Aboriginal Affairs Victoria The Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report July 2004 – June 2005 Figure 1: Front cover artwork Cover: “Walk With Me” Aunty Valda Cook, Wurundjeri/BoonurongReproduced courtesy of the artist. “The words on the painting says it all, however you will note that in the top left hand corner this area depicts an elders meeting council, you will also see the Sun rising from the east of Victoria as it goes over the bay and into the central Australia.” This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical or graphic) without the prior written permission of the State of Victoria, Department for Victorian Communities. All requests and enquiries should be directed to the Copyright Officer, Department for Victorian Communities, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3001. General Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Foreword I am pleased to present the Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report: July 2004–June 2005. This report provides information on key initiatives in Indigenous affairs over the past year, a highlight of which was the amendment to Victoria’s Constitution recognising Aboriginal people’s unbroken connection to the land which became the colony of Victoria. The 2005-06 State Budget, together with the Government’s social policy statement Figure 2: Launch of Common A Fairer Victoria announced in May 2005, are Ground at Birrarung Marr blueprints to strengthen the partnership that has developed between the Victorian Government and the Indigenous community over the past five years. These two documents act as an action plan to improve the prosperity of Indigenous Victorians and signal a major shift in the way Government will work with Indigenous Victorians to break the cycle of disadvantage. The Bracks Government has significantly increased resources for Aboriginal programs in the past five years, however we recognise that ongoing reform is needed to change the way government works with Indigenous communities. We are investing in building skills and capacity within Aboriginal communities to improve access to services, opportunities and choices and to make real and lasting improvements to the lives of families. We will work with Victoria’s Indigenous communities to build on Victoria’s rich and little known Indigenous cultural heritage to create new jobs in tourism and land management and generate a better understanding of Indigenous issues. We will create a fairer Victoria. During the past year I have consulted widely with Aboriginal communities on the redrafting of cultural heritage legislation. The Government wants to increase Indigenous involvement in the management of Victoria’s vast array of natural assets and to ensure cultural heritage considerations are taken into account when land use decisions are being made. During the year I also consulted widely within the Indigenous community about their aspirations for a state-based representative arrangement following the demise of ATSIC. They told me a representative structure should be built from a base of strong and effective local bodies, upwards. We accept that it is important that Indigenous communities have a formal mechanism to develop working partnerships and engage with all levels of government. We also accept that we need to hear the views of Indigenous communities and people in determining how these new arrangements might work. Our Government will continue to work in partnership with the Indigenous community to ensure they share in Victoria’s prosperity. GAVIN JENNINGS MLC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Contents Building a new partnership with Indigenous Victorians .................................................... 6 Our Achievements ........................................................................................................... 7 Partnerships ................................................................................................................ 7 Land and Culture ....................................................................................................... 10 Economic Development and Participation ................................................................. 17 Family and Community Health and Well-being .......................................................... 25 Improved Justice Outcomes ...................................................................................... 32 Strengthening the partnership for the future .................................................................. 36 Indigenous Affairs in Victoria ......................................................................................... 45 Indigenous community profile .................................................................................... 45 Indicators of Well Being ............................................................................................. 47 Ministerial Roles ........................................................................................................ 49 Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) ................................................................................ 49 Advisory bodies ......................................................................................................... 49 Indigenous Policy Forums ......................................................................................... 51 Building a new partnership with Indigenous Victorians The Government has worked in partnership with Aboriginal communities to further reconciliation and Aboriginal well-being. The impacts of dispossession of land and culture are still being felt by Indigenous Victorians. The cycle of disadvantage starts early. We view this as unacceptable and are taking action in partnership with Indigenous communities to break the cycle and improve Indigenous well-being. The Victorian Government and Victoria’s Indigenous communities have developed the Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework as a whole of government approach to addressing Indigenous issues. The framework aims to achieve partnership across government and between government and Indigenous communities with particular emphasis on improving: • outcomes for Indigenous people; • coordination of government programs; • input and direction by Indigenous communities; and • approaches to service delivery The approach reflects the knowledge and understanding that issues facing Indigenous families and communities in Victoria are interconnected, and that new policy and service delivery approaches are required if progress is to be made. Five strategic areas for action have been identified: 1. Partnerships Recognising and respecting Indigenous people’s right to self-determination expressed through active partnerships with government that involve Indigenous Victorians in the planning, management and delivery of services. 2. Land and culture Delivering land justice to Indigenous Victorians and protecting Victoria’s Indigenous cultural heritage for future generations. 3. Economic development and participation Improving education and training outcomes to facilitate participation and economic development and facilitating the effective translation of benefits of greater cultural recognition, land ownership and community control into opportunities for business development, employment and economic independence. 4. Family and community health and well being Address individual and community well-being, knowledge, skills and identity of Indigenous Victorians through positive strategies. 5. Improved justice outcomes Addressing injustice and providing a safe and secure environment for Indigenous families and communities to live in. Over the past year this Government has implemented a range of programs and initiatives in each of these action areas. This report aims to provide an overview of our key initiatives for Indigenous Victorians. Our Achievements Partnerships Initiatives involving Indigenous Victorians in the planning, management and delivery of services have been implemented across a range of government areas. They demonstrate our commitment to building stronger Indigenous communities and a more equal partnership between government and Indigenous Victorians. Shepparton COAG Aboriginal Initiative In 2004-05 the partnership with the Aboriginal Community in Shepparton has focused on the following key projects: Strategic Planning and Policy Unit (SPPU) The model for a SSPU was developed and finalised in 2004 with the aim of providing capacity for the Shepparton Aboriginal community to lead the way in planning and development for social, economic and cultural sustainability and equity. The CEO has been recruited and the Unit will be fully operational in early 2006. Education Pathways Strategy The Education Pathways Strategy is a whole of government/whole of community approach aimed at providing Aboriginal students with pathways to achieve higher educational aspirations and positive life choices to education, training and employment. The Strategy was developed through a planning process that culminated with a Community