Snaicc News Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
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snaicc news Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care www.snaicc.org.au AUGUST 2012 National Aboriginal and Islander newspaper Children’s Day Koori Mail turns 25 Photo courtesy of Photo See pages 10 and 11 SNAICC in running for governance award SNAICC is among eight of Australia’s The eight finalists were selected by an “In the past 12 months, many of our top Aboriginal and Torres Strait independent judging panel chaired by national executive members and some Islander organisations named as Professor Mick Dodson, who said the staff have undertaken additional finalists in the prestigious Indigenous standard of applications had been high. governance training conducted by a Governance Awards (IGAs) for 2012. “Indigenous governance is really legal firm. Created in 2005, the IGAs are held every improving and our finalists represent “We would also like to acknowledge the two years by Reconciliation Australia in the best of what is happening in federal Department of Families, Housing, partnership with BHP Billiton to identify, Indigenous communities,” Professor Community Services and Indigenous celebrate and promote strong leadership Dodson said. Affairs for including a governance and effective governance. “They are true success stories, achieving component as part of its core funding to The 2012 IGAs attracted over 100 clear results in what are largely very SNAICC.” applications from Aboriginal and Torres challenging environments.” Reconciliation Australia said while the Strait Islander owned organisations and SNAICC Chairperson Dawn Wallam said: 2012 finalists represented a diverse projects — a record-breaking figure and “SNAICC is proud and delighted that the range of services, each had been more than triple the number from 2010. judging panel consider us among the developed from the ground up and The awards are divided into two top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander were genuinely owned and driven by categories. SNAICC is one of five organisations on governance issues. the communities and members they represent. finalists in Category A, “for outstanding “SNAICC has worked hard, and continues examples of Indigenous governance in to work hard, on improving governance The winners will be announced at an Indigenous incorporated organisations”. procedures and protocols in the agency. awards ceremony at BHP Billiton in Melbourne on 12 October. The national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families Doctrine of Discovery. The doctrine well, Indigenous persons shed light on can be traced to a papal bull (edict) in prevailing and pervasive injustice and 1452, which in effect legitimized the racism. European colonialisation of any (then) The report of the Eleventh Session of non-Christian peoples — ignoring and the UNPFII is available on the SNAICC invalidating the rights of Indigenous website (see also article on page 7). peoples to the culture, history and wealth of their societies and their In Geneva for CRC connections (ownership) of their lands. Following the UNPFII, Geraldine and I f r a n k ly Over the last 550 years, Indigenous attended the Convention on the Rights peoples have continued to struggle to of the Child (CRC) hearings in Geneva. s p e a k i n g regain what was taken. The colonisers The convention is concerned with the meanwhile have continued to take ever rights and wellbeing of all children. The Hello everyone and welcome to the more, while making some generally mild CRC committee reviews the progress of August 2012 edition of SNAICC News. and rhetorical gestures to reverse these each country that is a signatory to the Since I last wrote in May, SNAICC trends, not least in Australia. In 1823, CRC about every four years; this year was took part in two extremely important the Doctrine of Discovery was written Australia’s turn. The atmosphere was international human rights forums. into United States law in a Supreme very different to New York — a smaller Court case as a way to deny land rights gathering, it was easier to navigate. SNAICC Deputy Chairperson Geraldine to Native Americans. In Australia, native Atkinson, Emma Sydenham (Manager SNAICC has been involved over the last title law seems, more often than not, Policy and Research), Melissa Brickell 18 months with the NGO delegation to work against Indigenous peoples (Manager Resources) and I attended from Australia and a number of things regaining access to and control of their the annual United Nations Permanent advocated for by SNAICC, and solidly land. Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) supported by the non-Indigenous NGOs, in New York in May. Approximately 600 For about six hours a day for eight days, were taken up in the report by the CRC Indigenous delegates were present, participants read statements about the committee to the Australian Government representing a number of First Nations impact of colonisation. The majority (see pages 8 and 9). peoples around the world. of speakers were Indigenous, with a The trip was also a valuable learning few government spokespersons. While The UNPFII theme this year was experience: we learnt the work that governments mostly claimed that all was based on the enduring impact of the happens in the preceding 24 months — when committee members visit Australia to speak to community groups — is more important than the work that is done In this issue... when we get to the meetings. Page National children’s day BBF program changes must be based This year’s Aboriginal and Islander on genuine consultations 3 Children’s Day (NAICD) on 4 August Bubup Wilam children’s centre opens in Melbourne 4 celebrated a major milestone — it was Queensland holds inquiry into child protection system 5 the 25th since the day began in 1988. NT foster and kinship carers get an increase in payments 6 Over the years, NAICD has helped to remind people and governments that SNAICC attends UN Indigenous forum in New York 7 children remain the most vulnerable UN committee in Geneva highlights Australia’s failures group in society. As well as being on children’s rights 8–9 a celebration, the day is an annual National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day 2012 10–11 opportunity to reflect on the issues faced Cultural tuition at the centre of care 12–13 by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander A day in the life of the Tasmanian Aboriginal children that are hindering their Child Care Agency 14 development, wellbeing and protection. This is a cliche, but children today are Black Fella White Fella children’s book launched 15 adults tomorrow. 2013 SNAICC National Conference: planning well under way 16 If we want a healthy, intellectually SNAICC launches new resource on healing practices 17 capable and compassionate society, Warning: Aboriginal and New resources for Aboriginal parents in WA 18 we need to give our kids the skills to Torres Strait Islander Growing up our way matrix now available in hard copy 18 have intellectual capacity and to be people should be aware that this publication may Cultural competence workshops proving a hit 19 compassionate. I don’t want to live in a contain images of people society that is neither of those things. who may have since passed Lyn and Ben Lawrie’s family story one of many featured in away. book celebrating 25 years of children’s day 20 Frank Hytten, SNAICC CEO [email protected] 2 snaicc news August 2012 BBF program changes must be based on genuine consultations SNAICC has cautiously welcomed the Australian Government’s review of the Budget Based Funding (BBF) Program, under which many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood services are funded. SNAICC Deputy Chairperson (Early Childhood), Geraldine Atkinson, said SNAICC had long advocated for changes to the BBF program to enable better delivery of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and Geraldine Atkinson families. Ms Atkinson said SNAICC saw the review “Access to affordable services is vitally as an important opportunity to improve important to the wellbeing and future support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait “We expect the evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Islander services and remove some of that emerges from a children, families and communities in the factors inhibiting their capacity to rural and remote areas,” Ms Atkinson deliver programs. genuine consultation said. These issues include heavy admini- process will demonstrate She said the success of the review would strative and reporting workloads, the real need for further hinge on the consultation process. inadequate funding and a single-year operational funding. BBF funding model that creates uncertainty “We call on the Government to ensure its and prevents long-term planning. services should not be consultations — with families, services and communities — are culturally Under-funded services expected to operate for far less than other services.” appropriate, genuine and will enable “Our services have been significantly meaningful discussions. under-funded for the past 20 years, despite a growing demand and the “This requires significant notice to fact they provide holistic, affordable “Our services, including the people to participate, requires time to and flexible programs that meet the Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s sit and yarn with people on the issues, needs of parents, and the cultural Services — or MACS — are very distinct and requires openness about what the and educational needs of our children from mainstream services. They serve all solutions may be.” at the most crucial stage of their the children in the community, not just Simple principles development,” Ms Atkinson said. those who walk through the door. Ms Atkinson said the Australian Human “We expect the evidence that emerges “They are community hubs, providing Rights Commission has developed clear from a genuine consultation process will a range of services including outreach and simple principles for consultation demonstrate the real need for further to families in need of but not accessing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait operational funding.