A Message from the Chief Minister Introduction from the Minister for Social Inclusion Achieving Social Inclusion Safer Families Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People People with Disability Children and Young People LGBTIQ People Older People Supporting Disadvantaged People & Families Mental Health Law & Justice Education

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People

Overcoming disadvantage requires a range of interconnected and holistic support services to heal from the past and allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to reach their potential.

Through the 2016-17 Budget the Government will provide coordinated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives. The Government will also provide resourcing to increase awareness of the Elected Body’s role in representing the views and concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the ACT. In particular, this role will include building greater connections with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to share their views and concerns on matters of significance with the ACT Government.

The Government’s commitment to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage is guided by the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2015 – 2018 focus on building and sustaining strong families. The Agreement’s focus is supported by seven key focus areas and quality life outcomes.

1. Cultural Identity

  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships Grant program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and organisations to undertake a range of personal study, training, and leadership opportunities. These opportunities assist in achieving personal life goals and contribute to sustainable communities highlighting and promoting cultural diversity and social harmony.
  • Yurauna, a dedicated support centre at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), provides culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
  • Support for the arts and culture sector will build the capacity of and develop and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community within the ACT. The Government will provide funding of $100,000 for work with artists and cultural organisations to build their capacity. The Government supports the Canberra and District NAIDOC Committee to facilitate NAIDOC week activities.

2. Healthy mind, healthy body

  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Smoking Cessation Program supports a number of smoking cessation activities including development of new targeted information materials for pregnant smokers, community education and events, staff education and professional development, the purchase of new educational resources, and provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (free to clients where costs would otherwise be associated).
  • The Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm (NBHF) will provide a culturally appropriate alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation facility for adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. It will be an eight bed facility located in a rural area close to Namadgi National Park and the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, both of which contain important Aboriginal cultural sites. The NBHF is currently under construction and is expected to open in late 2016.
  • The Government has continued to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dedicated health and community services such as the:
    • Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service to deliver primary health services, and
    • Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation which provides health and support services for young people.
  • The 2016-17 Budget provides $1.06 million to extend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services in the ACT. The funding will support additional specialist outreach programs and extension of selected existing programs.

3. Feeling Safe

  • The Government funds the position of an Indigenous Liaison Officer at the Women’s Legal Centre, and provides funding to the Aboriginal Legal Service.
  • Culturally appropriate housing including for elderly members of the community is provided, and capital upgrades are being made to rental properties for larger families. In 2014-15 $1.05 million was allocated for upgrades to Housing ACT properties, specifically to address issues of overcrowding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2016-17 it is anticipated that upgrades or extensions to three properties will be undertaken. Further options will be explored to expend the remainder of the funding in 2016-17. 
  • Suitable and culturally appropriate accommodation is being constructed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to ‘age in place’, with the construction of five two-bedroom units on a single site designed specifically for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Kambah. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2016 with $1.5 million in funding provided in the 2013-14 Budget.
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Partnership (2015-18) continues the work of the ACT’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement (2010-13) in addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-representation in the ACT justice system, as both victims and offenders. This program works to reduce the incarceration rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.
  • A Step Up for Our Kids provides support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through Uniting’s Children and Families ACT program. These new services provide supports within families to prevent children from coming into care, or return them home as soon as it is safe to do so. A priority in the design of this program is that it is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, appreciates family and community relationships and networks, is appropriate, accessible and culturally safe.

4. Connecting the community

  • The Growing Healthy Families Program at the Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong Child and Family Centres was expanded to provide resources that support engagement, inclusion and access to culturally informed services by the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Job Readiness Support Program, known as the Connxtions Program, provides nationally recognised job-ready training and ongoing wrap-around support to members of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
  • In partnership with ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) the Government funded the Gulunga Program, to improve the cultural competency of services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.
  • The Offender Services and Corrections Programs Unit in ACT Corrective Services provides and facilitates programs that address identified risks and criminogenic needs. These programs are tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC); Certificate II Conservation and Land Management through the Culture and Land Management (CALM) Program, Indigenous Traditional Culture Healing Yarning Arts Program, Winnunga Social Well-Being Program, Elders and Community Leaders Visitation Program, Pastoral Care, and counseling provided by Dhunlung Yarra Service.
  • A Men’s Re-Connect program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders who appear before the Circle Court was established in a collaboration between ACT Corrective Services with ACT Parks and Conservation Services, Indigenous Programs Unit and the Galambany Circle Sentencing Court.
  • An Aboriginal Client Services Officer within ACT Corrective Services, introduced in 2014, works closely with Community Corrections Officers to assist in the case management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders and is also a liaison point between the community and ACT Corrective Services.
  • An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Learning Coordinator, recruited in March 2016 to Libraries ACT, engages the local community with the library to develop services and collections.
  • The CBR Innovation Network runs an Indigenous Business Support Program aimed at increasing the participation of Indigenous people in business, with support from the Government. The CBR Innovation Network promotes involvement with Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct register to facilitate connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses with government and private corporations.
  • In partnership with the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, a community-based reporting hub was created for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult offenders on community based orders. This service commenced operation in November 2015.
  • The Yeddung Mura (Good Pathways) Aboriginal Corporation has partnered with the Government, and will link in with the Extended Throughcare Program and provide additional case management support to detainees exiting the AMC.

5. Employment and economic independence

  • The ACT Public Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Action Plan 2016-2019 will be launched in 2016 and will focus on increasing the ACT Public Service’s proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees; retaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in the Service and working towards agreed capability building for all levels.
  • The ACT Indigenous Employment Program, which commenced in August 2015, is a 12-month program where the trainees obtain certification in various fields of study depending on their placement areas. Currently there are 10 trainees in the program, with permanent positions available at the end of their successful placements in August 2017.
  • Through the ACTPS 2017 Graduate Program the Government is increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduates through separate Identified advertising, selection, training and assessment centres.
  • The Government will invest $107,000 in additional mentoring and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in the ACT Public Service to improve their career development outcomes.
  • The Canberra Business Yarning Circle, a community engagement initiative to support ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business development and economic participation, receives funding from the Government and is led by members of the ACT Indigenous business community and delivered in collaboration with CBR Innovation Network and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB).
  • The ACT NAIDOC Business of the Year Award, which aims to recognise the range of great Indigenous owned and operated businesses in the ACT, continues to receive Government sponsorship.

6. Leadership

  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (the Elected Body) was established to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT have a strong democratically elected voice. To consider how the Elected Body can be strengthened, a review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008 has been commissioned. A comprehensive community engagement and consultation process will follow to discuss the outcomes of the review to ensure the Elected Body continues to represent the interests and aspirations of the local Indigenous community.
  • Indigenous Guidance Partner to Adult Restorative Justice Referrals is a program which funds an Indigenous guidance partner (IGP) and vehicle to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults referred to restorative justice. The adult specific IGP supports adult offenders’ understanding, participation, accountability to victims and accessing and maintaining contact with support services, intervention programs, training and employment opportunities (such as apprenticeships) as a result of their involvement with restorative justice.
  • The Justice Reform Program comprising of the Aboriginal Justice Partnership, Justice Reform Strategy and Justice Reinvestment Strategy, is working to develop a whole of government framework to deliver services and support to offenders with high and complex needs and their families. In particular the program addresses the challenges faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community as evidenced by their over-representation in the criminal justice system.
  • The Confiscated Assets Trust Fund allows proceeds of crime forfeited to the Territory to be used for priority criminal justice initiatives. The Attorney-General is directing these funds to key initiatives under the Justice Reform Program:
    • $850,000 will be used to support a Justice Reinvestment trial that targets services and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to improve life outcomes and reduce or prevent contact with the justice system. The funds will be directed towards Aboriginal run organisations, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, and ACT Policing to build engagement with the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community. It will also provide funding for brokerage, transport and other supports. The 2016-17 Budget also provided funding to employ a trial coordinator, based in the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, to oversee the operational and evaluation requirements of the trial.
    • $400,000 will support a trial bail support service to coordinate and facilitate access to appropriate support services in the community, including emergency accommodation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be a key focus for the trial. By reducing barriers to the grant of bail the trial will allow individuals to remain part of the community. This is vital in maintaining family ties, promoting continued employment and supporting long term rehabilitation.
    • $50,000 will be used in a trial of specialist reports prepared for sentencing courts aimed at shedding light on the cultural and social issues confronted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

7. Education

  • The Accepting the Challenge program coordinates and delivers professional learning and support for teachers and staff in school leadership positions to conduct school based action inquiry projects related to improving educational outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Nineteen teachers from 12 schools are participating in the 2016 Action Inquiry Program.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are supported in their training through provisions built into all ACT funded training initiatives. Skilled Capital, the ACT’s signature entitlement training program, and the Australian Apprenticeships (User Choice) program both provide loadings of $500 for registered training organisations to provide supports to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Registered training organisations may also apply for further financial supports (up to $3,000 in some cases) to meet specific additional training needs of students.
  • Strengthening Ngunnawal Culture and History in Schools - Through this initiative $300,000 will be allocated in the 2016-17 Budget to a new two year pilot which will increase opportunities for local youth to build their connection and engagement with Ngunnawal culture and history. Educational programs involving guided nature tours for local youth in schools will be undertaken during the school term in 2016-17.
    • Students will be able to participate in cultural activities at the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre, Yarramundi Reach. Students will learn about the significant Aboriginal site, engage with the ACT’s Traditional Owners and gain an understanding of the plant resources of this region for food, medicine, tools and weapons, fire, ceremonial purposes, water, fibre, dye and paint.
    • The interaction with Ngunnawal Elders and key Aboriginal members of the ACT Aboriginal community will reinforce the current Aboriginal learning contexts with the education sectors that are already embedded in the school curriculum.
  • The Government recognises the need to expand opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. The Kickstart My Career Program will support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at risk of leaving school. The program will develop culturally appropriate Flexible Learning Options to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in nationally accredited and vocational training in culture and land management. The total cost of $651,000 will be met from the existing resources of the agencies involved.

Closing the Gap in Education

This Government is committed to closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by 2018 in three key areas; attendance, literacy and numeracy and year 12 attainment.

Supplementary funding is available to primary or secondary schools to implement a broad range of programs and strategies aimed at improving learning outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Literacy and numeracy skills acquisition is the focus of the majority of the programs and strategies. ACT public schools continue to implement whole school approaches to personalised learning including the use of personalised learning plans (PLPs). Schools have accessed support to develop, monitor and review the effectiveness of PLPs for their school context.

To achieve the best educational outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students:

  • Eleven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officers are employed across ACT public schools. Their role is to support students through key transition points in their education, build connections and relationships between schools, families and communities and support students and teachers in the school environment.
  • Vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in public schools across Canberra are supported through the work of a Senior Social Worker, Family Support Officer and Student Engagement Officer, who work across the system to encourage greater student engagement and assist with resolving barriers that hinder school attendance.
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teacher Education Scholarship offers financial support with the aim of:
    • Improving retention and completion rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying a teacher education course.
    • Giving students the opportunity to be role models to other students.

    The Scholarship program aims to increase the amount of quality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in schools who can support students to achieve positive education outcomes.

    From 2009 to 2016, the Education Directorate awarded 43 scholarships of $5,000; 37 for students wishing to pursue a career in teaching and six for students interested in a career in health.

    In addition to 10 secondary scholarships, four tertiary scholarships worth $20,000 are offered each year, three for students studying teaching and one for a student studying an approved health course.

  • Five Koori Preschools located in Government schools offer targeted early learning programs to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (aged 3–5 years) develop strong language, numeracy and cultural understanding. Children are given opportunities to engage in rich play based experiences which build their wellbeing, love of learning, early literacy and numeracy skills, and confidence to transition into school. The program also focuses strongly on fostering children’s sense of cultural identity. Collaborative partnerships between families and educators guide children’s understandings in a culturally safe and inclusive learning environment. Partnerships with external organisations such as the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and Child and Family Centres provides additional support to children and families. At the February 2016 Census, there were 78 children attending the five Koori Preschools located at:
    • Ngunnawal Primary School;
    • Wanniassa School;
    • Richardson Primary School;
    • Narrabundah Early Childhood School; and
    • Kingsford Smith School.
  • The Education Capital: Leading the Nation Strategic Plan 2014-17, developed by the Government, commits to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander year 12 completion rates and the commencement of high level qualifications.
  • A Tutorial Support Scheme is also available to schools in order to implement targeted strategies and programs to best meet the individual learning needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Tutoring is provided by qualified teachers or tutors through an accredited tutoring agency and is best utilised when aligned with students’ personal learning goals.
  • The Government works closely with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Group to achieve significant and sustainable education improvements to ensure all students believe, “I can achieve. I am confident. My future is exciting.”
  • The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2014-2017 articulates 35 initiatives relating to attracting and retaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, and building capacity and cultural proficiency across the workforce. The Action Plan aims to empower:
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees through the ongoing support of the Directorate’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network, including the provision of consultation, mentoring and career development opportunities;
    • non-Indigenous employees by creating opportunities to build cultural integrity and provide cultural supervision to managers and principals; and
    • future employees by building pathways for potential employment and career development.
  • The Student Resource Allocation (SRA) program is a transformative initiative, designed to improve educational outcomes for all Canberra public school students, and make better use of resources. Resources will be allocated to schools on the level of student need. This needs based funding model is consistent with the Australian Government’s Gonski review into school funding.
  • A new program to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People at risk of leaving school is being developed. The program will develop culturally appropriate Flexible Learning Options to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in nationally accredited and vocational training in culture and land management.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from years 5 to 12 who show strong academic and leadership qualities are supported through the Student Aspirations Program to reach their potential through successful completion of secondary school and progression to further education, training and employment options. There are approximately 140 students participating in the 2016 Student Aspirations Program.
  • the Mura Achievement Awards were launched in 2014 and are supported by the Government. Mura is a Ngunnawal term meaning ‘pathways’. Students can be nominated for a Mura Award for demonstrating excellent attendance; strong commitment to their learning, greatly improved engagement, good academic progress or active involvement in the community.

In addition to these initiatives the Government demonstrates its commitment to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage through:

  • The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2015 – 2018 Agreement was officially endorsed on 23 April 2015. The Agreement will help to build strong foundations, resilient families, and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve their personal life goals. The relationship principles set out in the Agreement, which include respectful interaction, continuously improving the level of service and information sharing to simplify the service experience for the community, are closely aligned with the integration and outcomes focus of the family violence package funded in the 2016-17 ACT Budget.
  • A new position which will be established for an Aboriginal staff member to manage the recently created ACT Parks Aboriginal Land Management Advisory Council and provide leadership and mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, conduct high-level stakeholder engagement and oversee operational, cultural interpretation and visitor service programs in 2016-17.
  • The Government successfully applied for funding through the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) and is currently managing funding for the delivery of:
    • the 2015-16 Indigenous Sports Grants Program (ISGP), which provides funding support to individuals for their sport or active recreation registration or membership;
    • the 2016 Indigenous Sports Partnered Programs (ISPP) initiative, providing funding support to organisations for programs seeking to increase participation opportunities in sport or active recreation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to build capacity within the community; and
    • a research report into the sporting needs and participation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT and region.
  • Work to return Boomanulla Oval to sustainable Indigenous management as soon as possible. This work continues to progress thanks to a collaboration between the Government and the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.

We look forward to the broader ACT community working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to build strong foundations, resilient families.

Together we can bridge the gap and ensure all Canberrans receive the opportunities to achieve equitable outcomes in all aspects of their life.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags 

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