SUMMER 2017 Ada Peterson with Matt Tribe, ABC Radio Breakfast Presenter Mildura-Swan Hill SHARING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CHRISTMAS IS A FABULOUS TIME OF YEAR TO from family violence and abuse – in Victoria each year, ENJOY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS – BUT IT’S ALSO that’s nearly 10,000 children who can’t live with their A TIME TO SHARE THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON WITH parents because of violence, neglect and abuse. OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO. If you are able to help, even with something little (a new toy, Again, this year, MDAS and Mallee Family Care are the a non-perishable food item or even a gift voucher), please beneficiaries of the ABC Mildura Swan Hill Giving Tree leave the gift unwrapped at ABC Mildura Swan Hill, or at Appeal. It’s been a fabulous partnership over the years MDAS Reception in Mildura or Swan Hill. and every year it makes Christmas a little brighter for Feeling safe and loved is what they want the most, and a many children. special Christmas gift sends a message that someone cares. The generous donations received this year will be given MDAS is now on Facebook! Search “Mallee District to children, young people and families who have suffered Aboriginal Services” and “like” us to keep up to date with what’s happening at MDAS and in the community IN THIS ISSUE COMMUNITY GATHERINGS MENTAL HEALTH Page 2 ARE YOU SAFE ONLINE? Page 4 DEMONSTRATION Page 7 A HIT AT SWAN HILL PROJECT KICKS OFF LOOKING FOR WORK? SWAN HILL COMMUNITY NEED HELP? GET IN TOUCH! LUNCHES ARE GETTING WORK SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE AND CULTURALLY EVERYONE TALKING SAFE FOR EVERYONE. BUT BREAKING INTO THE WORKFORCE CAN BE TOUGH – AND SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO KNOW HOW TO START. MDAS has developed strong linkages, partnerships and support from stakeholders across the Mallee – Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang. That means we can help you find your employment pathway and sustainable job opportunities through the Mallee Aboriginal Employment Program. Get in touch with MAEP ([email protected]) if you could use some help with: Cedric, Nerida and baby August were among the crowd at the November community lunch • Skills • Health issues • Literacy • Networks MDAS SWAN HILL’S COMMUNITY DAYS ARE • Numeracy • Mentoring GROWING IN POPULARITY WITH EACH EVENT. The MDAS Swan Hill team is hosting the lunches every month and has so far held a barbecue, a chicken lunch, and even a smorgasbord – and up to 40 people have been attending. GETTING ON TRACK IN 2018 It’s a great chance for community members to get together for a yarn and for MDAS staff to get to know community-members better. So if you haven’t been to one of the lunches yet, keep an eye out for the fliers, or on our Facebook page for the next one coming up. Everyone’s welcome. ONE INITIATIVE OF THE MAEP PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER WAS AN INFORMATION SESSION ON A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT ROLLING OUT IN OUR REGION IN 2018. The Murray Basin Rail Project is a $440 million dollar project to upgrade the rail freight network to north west Victoria. It will need workers and MDAS has been working with one of the companies involved to identify opportunities for MDAS ANNUAL REPORT local people. IS OUT NOW Nearly 40 people attended the information session with Mooneys Pty Ltd, but if you missed it OUR ANNUAL REPORT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED. and are still interested, contact Kosha at MAEP on IT CONTAINS INFORMATION, STORIES AND REPORTS (03) 5018 4100 ON OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN 2017-18. YOU CAN PICK UP A COPY AT THE MDAS OFFICES OR YOU CAN READ IT ON OUR WEBSITE. 2 SUMMER 2017 YOUNG ONES TACKLING CHALLENGES AND TAKING THE LEAD IMAN BRIELLE WESTHEAD LUTTRELL Iman Westhead is the Brielle Luttrell has learnt a first Koori student to be lot about herself in the past school captain at Mildura’s six months and she’s found St Joseph’s College, but she’s got toughness and she’s certain she won’t determination that’s be the last! surprised even her. The friendly and approachable Iman was elected by fellow Brielle was struggling with school, but, through a counsellor, students in Term Four and has already been acting in the found herself part of the MASP Kokoda Mentoring Project leadership role in the final weeks of school. – she completed the training: “It was tough, and I dropped out a couple of times, but went back and had another go “ Even though there weren’t other Indigenous school leaders and was proud that I did.” while I was going through, I didn’t really think about it – I just knew it was something I wanted to do. But hopefully Then she completed the Track: “It was emotional and it can make others think that it’s worth having a go at hard, but I made it and it changes you.” opportunities like this,” Iman said. The confidence she gained through the training also saw “ I really just wanted to do this job and be a leader in the Brielle take on the Murray River Paddle, with Victoria school, but I think I can also be a voice for Indigenous Police – 400 km from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill. And again, students, which is important to me.” she made it! Iman has already made her mark by suggesting St Now she’s preparing to get back to school, taking on Year Joseph’s fly the Aboriginal flag – an initiative that has 11 at Mildura Senior College next year, with the aim of now been taken up at the school. Good luck Iman! finding a career in youth work. Fantastic job Brielle! MDAS BUZZING AT KERANG The number of community members accessing Kerang’s FUNDING FOR SWAN HILL MDAS facilities continues to grow – more than 60 percent EARLY YEARS last year. The Victorian Government has put funding towards It’s partly in response to the provision of a greater range improving Maternal and Child Health services to of services but also because of the professional and families and children in the Swan Hill area. friendly team we have. MDAS Swan Hill was among ten organisations MDAS Kerang’s Melanie Lane is also committed to across Victoria to share in the Aboriginal Maternal collaborating with other local agencies in the Kerang and Child Health Initiative. community. This also improves access to services for our local community, but it also increases awareness in Aboriginal families access Maternal and Child other organisations of the Koori community’s needs. Health services at a lower rate than non-Aboriginal families – a gap that increases from 4.8 per cent During recent months MDAS Kerang has been part of: at the initial home visit to 18 per cent at the eight • Five Ways to Wellbeing, a community connecting health month consultation. The funding will allow the promotion, in collaboration with local Agencies approach being taken through the pioneering • You and Me Can Stop HIV community information session MDAS Early Years program to be expanded to • Understanding Dementia, community information Swan Hill families. sessions with local agencies The initiative is part of the Government’s Roadmap • Gannawarra Goes Orange Family Violence Awareness for Reform: Strong families, Safe children and Morning Tea in collaboration with local Agencies Marrung: Aboriginal Education Plan 2016-2026. • LGBTI “Celebrating the Yes Vote” Morning Tea with local agencies 3 TECHNOLOGY AND FAMILY MDAS STRATEGIC PLAN VIOLENCE – KEEPING MDAS has grown strongly in client numbers and YOURSELF SAFE community engagement and these have been key achievements against our first four-year strategic plan. We planned to re-energise and re-establish in our first four-year plan – and we have grown and delivered as an organisation and as a community. Now it’s time to look to the future with a new MDAS strategic plan for the next four years. We want to achieve even more. OUR KEY ASPIRATIONS 2018-2021 OUR COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTED FROM CONCEPTION TO DREAMTIME • Our mob are making deadly choices • We are connecting services to our mob Janet Bonython (left), Keith Brown and Allie Collyer from Murray Mallee Community Legal Services with MDAS Meminar Ngangg • Aboriginal communities across the Mallee Gimba’s coordinator Ada Peterson during community information have a connection with MDAS sessions at Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang • Housing caters for our communities’ needs THE INFORMATION YOU SHARE IN THE BIG WIDE WORLD HAS MANY IMPLICATIONS AND OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS TECHNOLOGY IS A POWERFUL TOOL THAT CAN BE USED (AND MISUSED) BY STRANGERS AS • Our people are inspired, empowered WELL AS PEOPLE CLOSE TO US. and self-reliant • Our people have hope, aspirations and real Online violence is very common in domestic violence choices about their future situations. Cyber-violence can be online abuse or abusive text messages, rumours, fake profiles on social media, • We recognise and honour all our stalking, threats and sharing intimate images without mob’s achievements consent and scamming. • Sustainable commercial enterprises have created economic independence Technology is here to stay so learning how to keep yourself safe online is crucial. Make sure you turn off location HEALTHY VIBRANT FAMILIES services when you aren’t using them, change passwords AND COMMUNITIES CONNECTED regularly, make sure you use a secure computer if you THROUGH ABORIGINAL CULTURE think yours might be unsafe, always keep operating systems up to date and make sure your social media settings are • Reconciling the past enables our communities locked down. Visit Technology Safety Australia for more to heal and grow detailed advice.