West news Connecting and partnering with Aboriginal communities Issue 3 – Autumn 2018 Contents Welcome to West news 2 Deputy Secretary’s message 2 Empowering community 2 Five minutes with Adam Reilly 3 Marcus Clarke message 3 ‘Strong Spirit’ sets the scene for true healing 4 Department honors Banjo Clarke’s legacy 5 Gathering Place a culturally-safe hub 6 Closing the Gap 7 Towards reconciliation: Sorry Day helps healing 7 A view of Gariwerd/ Engaging service keeps women and Grampians National kids connected 8 Park and Halls Gap Contact details 8 from Boroka Lookout. West news Welcome to Deputy Secretary’s message Welcome to the Autumn increasing our Aboriginal West news Edition of West news – a staffing numbers over The Department of newsletter committed to the past five years, and Health and Human keeping you up-to-date has drawn heavily on the Services respectfully on what is happening experiences of our staff acknowledges the within the Aboriginal- to shape our approach to Traditional Owners of focussed space across developing culturally-safe the Department of Health employment practices. Officer; two Aboriginal Country throughout and Human Services’ As at January 2018, Divisional Executives; Victoria and pays its West Division, both two Aboriginal staff at respect to the ongoing 53 employees in West internally and within the Division identified as VPSG6 level; and, seven living cultures of funded sector. Aboriginal and/or Torres VPSG5 Aboriginal or Aboriginal peoples. One of the department’s Strait Islander, compared Torres Strait Islander Self-determination key commitments is to with only 15 in December staff. You can read is a key theme of this ensure that Aboriginal 2013. about our most senior Aboriginal staff member, edition of the West news. people are represented at In 2013, the most senior Adam Reilly, in this Ensuring Aboriginal and every level, and that staff role occupied by an edition of West news. Torres Strait Islanders feel supported, safe and Aboriginal staff member have a say in their own valued. in West Division was a I am proud of our future is a fundamental I am extremely pleased VPSG5 position, so it’s success in encouraging principle and one that to report that West very heartening that, Aboriginal people is at the heart of the Division has achieved in 2018, we have: an to not only apply for Victorian Government’s great success in Aboriginal Executive positions across West Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Division, but to shine Aboriginal health, in those roles, and I wellbeing and safety Empowering community am fully committed to strategic plan. Aboriginal communities Specifically, this means continuing to build on Self-determination is have had a long struggle that rather than Aboriginal this great momentum to also vital to ensure the for their right to control people merely being achieve a two per cent success of the Close the their own lives to ensure ‘engaged’ or ‘consulted’ as Aboriginal workforce by 2021. Gap Refresh, which is they survive and thrive, ‘advisors’ or ‘co-designers’ currently underway. In and the Victorian of services and policies, One of the this edition we learn of Government has they are authorised department’s key Victoria’s input into the committed to embedding and empowered to own, commitments is to process. self-determination as a direct and make strategic ensure that Aboriginal And we see self- core guiding principle as decisions about: it works with Aboriginal people are represented determination in • the values and at every level, and that communities to realise motivations of a policy action, with impactful staff feel supported, their individual visions or program community-led safe and valued. projects, such as The and hopes. • strategic intent Well Women and Their ‘Self-determining, healthy • policy or program design To find out about Children’s Health and safe Aboriginal people our current job Program, in Portland, and communities’ is the • funding and allocation opportunities, and the and Caracaramigen, foundation of the Korin of resources strategies and supports the Colac Aboriginal Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal • implementation and in place around Gathering Place. health, wellbeing and operations Aboriginal Employment, safety strategic plan • evaluation measures and Adam Reilly, one of the I recommend jumping 2017–2027. definitions of success. most senior Aboriginal onto the ‘DHHS public servants in Self-determination is more Importantly, while Aboriginal Employment Victoria, talks about his than a guiding principle; the concept of self- Unit’ Facebook page journey and we pay our it is a paradigm shift that determination is universal, or the Aboriginal respects to Uncle Banjo sees Aboriginal people there is no single approach Employment page Clarke, whose legacy take ownership, carriage to achieving it – each on the department’s has been formally and responsibility for Victorian Aboriginal website at dhhs.vic. acknowledged by the designing, delivering community is unique and gov.au/aboriginal- Department of Health and evaluating policy will have its own definition employment and Human Services. and services on their and requirements for Paul Smith own terms to overcome ensuring its people are We trust you enjoy this Deputy Secretary, disadvantage and create empowered to have a say edition of West news. West Division their own, positive, future. in their future. 2 Five minutes with Adam Reilly Adam Reilly, a proud This places even more Aboriginal man from pressure on us to make the Marrawarri people sure we get things right, (Northern NSW) has which includes addressing recently taken on the power imbalances and role of Area Director for being genuine about the Wimmera South West self-determination. Area. Adam oversees What has been the highlight a cohesive network of of your career to date? five offices within the I would say being the department’s largest Manager of a remote catchment area, which Adam Reilly covers about 20 per cent Continued page 4 of Victoria and includes several regional cities, as well as more isolated Marcus Clarke message communities. Things have been moving that Michael Bell has been apace since my last collectively appointed to the Adam brings a wealth of message in the Summer role of Aboriginal Co-Chair. experience to the role. He Edition of West news, Michael is a highly- was the Assistant Director which focussed on the respected and capable of the department’s interconnected governance Aboriginal leader who is Barwon Area and has mechanisms of the committed to improving worked across various Aboriginal governance and the health and wellbeing states and territories accountability framework of Aboriginal people. • Western Melbourne, at both state and announced alongside which takes in the five commonwealth levels The next steps are the department’s new local government areas within the Education to formalise the Area headline Korin Korin Balit- of Melbourne, Moonee and Health and Human Aboriginal Governance Djak: Aboriginal health, Valley, Maribyrnong, Services sectors. Committee structures Hobsons Bay and wellbeing and safety across: How did you come to strategic plan 2017–2027. Wyndham. work for the department? • Wimmera South West, Once the structures are West Division has held which takes in the 10 I saw a job online finalised, we will begin the its first meeting of the local government areas that I liked which was process of engaging with newly-formed Divisional of Corangamite, Moyne, based in Geelong. Aboriginal communities Aboriginal Governance Warrnambool, Glenelg, With a preference to in each area. Committee (DAGC), setting Southern Grampians, regional and remote It really is exciting times up the meeting structure Northern Grampians, work, I applied and was ahead with communities through collective Horsham, West being empowered to interviewed and offered agreement on the: Wimmera, Hindmarsh develop action plans the role. 1. process of appointing and Yarriambiack to address their local Who or what has been the Aboriginal co-chair • Central Highlands, challenges and work the biggest influence in 2. tenure of the Aboriginal which takes in the six towards achieving their your career? co-chair local government areas identified aspirations. I have worked in a lot 3. frequency of meetings of Ararat, Ballarat, As always, your comments of different parts of Golden Plains, Hepburn, 4. quorum requirements and feedback are welcome government all around Moorabool and Pyrenees and necessary to ensure Australia. The biggest 5. conflict of interest • Barwon, which takes this newsletter continues influence for me was processes in the four local to serve its audience well. working out bush in 6. standing agenda items. government areas of Feel free to drop us a line remote Aboriginal These critical elements Greater Geelong, Colac- (see back page) if you have Communities. This work were written into a Terms Otway, Queenscliffe and any article suggestions for made it clear to me that of Reference that will serve Surf Coast upcoming editions. the most vulnerable as a central document to • Brimbank Melton, members of our Marcus Clarke guide the group’s working which takes in the local Manager, Aboriginal communities are often arrangements. government areas of Engagement Unit, the ones without a voice. I am pleased to report Brimbank and Melton West Division 3 West news ‘Strong Spirit’ sets the scene for true healing The fundamental principle seamless service of self-determination delivery. ‘There’s an innate capacity in us to heal. It’s all about and a holistic approach establishing safety, security and trust, and having The Victorian Government the opportunity to work with someone you trust and to healing is at the has invested heavily in heart of the Victorian get support from. As long as we remain committed to a range of strategies our healing, be really true and honest with ourselves, Government’s plan to that support the above and reach out for support, the healing does come. achieve better social four domains, including But often we need help, that’s the thing, and there’s and emotional wellbeing $22 million towards an no shame in reaching out and asking for help.’ outcomes for Aboriginal expanded Aboriginal people.