head a program that will teach Indigenous youth the skills to properly lead in their communities, whilst remaining grounded in their cultural and familial structures.
Hayley Pigram I am currently a student at Sydney University studying a Bachelor of Arts. I love this degree because it allows me to follow my interests and also have time to have a great job. I began working for the Public Health department at Sydney Uni 6 months ago. I have a range of responsibilities focusing around Indigenous Public Health. This includes website work as well as research and development.
Personally I am passionate about youth and homosexual issues. I volunteer with ACON (Aids Council of NSW) and Girl Guides Australia, as well as a number of other organizations. In attending the program I hope to gain a better understanding of large organizations, their responsibilities and how I can negotiate with them to further the growth of the Indigenous community.
Ian Waina I am a 20 year old full blood Indigenous Australian from a very remote Aboriginal Community in the north of the Kimberley in West Australia. I am 1 of 7 children, I am the 3rd youngest and we all grew up in Kalumburu. I went to Primary school in Kalumburu; I did some of my secondary schooling in Darwin- Northern Territory, Esperence- Southern West Australia and Monivae in Western Victoria.
I am just about to start a University degree at Lismore Uni in NSW, which is a very big step for me; if I graduate I will be the first person from my community with a university degree. I went to the Pope’s World Youth Conference in Germany in 2005. I have been running sport and recreation activities in my community so that young people have something to do and can enjoy some of the activities that people do elsewhere. I have been trying to teach the young people how to hunt for bush tucker, such as goanna, turkey and fish so they can experience a better life and care for themselves.
I also take tourists to see our rock art and tell them about our culture and history. I try to get young people in our community to be interested in our history and culture so that they stop causing trouble and stop getting into fights and bad ways. This is a problem in our community people sit around and do nothing and then cause trouble.
28 At this program I hope to hear different people’s experiences and learn about what other people are doing with young people in their communities. I want to learn about human rights and how we can get people thinking of these things in our community.
Rebecca McGrath My name is Rebecca McGrath; I am 24 years old, and a descendant of the Wiradjuri people from the Central West of NSW. I am one of 8 children and I am originally from the country town of Parkes in the Central West of NSW. I moved to Sydney in order to undertake university studies and I am currently in my final year of a Law/ International Studies degree with a Thai major. I recently returned from the Northeast of Thailand where I was undertaking in-country study and research at Khon Kaen University as part of my International Studies degree.
I am employed as a casual Paralegal at law firm Allens Arthur Robinson in Sydney and I am currently undertaking an internship with the Aurora project at Ntscorp, formerly Native Title Service Corporation at Redfern in Sydney.
I am passionate about achieving social justice; this includes Human Rights issues especially regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, other Indigenous people of the world and Children and Young People.
I love spending time with my family in the country, waterskiing and going to the beach with my dogs, Honey and Rusty. I have also recently become interested in soccer and I am a proud Central Coast Mariners supporter.
Latoya Smith My name is Latoya Smith. I was born in Rockhampton and have lived there for most of my life. I am of Aboriginal (Kaanju) and South Sea Islander (Banks Island) decent.
I currently work full-time at Darumbal Community Youth Service Inc., as a Physical Activity Project Officer – Indigenous Focus. I also study part-time at Central Queensland University, studying Bachelor of Health Promotion majoring in Indigenous Health.
I enjoy spending time with my family, going fishing and camping. I also enjoy tracing my family history. I would like to gain a better understanding of Human Rights issues especially pertaining to Indigenous affairs.
Jessica Bairnsfather-Scott My name is Jessica. I am a 20-year-old student from Perth. I am currently studying at The University of Western Australia completing a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Anthropology. My interests included: sports - mainly netball and music.
I currently work and volunteer at two non-governmental organizations; Jacaranda Aboriginal community centre and Perth Women’s Health Service for Aboriginal grandparents and family support.
From attending the diplomacy training program session I would like to further my knowledge and understanding on Indigenous human rights.
Minungka McInerney My name is Minungka, said like Min-Nook-Car, but people call me “Nooks” for short. I am a fair skin brother and have a skin name from my Anangu Yankunytjatjara people in Central Australia!!! My Mother is of the Stolen Generation and my deceased
29 Nanna, was a Community or Traditional woman from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, situated in North West South Australia. I can only speak very-very little language of my Nan’s language, as my Mum was stolen and my Nana didn’t have a opportunity to pass on culture to her grandkids. My Nan could actually speak 5 fluent Aboriginal languages in the Central Australian area.
My Nan had 12 children to a White Cattle Farmer/Fencer in Central Australia and 11 out of the 12 kids they had together, were sadly ‘removed’ by the South Australian Government and Aboriginal Protection Board in the 1950’s and 60’s. this has deeply sadden and affected my entire family on my Mother’s side, we have a lot of problems and heart ache throughout my family. My Father is of Irish Descent, White Australian.
I am on Uni Break and looking to continue doing my Cert 4, then Diploma in Indigenous Radio Broadcasting-Journalism and Media Law, up in Darwin at Batchelor Institute. I am a pro Aboriginal proud, have a deep understanding, respect and a lovely rapport or a feeling of belonging to my Nana’s people and our land. I have spent a lot of time with my community people and have done many Native Title trips to my people’s lands. Last year I was blessed to go back to my Mother’s birth place of Oodnadatta in central Australia and attended our Stolen Generation family reunion. Man (!!!), it was so up lifting, spiritual and very healing for me and miraculously I caught up with an Aunty, who I hadn’t seen for many year’s.
I have been continuing my training and experience in radio work at a Community Radio Station here in the ALICE called 8CCC 102.1FM (which transmits in the Alice and also to Tennant Creek) and have done my DJ Nooks Dogg Show for nearly 2 months now, playing party mix songs of Hip-Hop, RnB, Rap, Reggae and Pop, including a lot of radio announcing (building a lot of confidence in discussing Indigenous issues and sounding really deadly…
I am a very proud Aboriginal Brother and so looking forward to getting more life experience from this deadly trip, meeting more lovely people and yeah, getting out there, being myself and having a voice, listening to others and sharing my thoughts, ideas and life experiences as Indigenous Descent Australian at the meeting!!!
Chantelle McGuinness Hi, my name is Chantelle McGuinness and I am 19 years old, I am a proud Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta & Wiradjuri woman.
I am currently undertaking a 3 year cadetship at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) to become a fully qualified financial counsellor. I have been employed in my position for 7 months.
I try to learn as much about my community who I have had a strong connection with since my birth. My family is from Victoria and New South Wales and I am the eldest girl of 9 children. I hope to finish my course to show other young indigenous people that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I think attending this program will help me with my studies.
30 Chelsie Kum Sing I’m from Kalgoorlie in West Oz. I have travelled around a lot. I am currently studying broadcasting and journalism at Batchelor Institute in the NT and I applied for the program because I wanted to learn more about human rights issues and to find out about other opportunities of getting involved.
Nathaniel Prior I have lived and worked on Palm Island for the past 9 years, in that time I have achieved many things as an individual and as part of my community and organisation. I am a founding member of the local Junior Rugby League and have been involved in a lot of community development. I was nominated by my community as a young leader for the community council elections. I was successfully elected into the council receiving the second highest number of votes.
I left Palm Island in late 2006 to further my education, I am hoping to attend University so that I can later return to my community and make positive changes.
31 APPENDIX 8: Example of Trainer Briefing Notes
Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Advocacy A Capacity Building Program for Australian Indigenous Advocates
Held in partnership with Oxfam Australia’s Indigenous Australia Program 5-9 February 2007 Sydney, Australia
Trainer Briefing Notes Media Skills
Dear ,
Thank you for your offer to contribute your time and expertise to the training program on Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Advocacy that the Diplomacy Training Program is facilitating in partnership with Oxfam Australia.
The following notes are intended to help you in the preparation of your training sessions. They canvas some of the issues you might like to address, but they are not intended to be prescriptive. I apologise that you are receiving the notes so close to the training.
Session: Media Skills. Friday February 15h, 2008
Two sessions of the program have been allocated to developing the media skills of participants. Currently these sessions are structured to run from 10.45 -12.30pm. and from 2.00pm – 3.30pm.
The objectives of these sessions are:
To develop participants’ understanding of the role the media can play in influencing and shaping public opinion and the public policy agenda; To explore with participants why media work and developing good media relations is an important part of most advocacy campaigns To develop participants understanding of how the media works, how different media reaches and influences particular audiences, and how different parts of the media have particular needs. To explore with participants how different elements of the Oxfam Health Campaign could be presented to/advanced in different parts of the media in Australia To provide participants with practical guidance on developing and nurturing good media relations; (the importance of trust, credibility etc) To provide participants with practical tips on how to get media interested in their stories; To provide participants with practical guidance on how to overcome negative media perceptions of Indigenous Australians, and to deal actively and reactively with the media
32 Obtaining favourable media coverage is often a key part of advocacy strategies – as a technique for building awareness, gaining legitimacy, building pressure to act, naming and shaming. At the same time there can be unrealistic expectations that obtaining favourable media coverage always results in change, or that all media is good media.
To be effective in media work depends on developing an understanding of how the media works and the pressures that journalists and others work under – including deadlines, limited space and perceptions of audience and market.
For Indigenous advocates in Australia there are particular issues in their relationship with the media. There are a limited number of Indigenous owned/controlled media outlets. Indigenous advocates’ views of the media will have been shaped by often negative portrayals and by stereotyping. It can be difficult to respond well to negative stories about their own communities. It can also be very difficult to make positive stories newsworthy, or to convey the complexities of policy issues through the media – when conflict is seen as more newsworthy.
This training program takes place in the context of a radically changed media environment from last year. This week has seen a historic National Apology by the PM and Parliament, with very favourable media coverage. Closing the Gap has moved from being an advocacy campaign slogan to a clear government commitment and priority.
It might therefore be helpful if the media aspects of this campaign could be the focus of these sessions, and the challenges and utility of presenting health as a human rights issue explored with participants.
These sessions on media skills should also as much as is possible aim to reinforce some of the other messages from the advocacy sessions – the importance of being focussed, clear with objectives and messages, accuracy, credibility etc. The programs take place at the end of the training program and people
Relation to Other Sessions:
The sessions on media skills will take place immediately following a session on lobbying and advocacy skills led by Brian Wyatt, an Indigenous advocate from Western Australia. They have had sessions on the UN and international human rights law. JTV came and filmed the National Apology with participants and interviewed some of them earlier in the week.
Training Methodology - Role Plays and Exercises
The Diplomacy Training Program (www.dtp.unsw.edu.au) places emphasis on the practical application of knowledge on human rights and skills and is therefore keen for trainers to use participatory training methods such as role plays, exercises and small group work wherever possible. Using local examples from Australia is helpful.
We ask presenters to try to restrict their formal presentations to a maximum of thirty minutes in any one session. Participants
There will be approximately 30-35 participants in this training program from a range of organisations around Australia. The participants range greatly in age and
33 experience and areas of expertise and focus. While this diversity can represent a challenge for trainers it also adds to the richness of the experience for all.
DTP will provide you with a list of the participants and short biographies of each of them separately. DTP believes strongly in respecting and valuing the knowledge and experience of participants, and in providing opportunities for participants to learn from each other.
Materials:
The Diplomacy Training Program prepares a Training Manual for all participants. Participants will be provided with the chapter on Media Skills from the AI Manual on Strategic Advocacy and Campaigning.
Please let us know if you have any additional or preferred background materials on these sessions that you think it would be useful for participants to have before or following the sessions and we will arrange for them to copied and provided to participants.
DTP would appreciate it if you were willing to give permission for DTP to provide copies of any power-point or other presentations you use to the participants in the program.
Training Requirements
There will be equipment provided on the day for power-point and overhead projector presentations. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have any special requirements.
Venue and Directions
The training program will be held in the new Law Faculty Building of UNSW – most teaching will occur in a lecture theatre on the first floor. Please see attached map and directions.
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