12 Month Progress Report December 2010

Prepared by the NSASP Project Officer, Sue Pinckham

1.0 Background The Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan (NSASP) is supported by 11 Northern Sydney Councils and the Department of Community Services. It is the only project of its kind in the Northern Sydney region with an emphasis on providing a coordinated approach to accessing support services for the indigenous community. In November of 2007 the revised NSASP for 2007 to 2011 was launched and a full time NSASP Project Officer employed to implement the plan. The participating Councils (Funding Group) have engaged the Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO) to auspice the plan. Therefore ensuring that all ATSI residents of the Northern Sydney Region have the same opportunities through the NSASP.

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The NSASP identifies 6 key areas of need;

1. Collaboration and cooperation; 2. Health and Well being 3. Education and Training 4. Housing 5. Employment 6. Culture and Heritage

Christmas at the Zoo 28 November 2010 2.0 Community contact It should be emphasized that community contact is not easily measured and accurately reflected when the PO has involvement, both formal and informal, across a wide range of networks. Many of the connections that are established happen informally yet still achieve positive community outcomes. The Project Officer (PO) has developed ongoing community contact across the region that has opened opportunities for the community to be involved with both mainstream and ATSI programs, as well as with each other. Throughout 2009 Project Officer has developed a informal network of Older Aboriginal people living across the region and new arrivals to the area. Sadly it is a true reflection of the struggle faced by the Guringai people and Aboriginal Sydney. This has highlighted the survival of proud nations of Aboriginal people in today’s society & the Sydney area.

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Xmas at Zoo 2010 (trying to make baby come along) 2.1 Community events and activities Ongoing participation in both formal and informal community events and other relevant activities builds upon the Project Officer’s knowledge of the area and its needs while strengthening links with both indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders. The Project Officer has initiated or participated in numerous community and stakeholder events including;

Christmas In The Zoo November 28 2010. Speaker at Aboriginal Women’s Legal Conference Katherine NT Northern Sydney Regional Reconciliation Network Lane Cove Reconciliation Special event St Joseph’s College Culture day Community Care Northern Beaches Connecting Cultures Family Day Guringai Festival events across the region Jews for Social Justice . Gadigal Information Services / Young Black & Deadly program Koori Radio

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3.0 Committees and networks The Project Officer, continues to work/network with:

Department of Community Services (and Committees) and related services funded by them.

Family Support Services TAFE Community Care Northern Beaches Benevolent Society Early Childhood Local Government & Shires Association Aboriginal Heritage Office Sydney Joint Koori Interagency Northern Sydney Koori Interagency Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health (3 committees) Home Care (Redfern, Penrith & North Sydney Region) Relationships Australia, Northern Sydney Region, Central Office and State

Indigenous Working Party Breast Screen NSW SDN Preschools Reconciliation NSW Congress (elected Sydney Aboriginal rep) Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference (elected Vice

president Council Staff) The Project Officer has also participated in the Reconciliation Network

(attending meetings where possible and speaking at 4 events), Department Education

4.0 Media The NSASP continues to work with the Media when the need arises through planned events. There has been interviews on Koori Radio, pertaining to Health and Well Being opportunities, Local Government Aboriginal Network Conference and changes to Australian Constitution . See below storey from Katherine Times on presentation at Aboriginal Women’s Legal Conference. Koori Mail Your Say section on the use of the word “Aboriginal.”

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5.0 Major outcomes 5.1 Collaboration and cooperation; Major outcomes/progress in the areas of collaboration & cooperation include;

Relationships Australia; This is a key achievement for the NSASP and Relationships Australia.

Recommendation 2.4 of the NSASP is “That Northern Sydney councils urge the relevant government agencies to provide counselling services for Aboriginal people affected by the Stolen Generations and wider community issues”. It will be acknowledged in all promotional material that the Northern Sydney partnership instigated the Aboriginal Counselling program and the roll out across the state.

Region Police Strategy Planning; The Project Officer continues to

participate on this regional planning forum . a) provide an Aboriginal contact for the region and b) to encourage access

to the police for the Aboriginal community. It is hoped the by establishing these linkages and improving communication the community will feel more positive about dealing with the police.

.Yarn Up; The “Yarn Up nights” have not happened as it has been very difficult to get Speakers. Also the direction was set to establish the Health and Well Being service.

Collaboration with other key agencies and stakeholders is ongoing and includes;

Aboriginal Medical Health & Research Council (AHMRC), & AMS (Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern)

Manly Community Centre Hornsby Aboriginal Community Corp Breast Screen NSW SDN Preschools Aboriginal Unit Guringai Aboriginal Corp Durag Aboriginal Corp Link Up NSW Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Vibe Australia Tribal Warrior Association Dept Aged, Disability and Home Care, Dept Human Services Allena and Wangary Aboriginal Home Care (they cover this area) Koori Interagency Northern Sydney Region Joint Sydney Koori Interagency Working Group Relationships Australia Community Care Northern Beaches Djilpin Arts Katherine NT

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5.2 Health and Well Being; Major outcomes/progress in the area of health and well being include;

Hornsby 12th Dec 2010 and Manly 27th June and Nov 21st Divisions Gp’s have been successful in delivering General Health Check days and opened access to other Health options through referrals and ongoing interaction with patients. These days were enhanced by the Bush Tucker and learning how to use traditional herbs and spices in todays cooking. Whilst this has been able to deliver direct service to the community there has been a opportunity for the Medical professionals to link and learn with Aboriginal awareness being raised through these days.

Developed ongoing health workshops throughout the region, focusing on a

different delivery to the target group. PO did lots of work in anticipation of the Health and Well Being Service

development for Manly. Sadly due to bureaucratic lack of cultural knowledge this project could not proceed as planned.

PO would like to acknowledge the support and clarity of the NSASP team pertaining to this matter.

It is hoped that with future developments there would be involvement of Aboriginal people to ensure specific cultural inclusion for the best outcome for the Aboriginal community.

Liaison with Division of General Practitioners (GP’s) , Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern (AMS), Aboriginal Medical Health & Research Council (AHMRC) and Area Health Aboriginal Unit, Manly Community Centre and Office Aboriginal Islander Health Services to develop a Aboriginal Well Being Services at Manly.

Relationships Australia to deliver free Counselling to members of the Aboriginal community including the Stolen Generations and their families across the region and employ Aboriginal workers.

SPERANZA (Australian Mental Health Suicide Consumer - Alliance Inc). Manly Mental Health Day 2010. This is an annual event and through negotiation has agreed to be involved with the Well Being Services once established if required. This event has been cancelled.

Breast Screen NSW will be held another Culturally specific screenings for ATSI women in the region in 2010. See attached below from Aboriginal Health Journal October 2010.

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5.3 Education and training Major outcomes/progress in the areas of education & training include;

Liaison with both Catholic Education and Department Education Aboriginal Regional Managers supporting the targeted issues.

Liaison with AECG both Northern Beaches & Hornsby/ Ryde areas in their projects as fund raising for young Aboriginal girl to go to NASA.

Gadigal Information Service . Liaison with TAFE Aboriginal unit at Brookvale and Redfern

5.4 Housing Major outcomes/progress in the area of housing;

Negotiations with Department of Housing and Aboriginal Housing Office for better quality of housing including major maintenance to existing accommodation to comply with their recent policy change.

Negotiations with Department of Housing to extend the number of ATSI clients to be housed across the region.

Dialogue with Community and Church Housing to included ATSI.

5.5 Employment Major outcomes/progress in the area of employment;

Koori Interagency Northern Sydney Region to support workers remaining in employment and open opportunities for dialogue with main stream Service Providers especially those working with Aboriginal people.

Networking to share employment opportunities Liaison with Department Employment Workplace and Relations (DEWR) Distribution of Employment & Training information through various

avenues including Email, hard copy and word of mouth. 5.6 Culture and Heritage Major outcomes/progress in the areas of culture and heritage;

Ongoing interaction with Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO) ATSI Community Connecting Culture day on Clarke Island on 20th Feb

2010. The aim of the project is to link all the ATSI community and help to ensure that cultural practices are passed on to future generations. Give the community a day to gather together to encourage and support the growth of Cultural knowledge across the region. Another day is planned for early 2011.

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6.0 Project Officer’s Summary There remains a lot to do with the implementation of the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan. As 2010 brings new challenges with the implementation of the Plan and the direction for the future. The establishment of the Well Being Centre has been consuming and is developing with linkages to numerous Health professionals and Organisations. It is strongly desired that this will allow for better Health outcomes to support the Close the Gap campaign and improve the quality of life for the ATSI community across the region. With GP’s and Hospitals being more Culturally informed to deliver an improved approach when dealing with ATSI people. Relationships Australia Aboriginal Counselling in conjunction with NSASP has established an Aboriginal reference group to enshrine appropriate Cultural awareness, strengths and connection. There is a growing number of clients from across the region and a State wide program is to be Launched using the model developed by this partnership. “Yarn Up” nights with speakers delivering informative sessions, with an opportunity for some very interactive conversation. Overall the speakers have felt welcomed and learnt themselves about the ATSI community in this region. The community have enjoyed the sessions presented all year and are looking forward to more in the coming year. All Funding group members will be given E Version to advertise on their Council sites as well as Koori Radio prompting people to come along through on air Ads. Christmas in the Bush was on 28th November at Taronga Zoo Connecting Culture Day is planned for early March 2011. Tribal Warrior Association again will provide the Cultural impute on the day with traditional food, Dance and site visits. Jewelry making has been such a big hit at this event and negotiations are underway for that to continue next year. Sue Pinckham, December 2010

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