The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan 2003–2006 February 2004 The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan 2003–2006 Department of Human Services February 2004 Published by Barwon-South Western Region, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Geelong, Victoria February 2004 Also published on www.dhs.vic.gov.au/regional/barwon/index.htm © Copyright State of Victoria 2004 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 2nd Floor, Cnr Little Malop and Fenwick Streets, Geelong 3220 The drawing on the cover and on the side panels of the text is by Candina Rotumah, a young Gunditjmara woman who lives in Portland, Victoria. The drawing is influenced by Gunditjmara Traditional Artwork. Design and layout by Aria Design, Ocean Grove, Victoria Printed by Press Here, Ocean Grove, Victoria Foreword The Barwon-South Western region of the Department of Human Services is located in the south- western part of the state of Victoria from Queenscliff in the east to the southwest border with South Australia. There are five Aboriginal organisations in the Barwon-South Western region, servicing a population of 2465 Indigenous people (according to the ABS 2001 census data). The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan is a strategic planning document that was developed in partnership with Indigenous communities in this Region. It outlines a range of issues that have been highlighted by communities over the last 12 months through the Koori Human Services Forums. These will guide the development of strategies in consultation with Indigenous communities over the three-year timeframe of the plan. The plan aims to strengthen and improve previous work conducted in the Region and strives to enhance the delivery of quality, responsive services to Indigenous communities. The Plan is an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships between the Department of Human Services, service providers and communities. The Plan supports a regular consultative process between the state and regional levels of the Department and Indigenous communities in the Region. This communication channel will provide co-ordination and structure to the way we work in partnership with communities in this Region. I commend the Plan to you and look forward to the realisation of the strategies outlined. I intend to report on the Plan and it will be updated on an annual basis. A report card will be presented on our progress in actioning the ambitious work program. Jan Snell Regional Director Barwon-South Western Region iii List of acronyms AAV Aboriginal Affairs Victoria ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics BSW Barwon-South Western DHS Department of Human Services DWEC Dhauwurd-Wurrung Aboriginal Elderly Citizens Association Ltd HACC Home and Aged Community Care IFV Indigenous Family Violence JJ Juvenile Justice KADNAC Koori Aged and Disability Network Advisory Committee KECFO Koori Early Childhood Field Officer LGA Local Government Area MCHN Maternal and Child Health Nursing NACCHO National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation NAIDOC National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee OATSIH Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health RAJAC Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee VACCA Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency VACSAL Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited VAEAI Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated VAHB Victorian Aboriginal Housing Board VAHS Victorian Aboriginal Health Service iv Contents Foreword iii List of acronyms iv Statement of Purpose vi Commitment to Aboriginal People vi Background 1 Partnership agreement 1 Policy context 1 Role of mainstream service providers 2 Reporting and monitoring 2 Regional Indigenous population by age groups 2 Community profiles Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative 3 Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative 4 Dhauwurd-Wurrung Aboriginal Elderly Citizens Association Ltd 5 Kirrae Health Services 6 Winda-mara Aboriginal Corporation 7 The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan 2003–2006 Action Priorities 8 Goal 1: Consultation 8 Goal 2: Planning and monitoring 8 Goal 3: Addressing priority areas 9 Goal 4: Partnerships 10 Goal 5: Capacity building 11 Goal 6: Building on existing work 12 Goal 7: Integrated approaches 12 Summary of Regional Aboriginal initiatives 13 Department of Human Services programs 13 Other programs 14 v Statement of Purpose The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan encourages all Department of Human Services program areas and funded agencies to work in a collaborative manner with Indigenous communities to deliver responsive services in this Region. Commitment to Aboriginal People The Barwon-South Western region strongly supports the NACCHO definition of a Community-controlled primary care service as ‘… a primary care service initiated by local Aboriginal communities to deliver holistic and culturally appropriate care to people within their communities [… with] board members … elected from the local Aboriginal community’. The Barwon-South Western region is committed to improving the responsiveness and accessibility of Departmental services for the Aboriginal communities in the Region through a holistic, co-ordinated approach. vi Background The Barwon-South Western Regional Aboriginal Services Plan aims to ensure that Indigenous organisations are consulted in regards to services that affect their communities. It will ensure that the Department has an effective, co-ordinated approach to working with Indigenous communities. It will also provide a focus on the priority areas as outlined in the State Aboriginal Services Plan, which includes children and families, young people and lengthening life. The Plan provides an opportunity to formalise and build on the work that is in progress in the Barwon-South Western region with Indigenous communities. It is guided by the seven goals of the state-wide Aboriginal Services Plan, which will form the basis for strategies to be developed over the next three years. These goals are: 1 Consultation 2 Planning and monitoring 3 Addressing priority areas 4Partnerships 5 Capacity building 6 Building on existing work 7 Integrated approaches. The expected outcomes include: ■ improved services to Indigenous communities ■ equitable access to mainstream services for Indigenous people ■ an effective consultation mechanism between the Department and Indigenous communities ■ improved capacity building of Indigenous communities, as well as ■ improved capacity building of non-Indigenous Departmental personnel. Partnership agreement This plan has been developed in partnership with the Department of Human Services Barwon-South Western region and the five Aboriginal organisations in the region. These are: ■ Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative ■ Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative ■ Dhauwurd-Wurrung Aboriginal Elderly Citizens Association Ltd ■ Kirrae Health Services ■ Winda-mara Aboriginal Corporation. The Plan is our joint approach to improving human services for Indigenous people in the Barwon-South Western region. Policy context The Department of Human Services in the Barwon-South Western Region respects the unique culture of the Indigenous people in this Region. We understand that each community is unique, each is at its own particular stage of development and has very individual needs. The Region is strongly committed to working with Indigenous communities and recognises the previous work established at national, state, regional and local levels which impacts on communities. 1 DHS recognises the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) as the peak body for policy advice in the state of Victoria. Role of mainstream service providers The Region strongly endorses Strategy 2.3 of the Statewide Aboriginal Services Plan on the role of mainstream service providers. There is a clear expectation that all DHS funded service providers will consult with Aboriginal people on the appropriateness and accessibility of the services and where necessary amend service provision to achieve this aim. This commitment will be formalised in funding and service agreements. Reporting and monitoring Implementation of this plan will be oversighted by various methods: a The Regional Aboriginal Services Plan will be a standing agenda item on the Regional Koori Human Services Forums. b The Regional Aboriginal Services Plan will be a regular agenda item for the Indigenous Internal Reference Group. c Annual Reports will be provided to the Koori Human Services Unit. d The DHS Quality Improvement Unit will actively be involved in the implementation of the Regional Aboriginal services Plan. eFeedback on progress will be provided by an Annual Report Card. Regional Indigenous population by age groups 0–9 years: 703 (28%) 10–19 years: 564 (23%) 20–29 years: 362 (15%) 30–39 years: 299 (12%) 40–49 years: 255 (10%) 50–59 years: 142 (6%) 60–69 years: 76 (3%) 70–79 years: 48 (2%) 80+ years: 16 (1%) ABS 2001 2 Community profile: Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative The Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative was incorporated in 1980 and services 1394 Indigenous residents in the Greater Geelong area (according to the ABS 2001 census). Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative provides aged and home care services to the community. Other services include a drug and alcohol program, a housing program, the Aboriginal Community Justice Program and