Table of Contents

• Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Partnership governance arrangements and structures
  • 3. Objectives and Outcomes
  • 4. Performance management
  • 5. Dispute resolution
  • 6. Duration and amendment of Agreement
• Attachments
  • Attachment 1 - Flowchart showing the Regional Partnership Agreement
  • Attachment 2 - Flowchart showing the 'Continuum to Full Employment'
  • Attachment 3 - Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation structure
• Schedules
  • Objective 1 - Governance structures
  • Objective 2 - Employment strategy and economic and business development
  • Objective 3 - Education, training and employment continuum
  • Objective 4 - Addressing gaps in support services

• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Parties
• 1.3 Key Principles
• 1.4 Targets

1.1 Introduction

The Many Rivers region of the NSW Mid-North Coast has the third largest Aboriginal population in Australia and is home to 39,360 Aboriginal people (8% of Aboriginal Australia). The Aboriginal unemployment rate is 14% (5,116 people) compared to the national regional average of 5.6% (ref. 2006 Census).

The Many Rivers Regional Partnership Agreement (the Agreement) is the result of collaboration and consultation between Aboriginal communities and stakeholders to address Aboriginal unemployment in a strategic and supportive manner. This will be achieved through the creation of sustainable job opportunities and capacity building. The stakeholders in the development of this agreement have included Community Development Employment Project (CDEP)/Aboriginal Employment providers, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALC), other relevant key Aboriginal organisations, all spheres of government, industry and the Non Government Organisation (NGO) sector.

The parties to the Agreement will work together to develop employment opportunities in the following areas:

1. Land management
2. Aboriginal arts and cultural based enterprise
3. Cultural tourism
4. Elite sport careers
5. Aged care
6. Housing and construction
7. Government jobs.

The Agreement focuses on a multiple agency effort in addressing human service issues that impede the transition from long-term unemployment to sustainable employment.

The geographic area covered by this Agreement is the Many Rivers Region. Priority locations have been identified as Tweed/Byron, Ballina, Casino, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Kempsey, Taree, Hunter and Wyong.

The first stage of the Agreement will capture opportunities that arise through the extensive network of Aboriginal land management workers throughout the Many Rivers Region. Engagement with industry has identified significant opportunities for Aboriginal Green Teams (AGTs) to undertake commercial environmental work. This Agreement aims to increase Aboriginal employment in the areas of climate change, environmental regeneration and conservation job markets. It has also been identified as a key initiative in addressing the COAG endorsed ‘Closing the Gap’ indicator to halve the gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians within a decade within the Many Rivers Region.

Many Aboriginal people currently working in AGTs are trained or are currently undertaking training and have qualifications in land management. There are approximately 63 AGTs (421 people) in the region with teams at different stages of development with varying levels of skills and expertise. The objective of the Agreement is to develop and strengthen the business capacity of AGTs to generate sustainable employment for Aboriginal people across the region. The Agreement provides the framework to assist AGTs to identify opportunities to undertake commercial work, education and training, business development and business ownership. As 1% of land in NSW is Aboriginal owned, there are also opportunities for Aboriginal people and communities to work on their land and country.

This Agreement is a practical example of community engagement, promoting economic participation, reducing welfare dependency and strengthening communities by developing solutions that are central to addressing Aboriginal disadvantage. It is anticipated that this Agreement will contribute to the Australian Employment Covenant’s target of placing 50,000 Aboriginal Australians in employment. The flow charts at Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 illustrate how job opportunities are expected to be created under the Regional Partnership Agreement, whilst developing other employment markets and the continuum to education and employment.

The Agreement is a statement of the mutual intentions of all the parties and is not intended to give rise to enforceable rights or binding obligations on the part of any party.

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1.2 Parties

This Agreement is between the Australian Government, the New South Wales State Government (NSW Government), representatives of NSW Local Government (Shires), NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), Peak Aboriginal Non-Government Organisations, and Industry partners. It is anticipated that additional parties will join the Agreement as more projects are developed.

Australian Government

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

NSW State Government

• Department of Education and Training (DET)
• Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW)
• Department of Lands
• Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC)
• Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD)
• Coffs Harbour Education Campus
• North Coast Institute of TAFE

Local Government

• Far North Coast Group of Councils
• Hunter Councils
• Mid North Coast Group of Councils.

Statutory Bodies

• Booroongen Djugun College
• Dare to Lead for Business
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils (NSW Northern and Eastern Zone)
• Many Rivers Training, Enterprise and Employment Aboriginal Corporation
• New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council

Industry

• Border Ranges Contractors
• EnviTE
• GHD Engineering
• Wesley Vocational Institute
• World Indigenous Cultural Exchange and Economic Development Organization
• Yunaga Minesite Services

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1.3 Key Principles

The ‘Closing the Gap on Aboriginal Disadvantage Statement’ endorsed at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in March 2008 forms the basis for the Australian and NSW Governments to collaborate in a joint approach to address Aboriginal disadvantage in NSW. This Agreement is also based on the following principles:

• a spirit of cooperation, respect, partnership and shared responsibility;
• a willingness by all parties to be flexible and innovative;
• a commitment by all parties to work together to meet ‘Closing the Gap’ targets;
• an acknowledgement of the need to build the social and economic independence of the people in the region;
• an acknowledgement of Aboriginal people’s connection to their culture, land and sea; and
• a commitment to accountability and performance monitoring by all parties.

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1.4 Targets

The targets of this Agreement are to:

• reduce Aboriginal unemployment in the Many Rivers region by 50% over the next five years;
• create jobs and business opportunities for Aboriginal people and communities through economic and business development;
• establish a continuum/pathway to education and employment for AGT trainees and employees; and
• strengthen Aboriginal communities and people in this region through the principles of Social Inclusion.

• 2.1 Governance arrangements
• 2.2 Regional Partnership Committee (RPC)
• 2.3 Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation (GTDUAC)

2.1 Governance arrangements

The governance framework is based on the principles of responsibility and accountability and engagement with the Aboriginal community, through their representation on the Regional Partnership Committee (RPC), and the Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation (GTDUAC).  Both these structures will work together to achieve the objectives in this Agreement. They will also work towards further progressing the development of this Agreement into other business areas and employment markets.

The composition of the RPC will consist of members drawn from various stakeholder groups. The RPC will then advertise for expressions of interest from both stakeholder and community groups to recruit members to the GTDUAC. Members will appoint directors to the Board of the GTDUAC. Sections 2.2 and 2.3 outline the roles and responsibilities of the RPC and GTDUAC and proposed membership of those structures.

The GTDUAC Constitution will contain provisions and guidelines for liaison and reporting to the RPC when the RPC meets. The Australian Government representative on the RPC will be responsible for providing reports and feedback about the progress of the Agreement after each RPC meeting to the State Manager of FaHCSIA and the State Manager of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

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2.2 Regional Partnership Committee (RPC)

The role of the RPC will be to:

• provide strategic leadership for the Agreement, ensuring a cohesive and coordinated approach between all parties;
• agree on new priorities and areas for joint action, including leading negotiations or additional projects/schedules to the Agreement;

• oversee and monitor the implementation of the Agreement, including problem solving and address any lack of progress with its implementation;
• review the progress of the Agreement including overseeing the performance management of the Agreement – monitoring the progress of projects, analysis of performance reports and addressing poor performance;
• be responsible for dispute resolution; and
• ensure objectives and outcomes in the Agreement are achieved.

The RPC meetings may be held in the conference/meeting rooms at the Indigenous Coordination Centre Coffs Harbour (ICC).  FaHCSIA staff at the ICC will provide secretariat services for the RPC.

The RPC will consist of:

• 3 Industry experts (as required);
• 6 Aboriginal employment and training representatives;
• 6 Aboriginal landowner representatives;
• 1 Local Government representative;
• 1 State Government representative;
• 1 Australian Government representative; and
• 1 Industry representative.

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2.3 Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation (GTDUAC)

The GTDUAC is an economic and business development unit, which serves to harness the potential of the Aboriginal Green Teams (AGTs) in the region through the provision of commercial work opportunities and business support services for AGTs to develop their own businesses. Attachment 3 shows the Unit structure and the potential growth of the GTDUAC.

 The role of the GTDUAC is to:

• Undertake research across the region to establish the baseline for reporting employment outcomes to the Agreement partners;
• identify and secure commercial contracts with Industry for AGTs;
• provide mentoring support to AGTs;
• support AGT development/capacity building;
• advise contract management;
• facilitate marketing concepts and ideas;
• provide business management and project management services;
• coordinate and facilitate arrangements with training providers, TAFE and Employment Services Providers; and
• to have a strategy to ensure jobs are sustainable.

The governments agree to provide funding to support the GTDUAC establishment and operational costs for three financial years, commencing 2009-2010. The governments in their discretion will determine the levels of funding. After three years, the GTDUAC must be self-sufficient. This will be achieved through earning revenue from commission (from successful tenders and contracts) and administrative fees for managing funding. It is anticipated that the GTDUAC will be able to secure $2m of contracts for AGTs in the first year, $4m in the second year and $6m in the third year. The financial projections show that the GTDUAC will have net positive cash flows for each year of its operation.

The GTDUAC will negotiate with AGTs to reach an agreement about the business/working relationship they will have and the support services they will provide to AGTs.

The GTDUAC will provide progress reports to the RPC four times a year when the RPC meets.

• 3.1 Objective 1
• 3.2 Objective 2
• 3.3 Objective 3
• 3.4 Objective 4
• 3.5 Longer Term Implementation
• 3.6 Cultural Protocol Principles

3.1 Objective 1: Establish governance structures – the Regional Partnership Committee (RPC) and the Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation (GTDUAC).

The RPC and GTDUAC will provide the leadership and governance for the implementation, operation and on-going development of the Agreement. The RPC will also be responsible for performance management to ensure project objectives and outcomes are achieved.

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3.2 Objective 2: To improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal people in the Many Rivers Region through economic and business development.

The GTDUAC will be responsible for economic and business development and creating job and business opportunities for AGTs while improving employment outcomes and addressing ‘Closing the Gap’ targets for employment, education and economic participation. There are already established AGTs working in the climate change jobs market and in multiple land remediation works. The GTDUAC will be able to provide training (if needed) and support services to assist these AGTs to become Aboriginal businesses. Other areas of employment to be developed under this Agreement will include sports, culture, arts, media, tourism, hospitality, aged care, construction and housing, enterprise and government jobs.

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3.3 Objective 3: Facilitate the education, training and employment continuum.

The GTDUAC will be based in the Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC) in its “Innovation Centre”. The CHEC is made up of a consortium of Years 11 and 12, TAFE and the Southern Cross University. The ICC Coffs Harbour engaged with the North Coast TAFE through the V-Tracks program (funded by DEEWR and FaHCSIA until June 2009) which provided students in Years 8/9/10/11 and 12 with opportunities to make links with TAFE and participate in vocational training workshops and career expos to develop pathways to education and employment.  As the GTDUAC will also be working with Employment Service Providers, employer groups, government and industry, it will be able to provide pathways to education and employment for AGT participants/employees.

The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water have recently implemented the Land Alive project. Developers of the project participated in the 2008 RPA Road-show across the NSW Central and North Coast regions. The Land Alive traineeship program and any other Conservation and Land Management training opportunities may fit into the RPA, as accredited land managers could utilise the support of the GTDUAC as a ‘Green Team’ business hub.

The Land Alive traineeship program provides accredited training and employment in sustainable jobs to Aboriginal people across NSW. Thirty (30) full time trainees will undertake Conservation and Land Management training, while carrying out a wide range of on-ground land management projects, applying their skills as bush regenerators. These trainees will be paid, supervised and mentored throughout their traineeship. Training modules will be run through Yarnteen College (Aboriginal controlled college in Newcastle) and employment services will be provided by MEGT, which is a National Group Training Company.

The Land Alive project team plans to continue to have a working partnership with the RPA in their North Coast region, working towards shared goals of social procurement, marketing ‘Green Teams’ and developing models to best support Aboriginal land managers to successfully win and carry out business.

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3.4 Objective 4: Addressing the gaps in support services.

An important feature of the Agreement is to address identified gaps in human services supporting Aboriginal people working in full time jobs. Typically, there are barriers or service gaps involving transport, gaining driver’s licences, substance abuse, numeracy and literacy, childcare, motivation, mentoring, health issues and housing. The Agreement will base this work upon detailed data collection and will focus on ‘Closing the Gap’ commitments in employment, Year 12 completion rates, health, and literacy and numeracy rates.

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3.5 Longer Term Implementation

The RPA has the potential to expand longer term to include the commercialisation of Aboriginal design and licensing within the region. All regional art cooperatives have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work cooperatively on the strategy.  A key feature of this second phase will be the establishment of a National Aboriginal Design School working in collaboration with the manufacturing sector.  

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3.6 Cultural Protocol Principles

The Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation will engage with local communities and the traditional landowners on the country where they are working, using the cultural protocols agreed to in consultation with the RPC.

 

Many Rivers Regional Partnership Agreement 

3. Objectives and Outcomes 5. Dispute resolution 

4. Performance management 

Where any party believes there is a dispute in relation to any matter under this Agreement, they will provide written notice to the Regional Partnership Committee outlining the nature of the dispute. The RPC will discuss the dispute/issues as a priority and associated responses or actions will be completed in a timely, thorough and fair manner.

Information and data will/may be gathered so that an investigation can be conducted with responses and actions clearly documented and communicated back to the complainant. Where the RPC cannot resolve the dispute, an appropriately qualified independent adviser will be appointed to review the case and provide advice on a course of action. The RPC should accept the recommendation of the independent adviser.

This Agreement commences on the date of signing by all parties and will continue in force for five years from that date, or until all of the parties agree to terminate the Agreement or prepare another document that replaces this Agreement. Individual parties are free to withdraw from the Agreement where they cease to exist or for other reasons by notifying the RPC in writing.

Over the life of the Agreement, the partnership will grow to include new Agreement partners, subject to the consent of existing parties, and the suite of projects currently undertaken through auspices of the partnership will be expanded.

The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services; Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction

The Hon Carmel Tebbutt MP
Deputy NSW Premier, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment

Ms Nita Roberts
Chairperson, Many Rivers Training, Enterprise and Employment Aboriginal Corporation

Ms Bev Manton
Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council

Mr Noel Lockwood
Director, Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation

Mr Stephen Sawtell
Chair, Mid North Coast Group of Councils

Mr David Liddiard
Dare to Lead or Business

Dr Warren Grimshaw
Coffs Harbour Education Campus

Mr Mike Graver
GHD Engineering

Mr Tony Driese
Northern Rivers TAFE NSW

Mayor Julie Lyford
Hunter Councils

David Mayne
Wesley Vocational Institute

Mr Graham Bird
EnviTE NSW

Mr David Windridge
MEGT

Chairperson
Booroongen Djugun College

Mr Laurie Perry
Yunaga Minesite Services

Mr Paul Dodd
World Indigenous Cultural Exchange & Economic Development Organisation

Mr Robert Boota
Border Ranges Contractors

Attachment 1 - Regional Partnership Agreement