Submission of Background Material to The Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board

Foreword

This submission provides background information on the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and a description of the governance, funding arrangements and the measures and sub-measures through which the NTER was implemented in remote Northern Territory communities up to 30 June 2008.

The material is provided to assist the NTER Review Board in its consideration of the implementation of the NTER and in preparing its report in accordance with its terms of reference.

For a brief description of the NTER see the publication Northern Territory Emergency Response – One Year On.1 Some figures differ between these documents because of the different dates on which information was reported.

August 2008

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1 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, (2008), Northern Territory Emergency Response – One Year On, Canberra.

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Section 1: Overview of the Northern Territory Emergency Response

This section provides an overview of the first twelve months of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) from its announcement on 21 June 2007 until 30 June 2008.

On 21 June 2007, the then Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, and the then Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Mal Brough MP, announced national emergency measures aimed at protecting Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory (NT) from abuse and to give them a better, safer future. The then Leader of the Opposition offered bi-partisan in-principle support.

The immediate nature of the Australian Government response reflected the first part of the first recommendation of the Little Children are Sacred (LCS) report into the protection of Aboriginal children from sexual abuse in the NT2. The LCS report recommended "That Aboriginal child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory be designated as an issue of urgent national significance by both the Australian and Northern Territory Governments …".3

The Australian Government's measures were an urgent response to the problems highlighted by the LCS report; however, they were not a response directed at addressing the specific recommendations in the LCS report. The response aimed to protect children and make communities safe in the first instance, and then to lay the basis for a sustainable future for Indigenous people in the NT.

The LCS report emphasised that child abuse and neglect in Indigenous communities throughout the NT was at crisis levels.

"A disaster is looming for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory unless steps are taken forthwith." (LCS report, p.6)

"The Inquiry is positively convinced that unless prompt and firm decisions are made and leadership shown at ALL levels of society, real disaster faces Australia within a generation." (LCS report, p. 82)

As with numerous previous reports, the LCS report underlined:

• the strong connections between alcohol abuse, violence and the sexual abuse of children
• the destructive effects of alcohol for Aboriginal communities
• that many children were not protected and nurtured, and many children were not attending school
• the important contribution of schools and schooling in keeping children safe and its potential for positive influences in their lives.

As the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, when in Opposition noted:

"This report follows more than a dozen or so reports over the last 30 years which have illuminated the often appalling conditions in which First Australians live and the toll that that takes on their health, their well-being and, often, their ability to survive."4

These earlier reports include the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Taskforce on Violence Report 5 in 2000, the Gordon Report6 in Western Australia in 2002, the Victorian Law Reform Commission report (2004)7, and the NSW Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce report in 2006.8

Further, in 2006 the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare published a report on family violence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples which indicated that the rate of reported violence among Indigenous Australians was similar in remote and non-remote areas, but the rate of family violence reported as a neighbourhood problem in remote areas was almost three times that in urban areas (41 per cent compared to 14 per cent)9. In 2003-04, there were 4,500 hospitalisations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to assault in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory combined.10

In reflecting on the history of and rationale for the NTER, it is important to recall that many of the issues raised in the LCS report had already been highlighted and additional funding had been committed by the Australian Government. The previous Australian Government had been trying to deal with many of these issues through strategic interventions, funding additional police and funding programs. The previous Government had also consistently raised the issue of violence in Indigenous communities with the States and Territories.

While the Australian Government funds a range of programs to address Indigenous family violence and abuse, responsibility for delivery of services, legislation, enforcement and child protection rests for the most part with the States and Territories.

The policy context

In July 2003, the then Prime Minister called a national meeting with Indigenous leaders on violence in Indigenous communities and committed extra funding.

In June 2004, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the National Framework on Indigenous Family Violence and Child Protection (National Framework).

On 15 May 2006, the Crown Prosecutor in Alice Springs, Dr Nanette Rogers, aired reports and allegations about longstanding issues of violence and child abuse in NT Aboriginal communities on the ABC.11

The media, through journalists such as Tony Koch, Nicolas Rothwell and Suzanne Smith, had over almost a decade recorded accounts of assault, murder and suicide in Indigenous communities in northern and remote Australia.

In June 2006, the Australian Government through the auspices of COAG convened the Intergovernmental Summit on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities (the Summit), involving ministers from all States and Territories. The Australian Government provided $130 million over four years to support an Action Strategy developed at the Summit, including $40 million for additional police resources in Indigenous communities.

Following a resolution by the Australasian Police Ministers' Council which was supported by COAG, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) Board authorised the National Indigenous Violence and Intelligence Task Force on 13 July 2006, to address issues raised by the Intergovernmental Summit. The Taskforce, led by the ACC, is jointly resourced by the Commonwealth and states and territories and includes involvement of the AFP, state and territory jurisdictions and other relevant agencies.

COAG had agreed to provide more resources for policing in very remote areas where necessary and to establish joint strike teams on a bilateral basis, to work in remote Indigenous communities where there is evidence of endemic child abuse or violence. COAG also agreed to invest in community legal education for Indigenous people to ensure they were informed about their legal rights, understood how to access assistance and were encouraged to report incidents of violence and abuse.

COAG had also agreed that governments should work together to fund and administer complementary measures that address key contributing factors to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities. Alcohol and substance misuse were identified as major contributing factors. COAG agreed to further support communities seeking to control access to alcohol and illicit substances at a local level. States and Territories agreed to encourage magistrates to make attendance at drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes mandatory as part of bail conditions or sentencing. COAG also agreed to provide additional resourcing for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services in regional and remote areas.

Acknowledging the contribution of poor child health and education to an intergenerational cycle of social dysfunction, COAG had agreed to an early intervention measure to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous children living in remote areas by trialling an accelerated rollout of the Indigenous child health checks in high need regions with locations to be agreed on a bilateral basis. COAG also agreed that jurisdictions work together on addressing low rates of school attendance in Indigenous communities to increase the future life chances of Indigenous children.

The Outcomes of the Summit in the 2006 COAG Communiqué and these other developments provide a backdrop to the measures adopted in the NTER announced one year later. The Communiqué is available at: <http://www.coag.gov.au/meetings/140706/index.htm>.12

Following on from the Summit, and as a result of advocacy by the Australian Government and others, the NT Government appointed the Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse (Board of Inquiry) on 8 August 2006. The LCS report was released by the NT Chief Minister on 16 June 2007.

The Australian Government had also been exploring the potential of land reform to deliver economic activity and benefits. A program of strategic interventions was being undertaken in individual communities in the NT and elsewhere to improve infrastructure and housing, improve school attendance and increase economic participation. In November 2006, Mr Brough announced that options for income management would be explored and discussed with States and Territories as one tool in tackling alcohol and substance misuse and child protection issues in communities.

Ultimately the NTER would draw these various lines of policy development together into a comprehensive strategy.

The Australian Government had also offered logistical and other support to the Western Australian (WA) Government to help tackle child abuse in WA and had been working closely with the Queensland Government and Indigenous leaders in Cape York to address welfare dependency and social dysfunction.

Since the LCS report, three further reports have been published which again traverse issues about living conditions in remote communities and child abuse and violence. These reports are the WA Coroner's report into deaths in the Kimberley area13, the Mullighan report in South Australia (SA)14 and the WA Coroner's report into deaths at Oombulgurri.15

The Australian Government is providing assistance in response to these reports. In WA, the Australian Government is providing assistance with income management arrangements in cases of identified child neglect in Kimberley communities and the Cannington area of Perth and, in SA additional funds have been provided for police and housing in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

Northern Territory Emergency Response

The LCS report indicated that in all 45 communities visited by the NT Board of Inquiry, child abuse and potential neglect of children had been reported. There was evidence of a strong connection between family abuse and child neglect and violence and alcohol and substance abuse.

The report reiterated other issues identified in previous reports: people without meaningful things to do, failure of service methodologies, dysfunctional governance and overcrowded houses.

The previous Government judged that a response was needed that was immediate, urgent and different from past responses in terms of scale and comprehensiveness.

Fast pace, comprehensiveness and sustained whole-of-government working are the features of the NTER.

Immediately following the announcement, police and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) were mobilised to facilitate implementation. Doctors, professionals and public servants were invited to volunteer and many did.

The ADF was involved in planning and through NORFORCE, in the first six months of the response by assisting with transport, communications equipment and logistics. This was not the first involvement of the ADF in Indigenous communities. The ADF has been providing assistance to individual communities through the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) since 1996 and in 2008 is assisting the Kalumburu community in WA.16

Key phases

The previous Government intended that the NTER had three key phases:

• stabilisation – the first year to 30 June 2008
• normalisation of services and infrastructure
• longer term support to close the gaps between these communities and standards of services and outcomes enjoyed by the rest of Australia.

Cooperation with the NT Government

The approach involved working cooperatively with the NT Government on terms indicated by the then Prime Minister and the then Minister, which were to emphasise action, and to proceed rapidly but in a structured, orderly and considered way, and with respect for the people affected.

There has been a very close working relationship with the NT Government across a range of measures.

In parallel to the Australian Government intitatives, the NT Government had been developing its own reform agenda, resulting in the establishment from 1 July 2008 of shire councils amalgamating many of the small community organisations running municipal services. On 20 August 2007 the then NT Chief Minister announced the NT Government's formal response to the LCS report. The response involved a twenty year Indigenous Generational Plan titled Closing the Gap.

Coverage

The NTER covers 73 communities and associated outstations, and a number of town camps across the NT.

Based on an NT Government analysis of 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data, there were 41,130 people living in the NTER communities in 2006.17 It was estimated that 35,929, or about 87 per cent, were Indigenous Australians.

The Department of Health and Ageing estimates the population of children under 16 in the NTER communities and town camps at around 17,000.

Key measures

The initial measures included:

• increases in policing levels, including secondments of officers from other jurisdictions to supplement NT resources
• non-compulsory, comprehensive health checks for Indigenous children under 16 years of age, to identify and treat health problems, including identifying follow-up and ongoing health care requirements
• clean up and repair of communities to make them safer and healthier with local people encouraged to participate through Work for the Dole (WfD)
• widespread alcohol restrictions
• welfare reforms to reduce the flow of money into alcohol and substance abuse and to ensure funds intended for children's welfare and development are used for children
• improving school attendance indirectly through the provision of school meals
• compulsory five year leases to the Commonwealth over land in 64 communities including provisions to pay reasonable compensation to relevant land owners if those leases constitute an acquisition of property within the meaning of the Constitution
• improvements to essential infrastructure in communities
• banning possession or supply of X 18+ films, restricted publications, Refused Classification material, and unclassified material that would be classified at these levels
• auditing of publicly funded computers to identify prohibited material
• changes to the permit system for access to 'Aboriginal land' under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 including in relation to government officials, common areas of major communities and road corridors
• improved governance through the appointment of Government Business Managers (GBMs) to remote communities.

Funding for the NTER measures was secured by the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (No. 1) 2007-2008 and Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (No.2) 2007-2008. Table 1 below shows the seven measures and the agencies responsible for implementation of the NTER measures.

Table 1: NTER measures and responsible Australian Government agencies

Measure	Agencies responsible for implementation
Promoting Law and Order	Attorney-General's Department; Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA); Australian Crime Commission; Australian Federal Police
Improving Child and Family Health	Department of Health and Ageing
Supporting Families	FaHCSIA and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
Enhancing Education	DEEWR and Centrelink
Welfare Reform and Employment	Department of Human Services; Centrelink; DEEWR; FaHCSIA
Housing and Land Reform	FaHCSIA and DEEWR
Coordination	FaHCSIA; Commonwealth Ombudsman; Australian Defence Force

The aim was to do and achieve more than 'business as usual' and to lay down a platform from which to work towards sustained improvements in outcomes in the medium and longer term.

Significantly the NTER adopted a multi-sectoral approach to address multi-facetted and deep-seated problems. Appendix 1 lists each measure and sub-measure and provides a report against individual sub-measures. However, it needs to be kept in mind that the measures and sub-measures are interlinked and are intended to work in combination.

These measures have been brought together and implemented through the Northern Territory Emergency Response Project Implementation Plan under the stewardship of the NTER Project Management Board (PMB).

For the most part, the information in this submission provides detail on the scope of activities planned from 1 October 2007 to 30 June 2008 in relation to each measure. It also includes information on some measures such as increased police numbers and child health checks which commenced in July 2007.

A chronology of the rollout of measures by community is provided in Appendix 2.

Governance and oversight

The then Government appointed the NT Emergency Response Taskforce (NTERT), chaired by Dr Sue Gordon AM, to advise the Government on implementation and an Operational Group under the operational command of Major General Dave Chalmers to coordinate effort on the ground.

A sub-group of the Secretaries' Group on Indigenous Affairs was established to oversee the effort of government agencies on policy reform, legislation and service delivery.

FaHCSIA is responsible for co-ordination, and strategies for supporting families, housing and land reform, and aspects of welfare reform and employment.

The pace and breadth of working in a whole-of-government way, across levels of government, and government-volunteer-non-government organisation working and cooperative arrangements was new in Indigenous affairs.

More detail on governance arrangements is provided in Section 2.

Legislation

On 7 August 2007, the then Government introduced the three emergency response Bills into the Parliament to give effect to key NTER measures. The Bills were passed by the Parliament on 17 August 2007 after being referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.  No amendments were made to the Bills during their passage through the Parliament. The Bills received Royal Assent on 17 August 2007.

The legislation package included:

• the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTNER Act)
• the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Act 2007 (Welfare Payment Reform Act)
• the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Act 2007 (National Emergency Response and Other Measures Act).

The pornography restrictions came into effect on 14 September and the alcohol restrictions commenced on 15 September 2007.

An additional Bill was introduced into the Parliament to make amendments to consolidate the alcohol measures in the NTNER Act. This Bill was passed and is now the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Act 2007 (the Alcohol Act).

A further Bill, the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2007 was introduced into the Parliament in September 2007 but it lapsed when the election was called.

The Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008 (2008 NTER Consolidation Bill) was introduced into the Parliament on 21 February 2008. The Bill reintroduces some measures from the lapsed Bill, albeit in a modified way (for example, the R18+ pay television restrictions measure). The 2008 NTER Consolidation Bill includes amendments to repeal the changes to the permit system that took effect on 17 February 2008.

Funding

$587 million was provided in two Appropriation Bills passed in August 2007. Since coming to office in November 2007, the Government has committed around $666 million to the NT. This includes election commitments and NTER 2008-09 Budget initiatives. Overall, almost $1.4 billion has been made available in specific NTER funding by the Commonwealth. More information on funding is provided in Section 5.

Implementation

The implementation built on concepts and strategies that were already being developed in some individual communities and through the COAG initiatives outlined earlier in this section. The NTER moved quickly to put initiatives in place in several key areas:

• law and order
• health
• sewerage
• water supply
• service delivery.

Major reforms to the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program were also underway with a focus on a significant increase in housing supply.

Early challenges

There were some challenges early in the implementation. Communications, always a challenge, could have been more effective in the early days. Communication has improved during the course of the response. More detail on communications is provided in Section 4 which outlines implementation issues across the emergency response.

Another challenge was recruiting GBMs and Community Employment Brokers (CEBs), providing staff accommodation, information technology, communications and other logistical support.

From the outset there was potential for GBMs to play an important role in the organisation of government services in communities, helping to rollout the alcohol restrictions, pornography bans and other measures. More detail on GBMs and other institutional arrangements is provided in Section 2 on Governance and in Appendix 1 under the Coordination measure.

Change of Government

In September 2007, three months into the response, the federal election was called. Following the change of government, the new Ministry commenced on 3 December 2007. The Hon Jenny Macklin MP was appointed Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA Minister).

In December 2007, the Government established an advisory group of 25 NT Aboriginal leaders to discuss the implementation of the NTER measures and to provide feedback to the FaHCSIA Minister. The Prime Minister and FaHCSIA Minister met with this group on 16 December 2007 and the FaHCSIA Minister met this group again in March and July 2008.

On 17 January 2008, the FaHCSIA Minister met for the first time with the NTERT.

The Government indicated that it remained committed to the response but wanted to place a stronger emphasis on consultation and engagement with communities and on identifying opportunities for economic development.

Three main areas where the Government is taking a different approach to the previous Government are:

• Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program. On 10 December 2007, the Government put a moratorium on the dismantling of CDEP in the NT commenced by the previous government.

• On 30 April 2008, there was a joint ministerial announcement outlining the timetable for CDEP reforms, funding arrangements for 2008-09 and changes to CDEP in the NT.

• The Government is committed to the effective reform of CDEP, and consultations commenced on 19 May 2008 as part of broader reforms of Indigenous employment services and the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy.

• As an interim arrangement, pending the broader reform agenda, CDEP is being restored in the NT communities from 1 July 2008 where the program had been removed. FaHCSIA has written to all CDEP providers and providers of 'transitional' activities in the NT to inform them of the process for negotiating 2008-09 funding.

• Permits. A commitment to reinstate many of the permit system changes is being implemented via the Bill currently before the Parliament.
• Racial discrimination legislation. The 2008 NTER Consolidation Bill contains no new provisions which exclude the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA). The 2008 NTER Consolidation Bill contains some amendments to the previous Government's measures which continue to be covered by the RDA provisions in the NTER legislation.

Situation at 30 June 2008

Fifty-one additional police had been deployed. There was a new police presence in 18 communities. Nine out of ten new custodial facilities were operational.

Night patrols were operational in 31 NTER communities and community consultations were underway to establish night patrols in the remaining 42 NTER communities.

The first audit had been undertaken to detect illegal material on publicly funded computers in NTER communities.

Health checks had occurred in 70 communities and ten town camp regions. At the end of June 2008, 9,428 child health checks had been completed directly under the NTER, covering an estimated 55 per cent of eligible children.

Additional alcohol outreach workers are now working in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek.

Mobile outreach counselling and support services for children and families affected by child abuse and trauma were being delivered from Darwin, Arnhem, Katherine and Tennant Creek.

At 30 June 2008, income management (IM) was operating in 53 communities and their associated outstations and 8 town camp regions. There were 13,305 people on IM at 30 June 2008. Fifty per cent of certain welfare payments and family payments are managed in a way that ensures it is spent on essentials such as food for children and families, rent, utilities, clothing and education expenses. IM funds cannot be used to purchase the excluded goods of alcohol, tobacco, pornography or gambling services.

At June 30 2008, there were 55 communities and 8 town camps providing School Nutrition Program breakfast and lunch programs to school aged children. At 1 August 2008, the SNP was operating in 61 communities and 8 town camp areas.

Food quality and reliability reportedly had improved with 62 stores licensed with 12 stores operating under corporate licenses to Outback Stores Pty Ltd at 30 June 2008. By August 2008, 68 stores had been licensed, with 15 operating under a corporate licence to Outback Stores Pty Ltd.

Financial literacy information and training support was being provided.

In 2007 - 08 three crèche upgrades were completed and one upgrade underway. Payments were made for the construction of eight new crèches and upgrade to an additional five crèches. In 2008 – 09 a further three crèche upgrades and one new crèche are under development. The first new crèche commenced operations in August 2008.

A total of 3,046 properties had been surveyed to assess their condition and need for repair. In all of these properties, urgent repairs have been undertaken. The next level of repair work, 'minor vital repairs', had been completed in 2,995 properties. The repairs work has been undertaken in 68 communities.

CDEP, which had been transferred from DEEWR to FaHCSIA following the change of government, was being reintroduced from 1 July 2008 in around 30 communities in the NT.

All Remote Area Exemptions (RAEs)18 applying to jobseekers in NTER communities had been removed.

Under the NT Jobs Package, 1,300 jobs had been created, with the majority filled. In addition, 982 job outcomes had been brokered with the assistance of Job Network providers.  There are 8,119 jobseekers receiving Job Network services.

There have been 261 Structured Training and Employment Program (STEP) and 924 STEP- Employment Related Services (ERS) commencements. Both programs help to assist employers to provide ongoing employment for Indigenous Australians, particularly in the private sector.

There have been 80 Work for the Dole activities delivered across the NTER.  Of these, 55 have been delivered to 42 of the NTER communities, 23 to town camps and two to outstations. There have been a total of 1,373 Work for the Dole commencements.

There have been 1189 jobseekers engaged in specialist programs including Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS), Personal Support Program (PSP), Disability Employment Network (DEN) and Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET).

There have been 809 referrals to the Language Literacy and Numeracy program (LLNP). Over 138 people had commenced in the Workplace English Language and Literacy program.

Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) providers in the NTER teams undertook 798 JCAs in remote Indigenous communities to support the removal of RAEs commencing 19 July 2007 and finishing 23 November 2007. Another 5,830 JCAs were triggered by the removal of RAEs in these remote Indigenous communities and completed to 30 June 2008.

Eighty-six per cent of JCAs recommended a referral to a DEEWR funded employment service. Of the JCAs that recommended a referral, 48.3 per cent were to Job Network, 7.5 per cent to the DEN, 10.2 per cent to VRS, 30.6 per cent to the PSP, and 3.5 per cent to JPET services.

There were 55 GBMs employed and servicing 72 NTER communities.19 There were 33 CEBs employed providing service to 65 NTER communities.

Outputs and outcomes

One year on, there are some positive signs though it is still early days in terms of outcomes information and being able to see signs of sustained improvement:

• GBMs report that IM has been particularly well received by women, particularly mothers and grandmothers, as more money is available for essentials and there has been a reduction in humbugging
• a survey of NTER licensed stores has found that more healthy food has been purchased and more money has been spent on the needs of children as a result of IM measures
• customers are also saving for the purchase of whitegoods, such as fridges, so that they can store perishables at home20
• access to health services has increased and many children who received CHCs have been referred to specialists and received treatment.

Getting GBMs, police, CEBs and liaison officers into communities has been very important in providing a government presence in communities where there has never been a presence, or there has not been a presence for decades.

The NTER has also focussed public attention on the poor level of infrastructure and services in NT remote communities and committed very significant taxpayer funding and public resources to NT remote communities. Information on results and impacts is provided in the NTER monitoring report which has been provided to the Review Board separately.

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2. Wild, R & Anderson P, (2007) Ampe Akelyernemane Mele Mekarle, Little Children are Sacred: Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, Darwin, NT: Northern Territory Government.

3. Ibid. p. 6.

4. Australian Parliament, House of Representatives, 7 August 2007, p. 68.

5. Robertson, B (2000), The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Taskforce on Violence Report, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development, Queensland, <http://www.women.qld.gov.au/resources/indigenous/>.

6. Gordon, S Hallahan, K Henry, D (2002), Putting the picture together, Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia.

7. Victorian Law Reform Commission (2004), Sexual Offences Final Report, Melbourne. <http://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/projects/sexual-offences/sexual-offences-final-report>.

8. Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce (2006), Breaking the Silence: Creating the Future, Addressing Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities in NSW, Attorney-General's Department, <http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/acsat>.

9. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Al-Yaman F, Van Doeland M & Wallis M (2006), Family Violence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Cat IHW17,Canberra:AIHW, <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10372>., p.42.

10. Ibid, pp 52-55.

11. www.abc.net.au/lateline/

12. Council of Australian Governments' Meeting, (2006), 14 July 2006 Communique, Canberra, <http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2006-07-14/index.cfm>.

13. Hope AN (2008),WA Coroner, Record of Investigation into Death, Kimberley area.

14. Mullighan QC, Hon E P (2008), Commission of Inquiry Report, Children on the APY Lands, <http://www.service.sa.gov.au/ContentPages/sagovt/mullighaninquiry_apy.aspx>.

15. Hope AN (2008), WA Coroner, Record of Investigation into Death, Oombulguri.

16. Australian Defence Force, Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program, Information Brief, 2 May 2008, <http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/080502_AACAP.pdf>.

17. Population figures for the town camps are not available from ABS data.

18. A person with an RAE is not required to satisfy the activity test in return for their income support payment (i.e. they do not have to look for work or participate in services and programs).

19. The community of Acacia Larrakia is an NTER community temporarily not serviced by a GBM.

20. Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2008), Northern Territory National Emergency Response (NTER) Stores Post-Licensing Monitoring Report – Early Indications of Impact of Income Management in Stores, First 20 Stores, Canberra, <http://www.facsia.gov.au/nter/docs/reports/monitoring_report.htm>.

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Section 2: Governance

This section outlines the NTER governance arrangements.

The early governance arrangements were focused on:

• enabling swift mobilisation of resources and activities
• establishing initial organisational and logistical support arrangements
• arranging for police, volunteer doctors and GBMs to be working in communities as quickly as possible
• rolling-out programs and preparing legislation.

As the NTER proceeded through the stabilisation phase, the governance arrangements were refined and adjusted to sharpen the focus on the delivery of measures.

Key elements of the initial governance arrangements

Key elements of the governance arrangements up to 30 June 2008 included:

NTER Taskforce (NTERT)

• The NTERT provided advice to the Government on a range of issues and oversaw the management by the Operations Centre of the day-to-day activities and rollout of measures. More detail on the NTERT is provided below.

NTER Sub-group of the Secretaries' Group on Indigenous Affairs

• This committee of relevant portfolio Secretaries coordinated policy advice to the Government, and promoted cross-agency collaboration in delivery of the measures. This committee was supported by a working group of Senior Executive Service officers from relevant agencies. In the early stages, NTER coordination weekly meetings involving all relevant agencies and FaHCSIA policy and steering Committees were convened. The groups were disbanded when they had completed their tasks.

Inter-departmental committees

• At the start there were also two interdepartmental committees (IDCs) established, each led by Deputy Secretaries from the then Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. One IDC was concerned with the development of the two Appropriation Bills and the other was concerned with the three emergency response enabling Bills. The IDCs were disbanded on completion of this work.

NTER Operations Centre

• The NTER Operations Centre coordinates on-the-ground implementation of the various measures. The Operations Centre in the NTER includes staff seconded from the agencies involved.

Government Business Managers

• GBMs manage Australian Government activities and assets in NTER communities in a whole-of-government way, and work with the NT Government and local government bodies to achieve integrated service outcomes. The GBM duty statement is provided at Appendix 3.

NTER Taskforce

The previous Government established the NTERT, its terms of reference and appointed the original Taskforce members. The NTERT was established to operate for at least one year. It ceased on 30 June 2008.

Terms of Reference

The NTERT's Terms of Reference were to:

1. Provide expert advice to the Australian Government on the implementation of the emergency response.
2. Provide oversight of the NTERT Operational Group.
3. Promote public understanding of the issues involved.
4. Alert Government to current and emerging issues that relate directly to the implementation of the response.
5. Report to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on the progress of the response.

Members were selected on the basis of their relevant experience and expertise in Indigenous affairs, medical care, education, government, business and the law.

At 30 June 2008, the membership of the NTERT was:

• Dr Sue Gordon AM (Chair)
• Major General Dave Chalmers AO, CSC (Operational Commander)
• Dr Bill Glasson AO
• Mr Roger Corbett AO
• Mrs Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann AM
• Mr Terry Moran AO
• Mr Mike Burgess.

Previous members of the NTERT were:

• Mr John Reeves QC, from 25 June 2007 until October 2007, when he resigned on his appointment as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.  Mr Reeves was not replaced on the Taskforce. 
• Dr Peter Shergold AC, from 25 June 2007 until 8 February 2008, when he ceased as the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.  Dr Shergold's position on the Taskforce was filled by Mr Terry Moran AO. 
• Mr Paul Tyrrell, from 25 June 2007 until 31 January 2008, when he retired as Chief Executive of the Northern Territory Chief Minister's Department.  Mr Tyrrell's position on the Taskforce was filled by Mr Mike Burgess. 

The Operational Commander kept the Minister and NTERT members informed about of the implementation of the NTER by distributing a weekly situation report, providing an update at each NTERT meeting and briefing the NTERT Chair and the Minister.

The NTERT presented its Final Report to Government on 19 June 2008 and made several recommendations including:

• health checks for all children on an annual basis which will require adequate resourcing of the primary health care system
• additional investment to alleviate overcrowding in remote communities in the NT, ensuring that the design and location of new housing is economically viable as well as culturally and environmentally appropriate
• government-funded mediators to work with communities to find resolutions for internal issues
• the ongoing creation of "real jobs" in communities
• a community store in each viable community
• increasing the number of police in communities so that every community is adequately serviced.21

NTER Operations Centre

The NTER Operations Centre coordinates engagement with communities and ensures the following:

• that sufficient opportunity has been provided for people to meet with Centrelink staff to discuss their priority needs and establish payment deductions
• that GBM support is in place
• community store(s) are licensed and signed up to a Centrelink IM contract, or store cards available to people living in towns
• other local third party organisations are contracted, for example, for making deductions for the School Nutrition Program (SNP), rent, fuel
• there is police coverage in the community/region to ensure stability, and
• an analysis is undertaken to identify customers and outstations affected by IM.

Liaison officers from Australian Government departments and agencies are working with the Operations Centre in Darwin and are representing their respective agencies to assist with their particular NTER measures and to ensure their home agencies are well-informed of progress on each measure and sub-measure.

Government Business Managers

GBMs are FaHCSIA employees who are deployed into remote communities and are 'the face of the Australian Government's Emergency Response' at the community level. GBMs supplement the role performed by Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) in each ICC region in the NT.

FaHCSIA

In relation to the NTER governance and implementation arrangements, the role of the Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs is to:

• ensure that program implementation is meeting government objectives through structured and regular comprehensive performance reporting
• ensure consideration of whole-of-government and cross-agency issues in policy development and program delivery
• oversee effective design, implementation and evaluation across all NTER measures
• ensure that a transparent and robust budgeting and financial planning system across all measures is in place
• ensure a structured, detailed and integrated approach to risk management is in place.

The vehicle for meeting these responsibilities is NTER Project Implementation Plan (the plan).

NT Indigenous advisory body

In December 2007, the Government established an advisory body of 25 NT Aboriginal leaders to ensure the Government is engaging with and listening to Aboriginal people.

NTER Project Implementation Plan

Toward the end of 2007, a Project Implementation Plan was developed to provide a strategic framework to guide the implementation of the NTER to the end of the stabilisation phase, until 30 June 2008. FaHCSIA is responsible for the overall coordination and support for this plan. The plan is complemented by more detailed department and agency work plans.

The plan comprehensively draws together the work across all agencies, measures and sub-measures and sets out reporting and accountability arrangements.

The plan developed for the stabilisation phase captured in detail the measures funded through the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Acts (No.1) and (No.2) 2007-2008. The plan has been amended to reflect continuing 2007-08 measures and the new measures funded under the 2008-09 Budget.

This plan requires that each government agency responsible for implementing NTER measures has their own internal governance arrangements in place, including committees and working groups, as well as associated plans, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

NTER Project Management Board

The NTER Project Management Board (PMB) was established to oversee and drive the plan. PMB usually meets, on average, monthly and is chaired by a FaHCSIA Deputy Secretary.

The terms of reference for the PMB are to:

• advise the Government on current and emerging issues and comprehensive problems that relate directly to the implementation of the response
• report to the FaHCSIA Minister on the progress of the response (including an annual public report related to the outcomes of the program)
• provide advice to the FaHCSIA Minister on NTER issues
• resolve all cross-agency coordination issues
• liaise with all organisations involved with the NTER to ensure a complete report is presented to the Cabinet Implementation Unit (CIU)
• translate overarching administrative arrangements to on-the-ground service delivery
• facilitate the implementation of whole-of-government risk management strategies
• monitor whole-of-government accountability arrangements including budgeting and reporting.

PMB Membership

In addition to FaHCSIA, the membership includes nominees from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Centrelink, the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), the Attorney-General's Department (AGD), the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Treasury, as well as the Operational Commander of the NTER Operations Centre, and the FaHCSIA NT State Manager.

Each agency involved with the NTER measures is required to report to the PMB each month.

Observations

The governance arrangements provided stewardship to drive and steer implementation, and architecture and processes for ordered and considered implementation within very tight timeframes while enabling working across organisational boundaries.

Significantly the governance structures and processes were flexible and were adjusted as the NTER progressed through the first year. Committees such as the Secretaries' Sub-group, the SES working groups and legislation IDCs lasted only as long as necessary for the tasks to be completed. The NTERT ceased after one year and new structures such as PMB have been established.

These governance arrangements have facilitated decision-making, coordination, accountability, achieving closure on key steps and milestones, and policy learning. There has however been some unavoidable duplication in whole-of-government monitoring and reporting.

See also Coordination in Section 4 and Funding in Section 5.

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21. Northern Territory Emergency Response Taskforce (2008), Final Report to Government, June 2008, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Canberra.

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Section 3: Policy implementation issues

• Income management in the NT, food security, stores and money management
• Town camps
• Outstations
• Viable communities

Implementation and the challenges involved in the implementation of each sub-measure are described in Appendix 1. Appendix 2 provides a chronology of NTER measures as they were rolled-out in each community.

The NTER Review Board has sought further background information on the following topics:

• income management (IM), food security and stores and money management
• town camps
• outstations
• viable communities.

This section provides that information.

Income management in the NT

IM is a key part of the NTER, and a new approach to how people receive welfare payments. At a basic level, IM works by holding back or 'quarantining' half, or all, of certain welfare payments. Centrelink directs amounts of an income managed person's 'quarantined' welfare towards agreed priority needs. This process ensures that at least half of a person's welfare payments are directed towards essentials, such as food, clothing and rent and is not spent on the excluded goods of alcohol, tobacco, pornography, or gambling services.

IM aims to:

• ensure that money paid by government for the benefit of children is directed to the needs of children
• provide better financial security to women and elderly community members who are vulnerable to 'humbugging'22
• reduce the amount of cash in communities where substance abuse, gambling and other anti-social behaviours are problems that can lead to child abuse and community dysfunction.

IM has not cut people's welfare entitlements and people continue to receive their full entitlement while on IM. In fact, feedback from Centrelink teams visiting communities to establish IM arrangements, is that staff sometimes find that people are not claiming the full amount of welfare they are entitled to under the social security system. IM does mean that people have less cash available for discretionary purchases because income managed funds are not paid as cash. Most importantly, income managed funds cannot be used to purchase the excluded items of alcohol, tobacco, pornography or gambling products and services.

How IM is applied

IM is applied on a whole-of-community basis to community members receiving certain welfare payments (including social security benefits or pensions, or student payments).

Rollout in communities

IM has been progressively rolled out in major NT Aboriginal communities, their associated outstations and town camp regions. In preparing for the rollout, community engagement is planned so that clusters of communities (usually 3 or 4 major communities and associated outstations) commence IM at the same time. A staged approach to implementation is necessary to allow for certain preconditions set out below to be met in each community prior to commencing IM. This approach recognises that IM involves changes to people's daily affairs, and as such, communities need to be prepared and supported in making these changes. In the weeks leading up to IM commencing, teams of Centrelink staff stay in communities to conduct interviews with individuals, families or household groups to discuss household expenses and needs. Centrelink then determines with the customer the regular payments that should be set up to meet these expenses, providing that the expenses are in line with IM policy.

The NTER Operations Centre coordinates engagement with communities and ensures the following preconditions are in place:

• that sufficient opportunity has been provided for people to meet with Centrelink staff to discuss their priority needs and establish payment deductions
• that GBM support is in place
• community store(s) are licensed and signed up to a Centrelink IM contract, or store cards are available to people living in towns
• other local third party organisations are contracted, for example, for making deductions for the School Nutrition Program (SNP), rent, and fuel
• there is a police presence in the community or region to ensure stability
• an analysis is undertaken to identify customers and outstations affected by IM.

Once the necessary preconditions are met in a community, the NTER Operations Centre and FaHCSIA recommends to the Minister that IM commence in the community. After having regard to the factors outlined in subsection 123TE (1) of Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the Minister makes a determination to commence IM. Ministerial determinations can be made for up to 12 months and it is open to the Minister to extend IM beyond 12 months or to cease IM sooner.

IM was rolled-out initially in four communities south of Alice Springs, and then in both the southern and northern parts of the NT. There was some concern that information about IM was confusing during the initial stages of rollout. Improvements were made to the process to allow a longer lead time for community engagement and for Centrelink to establish arrangements for customers in each community. As rollout progressed, there have been relatively fewer concerns raised about IM arrangements.

How people access their income managed funds

There is sufficient flexibility under IM policy for people to meet their priority needs and expenses. For example, in a remote community most people use their income managed funds to purchase food at the local community store. These customers will have arranged with Centrelink for a certain amount of their income managed funds to be transferred to the store on a fortnightly or weekly basis. The money is held by the store until the person is ready to purchase food and other essential items. However, people from remote communities have often also chosen to hold aside part of their funds in their IM account until they visit town, where they pick up a store card from the Centrelink office in order to do a bulk shop at a larger retailer offering a larger range of goods.

People are able to change their deductions or organise new deductions at any time by contacting Centrelink either in person, at an office, or by phoning the Indigenous Call Centre. Centrelink Service Agents in communities can assist in this process. For example, where a person has a telephone or electricity bill, Centrelink can make that payment on behalf of the person using income managed funds. Providing a person has enough funds in their IM account, Centrelink can transfer funds directly to a trader, for example, to purchase a fridge or motor vehicle.

Centrelink has increased the hours of work and number of Centrelink Service Agents in communities to facilitate communication with community members, and has introduced longer operating hours for some Centrelink Service Centres to provide increased servicing for people on IM.

At priority agent sites, the infrastructure has been upgraded including the installation of additional phone lines. Centrelink social work support has also been an integral component of Centrelink's NTER remote servicing regime. It has been very important in identifying and servicing unmet customer needs, for example, assessment of previously unrecognised customer circumstance, both vulnerability and strengths, in addressing the correct income support payments, appropriate participation agreements and referral to other services where possible. IM has provided many opportunities for customers to be linked with increased Centrelink servicing, including intensive social work servicing, resulting in increased access to a range of increased support pathways, especially for the most vulnerable of these remote customers.

While Centrelink customers have for some time had access to voluntary deductions through the Centrepay system, the compulsory nature of IM requires that people make budgetary decisions for at least half of their total welfare income. Significantly for some people, especially women and the elderly, this is the first time they have exercised control over their entitlements. Another benefit of IM is that it requires a person to consider the full range of their priority needs, whereas under Centrepay a person might only set up one or two regular deductions for things that may or may not be directly related to their or their family's priority needs, for example, for TV subscription services, or car loan repayments.

By the end of an IM interview with Centrelink, each person is required to consider, and in most cases establish, regular deductions for at least the following needs: food, clothing, housing, utilities, and the SNP (where a person has school aged children). This process does not prevent a person from establishing additional IM deductions for other priority needs, or from establishing voluntary Centrepay deductions for other expenses using their funds that are not income managed. It does however ensure that priority and essential needs are being met first.

Key service delivery challenges and responses

By 30 June IM had commenced in 53 NTER communities and 8 town camps and there were 13,305 people on income management. At this stage seventy per cent of managed income has been spent on food or groceries, thirteen per cent on housing and three per cent has been spent on the SNP.

Increasing choice and providing greater flexibility for people

The current IM system requires people to arrange, through Centrelink, for deductions to be made to certain organisations such as the local community store to purchase food, or to the service station to purchase petrol. Although the current system allows for people to change their deductions at any time by contacting Centrelink, it is manually driven and work intensive for both the customer and Centrelink. People may also feel restricted to only those outlets where they have established deductions in place. Recognising these limitations the Government is introducing the BasicsCard to provide a form of portable income managed funds to meet everyday expenses.

The BasicsCard will be rolled out progressively in the latter part of 2008. It is a PIN-protected card that allows customers to use their income managed funds to purchase priority goods and services at a range of approved merchants using existing EFTPOS infrastructure.  An agreed amount of a person's income managed funds will be credited to the card.  Like all other forms of income managed funds, people will not be able to purchase alcohol, tobacco, pornography or gambling products and services with the card. The card will not permit customers to withdraw cash from EFTPOS terminals or from automatic teller machines.

Ensuring access to food and other essentials

There have been longstanding concerns that many stores in Indigenous communities were poorly managed, provided low quality or overpriced goods. High freight costs and poor operating practises can compound the logistical challenge of delivering a good range of food and other items at a reasonable price.

Following on from, and now complementary to, the IM implementation associated with the NTER, the way community stores operate and the quality of the food that they provide is critical to efforts to improve the lives of Indigenous people in the NT.

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTNER Act) established licensing arrangements for community stores. Intensive technical support from Income Management Officers supports these licensing arrangements during the period when IM commences in a community. Income Management Officers are contractors with business and accounting expertise who assist with upgrades to the point of sale and accounting systems in stores. Financial assistance is also provided to improve point of sale systems. Additionally, stores involved enter into an Income Management Contract with Centrelink. The contract establishes conditions regarding the administration of income managed funds.

Licences are issued when stores are able to demonstrate a capacity to participate in the requirements of IM. This capacity is demonstrated by having a reasonable quality, quantity and range of groceries and consumer items, including healthy food and drink, which is available and promoted at the store; and having sound financial structures and retail and governance practices. The total number of community stores licensed at 6 August 2008 is 68.

Where a store still does not meet licensing requirements it could be issued with an interim license, licensed with additional conditions, given more time to meet the requirements, or, as a last resort, government may compulsorily acquire the store and put in an operator who can meet the required standards.

Stores are generally licensed for a period of six months, or for a shorter time where issuing an interim licence is more appropriate. The way stores are operating is monitored by FaHCSIA staff and through feedback from regulatory agencies and GBMs.

A store's operations will be formally reviewed around the time its licence expires. Issues taken into consideration include compliance with licensing conditions.

Stores in large communities or servicing large regions are being provided with assistance to ensure that income managed funds are made available to the intended people. This is generally in the form of photograph based store identity cards.

Where there is no store, or where stores are of a very low standard or for other reasons cannot be licensed, government has assisted with the implementation of bush order deliveries to ensure the reliable supply of affordable, good quality food.

Outback Stores Pty Ltd is a commercial business unit of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA). IBA is expanding Outback Stores to more NT communities to ensure they have access to well-managed stores and provide healthy and reasonably priced food. Additional funding has been provided to Outback Stores Pty Ltd to accelerate the rollout of Outback Stores in the NT.

Station stores and other remote stores not on prescribed land (except for roadhouses which are excluded in the legislation) can participate in IM arrangements. Under this policy, these stores agree to undergoing licensing assessments in order to participate, ensuring a high standard across the NT.

Arnhem Land Progress Association Inc (ALPA) operates stores under a corporate licence and also operates individual stores under consultancy agreement.

The NTNER Act explicitly prevents roadhouses from being licensed. Legislation currently before the Parliament would remove this exemption. Once the exemption is removed, roadhouses will be treated in the same way as station stores.

These licensing and contract mechanisms are fundamental for ensuring that community stores are accountable in their handling of people's welfare entitlements. While FaHCSIA acknowledges that the introduction of IM has been difficult for some stores with limited IT capacity or manual point of sales systems, the additional administrative burden has been necessary to ensure income managed funds are protected while they are held by a store. These mechanisms also ensure that where people on IM are being encouraged to shop at specific outlets, that these stores provide a quality service and good range of products. The introduction of the BasicsCard should reduce the administrative burdens on business as Centrelink will no longer need to transfer income managed funds to store accounts, except in limited circumstances.

Ensuring that people on IM have reliable options for accessing food and other essentials has been a key implementation challenge. Identifying new food access options in remote areas and bringing existing outlets up to the required standard is intensive work that has contributed to delays to the rollout schedule. IM has brought improvement to people's daily lives through healthier and more reasonably priced food options. This issue now has a high level of visibility and IM has provided impetus for continued reform to deliver improvements.

Some information on community responses to improvements in community stores is provided in the stores survey.23

Use of store cards to access income managed funds

The urgency of the NTER required using available options for providing customers with access to their income managed funds. One mechanism for delivering income managed funds is through store cards that are purchased from the Coles-Myer and Woolworths corporations to use in some of their retail outlets. Store cards, which work like vouchers, are suitable for people either living near metropolitan areas, for example, in town camps, or for people visiting town. The cards meet the policy needs of IM as they do not allow customers to purchase excluded items. Some charitable organisations also use these cards to provide assistance to their clients.

Take up of the store cards has been fairly high near metropolitan areas, but people have usually had a choice between using a store card or having a portion of their income managed funds directed to a local trader. Traders can apply to participate in IM, however, they must meet a number of conditions relating to reporting, governance arrangements, financial capacity and strict adherence to the condition that they do not sell excluded items to customers using income managed funds. In some communities, the implementation of IM was delayed due to difficulties in ensuring that traders met these conditions. 

Some traders have been concerned that IM has impacted on their businesses. While FaHCSIA acknowledges these concerns, it has been necessary to ensure that flexibility for customers and the interests of traders are balanced with the need for IM to be introduced quickly. The introduction of the BasicsCard should reduce administrative burden on businesses.

People's access to store cards has periodically been an issue. Centrelink can only issue store cards during business hours, however, Centrelink office hours have been lengthened in some cases to cope with customer demand.

There have been some reports that customers are trading store cards for cash, gambling their cards, or throwing away cards that still contain unspent funds. It is regrettable that people would choose to use their welfare entitlements in this way, however Centrelink and GBMs are carefully monitoring such reports which have proven difficult to substantiate. The introduction of the BasicsCard should help to address the potential to misuse store cards. When issuing a store card to a person on IM, Centrelink explains to the person how the card functions, where it can be used and how to redeem the full balance of the card's value. Centrelink has also met with retailers in towns where these cards are used to discuss ways that check-out staff can assist people using these store cards.

IM clients who move locations

As people in NT communities can move often, Centrelink has designed considerable flexibility into its service delivery arrangements to accommodate high mobility whether it be short-term or long-term. Centrelink customers who are travelling to a different location away from where they normally live, contact Centrelink to organise new IM deductions. Centrelink can quickly direct a customer's funds to a relevant third party organisation in the area to which they are travelling. In relation to people moving permanently to new locations to live, Centrelink may exercise discretion to exempt a person from IM in either a specific NT area, or from all NT areas.  When considering applications for exemptions, Centrelink assesses the likelihood of whether the person is moving to another community in order to avoid IM.

Although there have been claims of people moving or leaving the NT to avoid IM, it is difficult to establish whether IM would be the cause of any movement. It is unlikely that people would be motivated to move to avoid IM since it continues to apply to a person for the period it applies to the community they moved from, unless an exemption is granted.

SNP

The SNP has also been introduced as an indirect way to improve school attendance and engagement by providing breakfast and/or lunch to school-aged children. The Australian Government provides funding for employment, infrastructure and professional development and parents are expected to contribute to the costs of the food, primarily through income managed deductions. At 1 August 2008, the SNP was operating in 61 communities and 8 town camp areas.

Improving money management skills

Some people have welcomed IM from the perspective that it provides better financial security, budgeting opportunities and a bank-type service to save for larger purchases.

During 2007-08, contracted service providers conducted money management workshops prior to the introduction of IM where it has not already commenced, and again after IM has commenced.  Money management workshops are tailored to the communities and provide basic budgeting support, and where necessary refer people to crisis support including emergency relief and financial counselling.  Participation in the workshops is voluntary and open to all members of the community.

Fifteen service providers (including three existing MoneyBusiness providers) were engaged to support income managed communities between February 2008 and June 2008 by delivering community education workshops. There are four MoneyBusiness Workshop Kit topics: Making the money last until payday, Planning for the future, How can banks help? and Credit can be a hazard.

Workshops have been delivered to people from approximately 40 communities. Delivery to some communities (in Cluster 2 North and Cluster 7 South) ceased prior to 30 June 2008 due to factors such as difficulties engaging staff, community engagement issues and transition to shire arrangements. Procuring qualified service providers willing to deliver the service within the timeframe proved challenging.   Ten providers have been extended until 30 September 2008 to enable sufficient time to engage with communities and deliver workshops.

It is important to ensure that IM is a step towards improved money management skills and does not lead to people becoming dependant on the assistance that Centrelink is offering through IM. To address this issue, the Government announced as part of the 2008-09 Budget that integrated money management services would be introduced alongside IM.

Future opportunities

At 30 June 2008, IM had been in place for almost one year. An ambitious schedule for the introduction of IM in communities limited the amount of time available for planning and systems design. All the agencies involved in implementing IM, especially Centrelink, have demonstrated sustained effort and commitment to providing a quality service to people on IM. Should the Government decide to continue IM following the outcome of the NTER Review, the next phase of implementation would allow for people to further adapt IM to their individual or family needs. Strategies to enhance people's understanding of IM and the choices it provides are also planned. It is anticipated that the introduction of the BasicsCard will also ease the pressures around store administration, customer choice and mobility.

The proportion of Indigenous people receiving welfare payments as their main form of income is high. If IM is to change the welfare paradigm in these communities, and this will take time, then it must be combined with economic opportunities for communities and pathways to employment. By itself, IM can only treat some of the immediate symptoms of passive welfare dependence by ensuring people use at least 50 per cent of their welfare payments for the benefit of their families. IM cannot fix substance abuse problems, chronic gambling or teach new parenting skills, but it has the potential to change incentives and individual behaviour with positive implications for children and families.

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Town camps

The Australian Government is committed to improving housing and other conditions in Aboriginal living areas located in or on the fringes of towns and cities (sometimes known as town camps).

Negotiations with Tangentyere Council in Alice Springs and Julalikari Council in Tennant Creek in relation to housing and infrastructure in the town camps were in train prior to the announcement of the NTER. The outcomes pursued were in line with key NTER objectives, in particular, securing land tenure arrangements to ensure better management of housing for Indigenous people and longer life span of houses. By the commencement of the NTER, negotiations in relation to Alice Springs town camps with Tangentyere Council had foundered, while negotiations with Julalikari Council regarding Tennant Creek were ongoing.

On 7 August 2007, Julalikari Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to sublease the town camps to the NT Government for 99 years in return for $30 million (comprising $20 million Australian Government and $10 million NT Government funding) for infrastructure and housing. The purpose of the Tennant Creek agreement was to see the town camps integrated as standard suburbs. Essential and municipal services were to be delivered by the NT Government and the relevant local government authority. Public housing was to be managed under the same principles as all public housing in the NT and home ownership opportunities were to be provided for individuals. Although the proposed term of the sublease was reduced to a 20:20:20 (total 60) year arrangement by agreement in May 2008, other aspects of the MOU remain current.

Discussions with Tangentyere Council regarding housing and infrastructure recommenced in early 2008. On 10 July 2008, an agreement was signed between the Australian and NT Governments and Tangentyere Council providing for an up to $50 million investment in Alice Springs town camps under 40-year government held subleases and $5.3 million transitional funding for housing upgrades in the town camps to be paid through Tangentyere Council.

Funding for both the Tennant Creek and Alice Springs agreements is included in a $793 million MOU signed by the Australian and NT governments on 18 September 2007. Under this agreement, the NT Government has agreed to take responsibility for the ongoing delivery of services in town camps.

Although the NTER legislation package confers significant powers on the FaHCSIA Minister to resume or acquire town camp leases, these powers have not been exercised to date.

NTER measures such as IM, alcohol and pornography restrictions were applied in the town camps. Town camps were not subject to all NTER measures and sub-measures, for example, night patrols and Community Clean-Up.

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Outstations

Outstations, also known as homelands, exist in various places throughout the NT. These small communities typically comprise traditional owner family groups which were established during the 1970s and 1980s. Since 1996, the Australian Government had been cautious about investment in new outstations or homelands.

While certain outstations are subject to some elements of the NTER such as IM, alcohol and pornography restrictions, where they are located within the 'prescribed areas' defined in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 they have not been the subject of substantial infrastructure or Community Clean-Up activity. Responsibility for outstations in the NT passed to the NT Government on 1 July 2008 under the $793 million housing and infrastructure MOU signed in September 2007. The MOU included $60 million over three years for outstation servicing.

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Viable Communities

While some communities, typically larger ones, are more economically sustainable than others, all of the 73 NTER communities require substantial government assistance to function. While few outstations have access to market-based economic activity, there are instances, particularly in Arnhem Land, where outstations are engaged in the market economy.

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22. The definition of humbugging in English is to deceive or to fraud. Wikipedia provides a definition of the Aboriginal meaning of humbugging which is "a term applied to various forms of begging and domestic violence in rural and remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. The term refers primarily to the practice of demanding money from relatives, often violently. A report in The Australian [Simon Kearny, 15 August 2007] described the practice as a regular occurrence, "deeply ingrained in Aboriginal communities." Humbugging typically takes the form of demands for cash, with wives and the elderly being particular targets". <http:en.wikipedia.org.wiki/humbug…(Aboriginal)>.

23. Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2008), Northern Territory National Emergency Response (NTER) Stores Post-Licensing Monitoring Report – Early Indications of Impact of Income Management in Stores, First 20 Stores, Canberra, http://www.facsia.gov.au/nter/docs/reports/monitoring_report.htm.

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Section 4: Supporting implementation and working across boundaries

This section describes the activities which underpinned and supported the implementation and whole-of-government working arrangements.

• Communication
• Community engagement and leadership
• Coordination
• Workforce
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

Communications

Communication has been a critical factor for implementation. The NTER Taskforce (NTERT) consistently identified communication as a priority issue.

The NTER has brought into sharp focus the intrinsic difficulties of communicating a series of complex and controversial measures across cultures.

Other factors impacting on communications included the sudden commencement of the NTER and accelerated implementation, which allowed no advance materials to be prepared. The caretaker period and change of government in late 2007 also affected communications activities.

Strategies and products

FaHCSIA developed two communications strategies, for the periods July-December 2007 and January-June 2008 respectively. A range of communications materials were produced including print and radio advertising; a four-page information magazine which also appeared as a newspaper advertorial; fact sheets; posters and postcards; and a flipchart and Powerpoint presentation for use by GBMs. Printed information for communities was distributed to GBMs and key stakeholder and community organisations through the Operations Centre.

Radio was the main focus of paid advertising. Advertisements were broadcast in English and selected Indigenous languages.

An NTER information line (1800 333 995), serviced by Centrelink, was established soon after the response was announced. An NTER page on FaHCSIA's website (www.fahcsia.gov.au/nter) provides access to fact sheets, progress updates and images.

NTERT leadership also undertook an active program of community visits, as well as regular engagements on Indigenous radio and other media. The NTER received wide media coverage in the NT, nationally and internationally.

Centrelink and the former Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) were active in communicating the measures for which they were responsible.

Administration and coordination

Responsibility for in-community communications and support for GBMs was devolved to the Operations Centre following an NTERT decision in November 2007. FaHCSIA's Communication and Media Branch assisted the Operations Centre and convened the NTER sub-group of the Communications Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (CWGIA) which met fortnightly in 2007 and has met monthly in 2008.

Research

In the period January 2008 to May 2008, elements of the communications strategies were reviewed in a project jointly funded by FaHCSIA and Centrelink. The research found that in general the NTER measures had not been communicated effectively and that face-to-face communications from a trusted source was preferred by people on the ground.

Future strategies

The research raised issues for the way policy is developed and implemented within remote Indigenous communities. The researchers recommend a more intensive and consultative community development approach, with more resources devoted to ongoing face-to-face communications. Improved consultation and engagement with communities would create a better fit between national priorities and local realities and assist in making communications meaningful to local people. These issues have been presented to the NTER Project Management Board (PMB).

An Indigenous Communications Coordination Group (replacing the CWGIA) has been approved by the NTER PMB to strengthen coordination on the ground.

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Community engagement and leadership

In the early months of the NTER there was comment from community members that government had not engaged with communities, that people felt that changes were being imposed on them, and that they had not been involved in shaping changes that would affect them.

In response to these comments and with a genuine desire to effectively involve individuals and communities, the Indigenous Leadership and Engagement Group (ILEG) in FaHCSIA delivered engagement workshops to 300 Indigenous leaders drawn from each of the communities involved in the NTER. The workshops conducted during the 2007-08 financial year were part of the NTER coordination measure.

The workshops were designed to provide participants with the opportunity to consider and discuss each of the NTER measures, as well as receive leadership development training to support their leadership roles in their communities.

The first phase (July 2007 to December 2007) targeted past and present participants from FaHCSIA's Indigenous Leadership Program and included regional workshops with the chairpersons and/or local community council members and other leaders in the NTER communities.

The second phase focused on established and emerging leaders from clusters of communities within each of the proposed new NT local government shires and included an additional emphasis on personal and community leadership.

The feedback from the workshops was positive, with widespread support for many of the specific NTER measures. However, concern was raised at every workshop about the manner in which the NTER was announced and implemented and the lack of consultation with, and involvement of, community members.

Specific information to come out of the workshops included:

• more communication and explanation about the emergency response and its measures would be welcome so people can understand what is happening and what is expected of them
• many participants raised concern about the lack of proper engagement with Indigenous communities over the design and implementation of the NTER
• there was a growing awareness and understanding amongst leaders of the importance of the community coming together and engaging in community planning - many participants sought support for this process
• the workshops highlighted a demand for leadership development particularly around vision setting and planning at both the individual and community levels.

This feedback has subsequently informed processes associated with consultation on the proposed Indigenous Representative Body, to ensure that the timeframe for consultation with Indigenous communities is sufficient to allow people adequate time to consider a broad set of options.

Additionally, the workshops identified the need for a greater investment in local input and effective engagement of local people in the design and delivery of NTER measures. The Australian Government has provided $3.8 million in 2008-09 as part of a new Community Engagement measure to facilitate greater engagement with, and involvement, of Indigenous people in the rollout of the NTER.

This measure will enable the employment of up to 20 Indigenous community members to act as full-time Indigenous Engagement Officers (IEOs). Their role will be to:

• provide feedback about NTER measures to communities and government
• promote the community's role in defining needs, setting goals, and formulating policies and plans
• work with community groups to bring about greater community input into government decision-making.

This measure also includes funds to improve interpreter services, which will facilitate Indigenous community members engaging with government in community meetings on complex issues, and promote understanding of the NTER measures.

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Coordination

As outlined in Section 2, the NTER has adopted a whole-of-government approach to ensure effective implementation of measures both immediately and in the medium term. The coordination arrangements supported this approach.

The NTER involved cross-jurisdictional coordination and working, for example, through use of interstate police to increase police numbers in remote communities. The NTER has also involved extensive coordination between Australian Government and NT Government agencies. It has progressively involved liaison, coordination and consultation with non-government organisations and Aboriginal community organisations.

Coordination occurred at several levels: policy development, planning, implementation and delivery. Intensity and high pace were features of policy coordination in the early stages to develop budget and legislation proposals. The Secretaries' Group on Indigenous Affairs established a sub-group to resolve policy coordination, tasking and synchronisation questions through discussion at several meetings in the first days and weeks after the NTER was announced. Over time, the policy development issues were addressed and policy development gave way fully to implementation.

Implementation of initial activities, logistics and subsequently the formalised measures and sub-measures was directed from the outset through the NTER Operations Centre. The calling of an 'emergency response' established a clear focus on and shared understanding of the NTER's primary purpose of protection of children and families, and a 'bias for action' which energised the many formal and informal task groups and networks supporting the NTER. In the early months, the Operations Centre drove implementation but as stabilisation was achieved, rollout of some measures was transferred to normal delivery structures and processes managed through agencies' NT offices and the Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs).

The weekly situation reports provided by the Operational Commander to the NTERT were an important and effective tool for keeping senior staff across all agencies and the NT Government informed of developments regularly, consistently and quickly. The situation reports, GBM re-calls, teleconferences and meetings were important in connecting people across agencies involved in the rollout.

While the NTERT and Operations Centre coordinated effort on measures, there was also a range of information coming back from communities; through visits, GBM surveys and quarterly monitoring reports and from service providers. Sharing information is essential to coordination but developing systems to capture this information is challenging. The NTER has provided an impetus to develop more systematic ways of collecting, capturing and analysing performance information including through the National Indigenous Information System being developed by FaHCSIA.

Information and communications technology and infrastructure was an enabler for cooperation, connectedness and coordination. Ensuring early and reliable access to these technologies in the field was a focus of early implementation.

The coordination arrangements for the first twelve months could be described as simultaneously centralised and decentralised. They were centralised in the early policy coordination and planning stages and through NTERT, the Operational Commander and the Operations Centre. They were decentralised in the field, that is, at the community level. This complexity of NTER coordination arrangements is similar to arrangements in emergency humanitarian assistance. They enabled fast paced implementation and quick local problem solving in the early stages.

The successful rollout of the NTER measures is due to a large extent to cross-agency, cross-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation.

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Workforce

From the beginning of the rollout of the NTER, the availability of people with relevant and appropriate skills and qualifications was recognised as a critical factor to the success of the response. There were also tensions between the need to mobilise a workforce quickly to meet the urgency of the response and also to ensure the implementation was conducted in a structured, orderly and considered manner. A key workforce management challenge for the NTER was to successfully balance these tensions.

Initially, workforce management focused on policing and this involved cooperation between federal, state and territory police organisations. In the first week of NTER operations, small teams were assembled to commence community engagement and area surveys in a number of communities across the southern half of the NT. The teams comprised FaHCSIA, DEEWR and Centrelink with logistical support from the ADF.

Early in the response, there was a call for staff across the Australian Public Service and for volunteers from the community. On 22 June 2007, a hotline was announced for people with relevant skills, such as medical or law enforcement skills, who were willing to volunteer their services. DoHA subsequently established a system for the registration of health professionals and provided a direct line for those health professionals seeking to assist in the delivery of CHCs. At the end of June 2008, this register included 1,050 health professionals.

FaHCSIA assisted with the staffing of the NTER Operations Centre by providing staff on the ground in Alice Springs very soon after the initial announcement. Staff were seconded from across Australian Government agencies in areas such as health, employment, education, social services and defence, and from the NT Government. Agencies also pulled teams together quickly to focus on NTER policy development and implementation.

Selection and deployment of GBMs on the ground proved slow in some instances due to the need to find candidates who fitted the demanding requirements of these jobs and because the rollout of accommodation was slower than anticipated. DEEWR faced the same issues in appointing CEBs.

Additional information on the role and responsibilities of GBMs and CEBs is provided in Appendix 3.

Due to the complexity of the NTER implementation, agencies sought experienced and resilient staff for NTER work particularly in the field. Centrelink, for example, did not recruit new staff but recruited internally and sought out staff who were experienced in working with people in remote Indigenous communities.

Care in recruitment and selection processes and attention to induction and orientation programs has minimised turnover. For example, only two of the 55 GBMs left their roles in the period to 30 June 2008.

In planning and monitoring the implementation of measures under the NTER Project Implementation Plan, workforce issues, and specifically recruitment and retention, have been identified as significant risks to success. Australian Government agencies are not alone in managing this risk. It is likely this risk is faced by the NT Government, NGOs and community organisations responsible for the bulk of front-line service delivery, for example, police, teachers, medical staff, and child protection workers in remote areas.

Continuing to effectively develop GBMs, CEBs and other field staff living in communities is an important factor in supporting remote communities. Further consideration is being given to how people in these roles are supported personally and developed professionally.

Personal safety and security in communities, availability of suitable and secure housing, and safety of vehicles and equipment are consistently reported as concerns to staff in the field.

As mentioned above, arrangements were put in place to register volunteers and some paid volunteers undertook work in communities, for example, doctors conducting child health checks. However, there were logistical and duty of care issues which could not be resolved satisfactorily and therefore engagement of other volunteers to work with communities has not been progressed.

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Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

The Australian Government is committed to ongoing whole-of-government monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the NTER led by FaHCSIA. The NTER draft evaluation strategy provides ongoing assessment of NTER through a staged approach that reflects the phases of the NTER, captures whole-of-government effort, and builds an incremental picture of progress against NTER outcomes.24

In the stabilisation phase, quarterly monitoring and progress reports were used to assess progress.  Monitoring in the first year included use of short-term measurable quantitative indicators to assess progress on the implementation of each measure.

Reporting within the NTER Project Implementation Plan framework is important to ensuring accountability and good management for each funded measure. Agencies report monthly to the NTER PMB which oversees the plan.

The NTER reporting arrangements are integrated with the quarterly reports to the CIU in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. These reports inform the Government of progress on implementation and the 'traffic light' system signals if there are emerging implementation problems.

It is too early to say whether these supporting arrangements have helped in tackling the 'wicked' (that is, complicated) public policy challenges that the NTER was aimed at addressing.25

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24. The draft NTER evaluation strategy has not yet been endorsed by the Government.

25. Australian Public Service Commission, 2007, Tackling wicked problems: A public policy perspective, Canberra <http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications07/wickedproblems.htm>.

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Section 5: Funding

Context

Commonwealth resources used in the NTER have come from a number of sources:

• specific NTER funding provided by the Commonwealth for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 years. A limited range of measures have had funding committed for future years. Overall almost $1.4 billion has been made available in specific NTER funding by the Commonwealth
• existing funding streams or resources of the Commonwealth that have been deployed as part of the NTER, for example, approximately $39.5 million in Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) funds were used to support the NTER. A quantification of the total existing resources used is not available.

While the NTER has been underway, normal government funding arrangements have continued to operate, providing services and resources to communities, for example, funding for health and municipal services and childcare centres.

Other new funding has also been committed to the NT by the Commonwealth to improve Indigenous outcomes, for example, $547 million over four years for the Australian Remote Indigenous Accommodation (ARIA) program for construction and upgrades of Indigenous housing and infrastructure and $28.9 million for new school boarding facilities over four years.

The NT Government has committed funding to a range of NTER associated activities as part of its Closing the Gap strategy. It has also diverted existing resources to support NTER measures in some cases.

Commonwealth NTER-specific funding provided

The Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (No.1) 2007-2008 and Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (No. 2) 2007-2008 were introduced into the Parliament and subsequently enacted. These Acts provided approximately $587 million in supplementary appropriations to Commonwealth agencies in support of the NTER in 2007-08.

Timing from decision and announcement of the NTER through to appropriation of the funds by Parliament was very short, only a matter of weeks. In light of this short time frame, funding was provided on a no win/no loss basis to agencies. It could be used only for the NTER with any unspent funds at the end of 2007-08 being returned to the Commonwealth Budget.

The Appropriation Acts provided funding for activities in 2007-08 that were being undertaken within the NT largely as part of the stabilisation phase. The need was identified as urgent and immediate and therefore funding was provided in this special legislation, outside of normal Commonwealth budget processes, to ensure that agencies had sufficient funds for necessary activities to be undertaken quickly to address the crisis. 

While the Appropriation Acts contained some funding for activities linked to the normalisation phase it was recognised that further funding would be required to address the longer term issues. 

In early 2008, the Commonwealth provided $313 million additional funding over five years for additional Australian Federal Police (2008-09 and 2009-10 only), additional teachers, employment measures and health measures (2008-09 and 2009-10). This funding to the AFP only paid for the officers' allowances and did not provide for the NT Police costs to support the deployment.

The 2008-09 Commonwealth Budget included $495.1 million in funding to extend the NTER measures for a further year. Longer term funding for the NTER measures has largely not been agreed by the Commonwealth. Further funding decisions are largely awaiting the outcomes of the NTER Review to provide input into the longer-term policy.

Table 2 at the end of this section summarises NTER-specific funding provided by the Commonwealth to date.

Commonwealth agencies were provided with up to three types of funding depending on the activities being undertaken within each measure:

• departmental funding – covered the operating costs of the agencies themselves, for example, costs of GBMs, cost of AFP deployment to NT
• program (or administered) funding – this is used for service provision and for costs of activities that impact on communities directly, for example, costs of establishing safe houses or operating night patrols in communities
• capital funding – for the purchase or construction of assets used by agencies in delivering the NTER, for example, temporary housing using demountables or containers for use by GBMs.

Commonwealth expenditure on the NTER to date

Expenditure over the 2007-08 financial year had a strong bias towards the second half of the year. This was due to the need to identify resources and deploy infrastructure before some measures could be ramped up.

For the seven months to 31 January 2008, total expenditure was $169 million or 28.7 per cent of the funds available. Actual expenditure at 30 June 2008 totals $466.63 million in expenditure or 79.5 per cent of NTER specific funds available. (Note: final year expenditure figures may change due to audit or other financial statements adjustments).

This has largely resulted from:

• an over-estimate of the costs of rolling out some of the NTER measures in light of the condensed time frame in which estimates were derived
• delays in implementation of the NTER measures including identification and deployment of workforce and lack of infrastructure in remote environments
• changes in government policy over the course of the NTER.

A summary of expenditure by measure by agency for the 2007-08 financial year is at Table 3.

Table 3 does not include costs absorbed by the Commonwealth from existing appropriations. These would include utilisation of existing agency staff to work on the NTER, most costs associated with community clean-ups which were funded from the CHIP and salary costs of the AFP.

Northern Territory Government funding

The NT Government has committed $286.43 million towards five year actions to implement its Closing the Gap strategy. This commitment includes:

• $79.36 million for child protection
• $38.61 million to implement the Remote Area Policing Strategy, community justice and other safety measures
• $10.11 million for alcohol and drug management
• $23.4 million to achieve better health outcomes
• $42.32 million for housing in Indigenous communities
• $70.68 million towards education
• $13 million to improve Indigenous employment and economic development
• $8.95 million towards better cross-cultural understanding and engagement in service delivery.

The figures included in the tables represent the resourcing amounts and may differ from the published Portfolio Budget Statements for each agency that reflect the fiscal balances.

Table 2: NTER BUDGET 2007-08 TO 2011-12 $M

Measure in 2007-08 Supplementary Appropriation		2008/09 Measures	Agency		2007-08 $m	2008-09 $m		2009-10 $m	2010-11 $m	2011-12 $m	5 Year Total
Supporting Families		Crèches	DEEWR		32.7	2.3					2.3
		Early Childhood Programs	FaHCSIA			0.4					0.4
		Playgroups	FaHCSIA			0.7					0.7
		Family Support Package	FaHCSIA			9.8					9.8
		Youth Alcohol Diversion	FaHCSIA			9.5					9.5
		Sub-total			32.7	22.7					55.4
Enhancing Education		Enhancing Education	DEEWR		24.4	19.1					19.1
		School Nutrition	DEEWR			7.4					7.4
		Greater Enrolment; + 200 Teachers (1)	DEEWR		3.8	11.6		20.0	29.0	34.4	98.8
		Sub-total			28.2	38.2		20.0	29.0	34.4	149.8
Employment and Welfare Reform		Further Welfare & Employment Reform	DEEWR		255.0	66.4					66.4
		Income Management – FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA			9.6					9.6
		Income Management – Centrelink	DHS			52.0					52.0
		Income Management – Debit Card Set Up	DHS			3.6					3.6
		Centrelink services and activities	DHS			6.1					6.1
		NTER – Flexible Funding – Special A/C	FaHCSIA		46.5	76.0		76.1			198.6
		Sub-total			301.5	213.7		76.1	0.0	0.0	591.3
Improving Child and Family Health		Follow Up Health Care	DoHA		83.1	13.6					13.6
		Improve Child and Family Health (1)	DoHA			45.5		54.2			99.7
		Sub-total			83.1	59.1		54.2	0.0	0.0	196.4
Promoting Law and Order		Indigenous Legal Aid	AGD		64.6	2.0					2.0
		Aboriginal Interpreter service	AGD			0.8					0.8
		Violence and Child Abuse Taskforce	ACC			4.2					4.2
		Night Patrol services	AGD			17.7					17.7
		Promoting Law & Order	FaHCSIA			11.6					11.6
		NTER – Promoting Law & Order (1)	AFP		0.0	9.2		9.3			18.5
		NTER – Night Patrol equipment (1)	AGD		3.9						3.9
		Sub-total			68.5	45.4		9.3			123.2
Coordination		Government Business Managers	FaHCSIA		77.6	36.5					36.5
		Leadership and Coordination Activities	FaHCSIA			33.4					33.4
		Community Engagement	FaHCSIA			3.8					3.8
		Accommodation in Remote communities	FaHCSIA			7.0					7.0
		Commonwealth Ombudsman Support	Omb Office			0.2					0.2
		Sub-total			77.6	80.9					158.5
Housing and Land Reform (2)		Housing & Land Reform (2)			85.0			–	–	–	–
		Sub-total			85.0	0.0					85.0
Total Funding					676.6	460.1		159.6	29.0	34.4	1359.6
(1) Funding approved at Additional Estimates
(2) Funding in 2008-09 for this Measure is provided via NTER Special Appropriation
Agency Acronyms
ACC	Australian Crime Commission			DHS			Department of Human Services
AGD	Auditor Generals Department			DoHA			Department of Health and Ageing
AFP	Australian Federal Police			FaHCSIA			Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
DEEWR	Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations			Omb Office			Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman

Table 3: Northern Territory Emergency Intervention Cross Agency Finance Report As at 30 June 2008

Agency	Measure	Employment and Welfare Reform $m	Promoting Law and Order $m	Enhancing Education $m	Supporting Families $m	Improving Child and Family Health $m	Housing and Land Reform $m	Co-ordination $m	TOTAL $m
Prime Minister & Cabinet	Original Approp (including capital)	-	0.30					0.60	0.90
Department								0.65	0.65
Ombudsman			0.77						0.77
Defence	Original Approp (including capital)	-	15.50						15.50
Department			12.30						12.30
Education, Employment & Workplace Relations	Original Approp (including capital)	104.00		24.4	4.20			-	132.60
Centrelink		4.97							4.97
Department		56.3		21.4	4.10				81.80
Health & Ageing	Original Approp (including capital)	-				82.9			82.90
Department						54.28			54.28
Human Services	Original Approp (including capital)	32.90				0.20			33.10
Department		3.76							3.76
Centrelink		12.77							12.77
Medicare						0.18			0.18
Attorney-General	Original Approp (including capital)	-	23.10						23.10
Department			14.60						14.60
AFP			5.20						5.20
ACC			5.37						5.37
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	Original Approp (including capital)	83.00	25.70		28.50		85.00	77.00	299.20
Department		6.56	30.10		24.27		75.99	53.15	190.07
Centrelink		50.80							50.80
IBA		29.11							29.11
Total Appropriation (full year)		219.90	64.60	24.40	32.70	83.10	85.00	77.60	587.30
Total Expenditure @ 30 June 2008		164.45	68.34	21.40	28.37	54.46	75.99	53.80	466.63

Exp 79.5%

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Section 6: Measuring impact

The NTER is just over a year old and a number of the measures are yet to be fully implemented. In addition, in assessing the outcomes of the NTER there is a need to be clear about what can be expected and when. Medium and longer-term results on many indicators are unlikely to be seen at this point in implementation.

While some policy interventions can have a significant effect in a year, this is the exception rather than the rule. Changing aspects of community functioning takes considerable time and is both complex and difficult to measure. The other key factor is that much data are not available at this time. For example, the results of the school literacy and numeracy tests undertaken in the NT since the NTER began are not yet available, nor is there any new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data on employment for Indigenous Australians in the NT since the NTER.

The first year of the NTER sought to protect children and make communities safe. Although all measures contribute to achieving this objective, some measures in this first year were directly targeted to this outcome. These include IM, licensing of stores, nutrition programs, community clean-up and housing repairs and law and order measures such as additional police, night patrols, safe houses, and alcohol and pornography restrictions.

While it is generally difficult to say much about outcomes at this stage, some outcome data are available, such as increases in employment and job opportunities. Other intermediate outcome data, such as school attendance and hospital separations, are also available. It has been possible to look at incidences of reported crime although it should be noted that these data are limited both because crime can be under-reported and because factors such as increasing the number of police can result in an increase in reported crime while the actual incidence of crime may have remained unchanged or have fallen. The conclusions from the available data are outlined in the monitoring report which is prepared by FaHCSIA with input from other Australian Government agencies and the NT Government.

Further information is available through the Government Business Manager (GBM) Survey available on the FaHCSIA website at www.fahcsia.gov.au. The GBM survey complements available data. The survey was designed and analysed by a survey design specialist, TNS.

As part of developing a longer-term strategy for evaluating the NTER, FaHCSIA has commissioned the ABS to identify key outcome variables for the assessment of NTER impact on outcomes over a longer time frame.

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Section 7: Looking to the future - developments in the policy context

• Council of Australian Governments: closing the gap and the building blocks
• Social Inclusion Agenda
• National child protection framework
• State developments (Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia)
• Indigenous economic development strategy
• Housing
• Alcohol, substance abuse and smoking
• Taxation review

To assist the NTER Review Board in its thinking around the NTER and directions for the future, this section briefly outlines some key developments that are shaping the Indigenous Affairs policy landscape in the NT and more broadly.

Council of Australian Governments: Closing the Gap and the building blocks

In December 2007 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) established a Working Group on Indigenous Reform (WGIR). The WGIR is chaired by the FaHCSIA Minister, with Deputy Chairs from the ACT and the NT. The focus of the WGIR is on the achievement of a number of objectives aimed at closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. The six Closing the Gap targets are:

• close the 17 year life expectancy gap within a generation
• halve the gap in child mortality (children under 5) within a decade
• halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade
• halve the gap in Indigenous attainment of Year 12 education (or equivalent level) by 2020
• halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade
• provide all Indigenous four year olds in remote communities with a quality preschool program within five years.

The WGIR is working with other COAG working groups to ensure that the new Commonwealth/State agreements, national partnerships and reform proposals help to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.  The Government has asked all COAG working groups to ensure that their proposals reduce the Indigenous disadvantage gap.

At its 3 July 2008 meeting, COAG agreed in principle to a National Partnership with joint funding of around $547.2 million over six years to address the needs of Indigenous children in their early years. COAG further agreed to consider in mid 2009 a progress report and advice about the contribution of COAG's broader reform agenda to overcoming Indigenous children's disadvantage. COAG also requested that the WGIR, in conjunction with other working groups, report to COAG in December 2008 on how COAG's broader reform agenda will deliver an integrated strategy on closing the gap for all Indigenous people. 

The WGIR is developing the following reform proposals at the request of COAG for consideration at the 2 October 2008 meeting:

• basic protective security from violence for Indigenous parents and children
• remote service delivery and workforce planning
• economic participation and active welfare.

In order to meet these targets, the WGIR has developed a reform model comprising seven strategic platforms, or 'building blocks,' to be pursued:

• Early childhood: Substantial investment in early childhood services is needed so that children are capable of learning and developing. To perform well at school, children need early learning, development and socialisation opportunities that enable them to begin school with the mental and attitudinal capabilities to learn. Pre-school access, parenting skills and adult literacy and numeracy are key.
• Schooling: Ensuring that Indigenous youth meet basic literacy and numeracy standards, and promoting improvements in the overall levels of literacy and numeracy, are essential to Indigenous young people successfully transitioning from school to work and/or further study.
• Health: Improved health outcomes are needed to support educational attainment and workforce participation. Children need access to primary health services from birth (and before). It is more difficult to bridge the health outcomes gap for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children if action is delayed.
• Economic participation: Parents and other adults need to have real jobs to the extent possible, creating positive role models and building the capacity to invest in their children's future. Also, welfare needs to promote healthy environments, enhanced capability and positive social norms. Incentive structures need to be embraced by individuals; encourage engagement; reward success, active participation and investment in own skills and children's future; and remove/reduce perverse incentives that sustain dependency and hinder mobility.
• Healthy homes: Children's living environments need to support learning. Children who are living with their families need quality accommodation free of overcrowding, with 'space' for homework/study. Children who have to live away from home need suitably supportive boarding or other accommodation arrangements.
• Safe communities: Children cannot develop in their early years or subsequently perform at school if their home and community environments are not safe. Therefore, Indigenous mothers and children, in particular, need to be protected from violence, abuse and neglect. This will involve improving community safety (in areas such as justice, victim support and child protection) and addressing the underlying causes of violence (for example, alcohol).
• Governance and leadership: Strong local leadership is needed to champion education. Community leadership needs to legitimise aspirations by children and by parents for their children. In many communities this will mean legitimising the role of women as leaders, while also building the self esteem of men to avoid destructive behaviours.

In working to achieve the goals that it has set, COAG has called for reform proposals, drawn from the seven building blocks, to create the environment necessary in Indigenous communities to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

The collection of measures undertaken as part of the NTER provides a clear link to the building blocks for Indigenous reform. In the short-term, the measures are aimed at securing the safety and well-being of Indigenous children. In the longer-term, the measures implemented will focus on improvements to community safety and improving health, education and employment outcomes.

For example, the improving child and family health measure that has provided child health checks and medical follow-up and treatment provides a practical approach to contribute to the health and early childhood development building blocks.

The Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative (EHSDI) will assist in closing the life expectancy gap by increasing the delivery of primary health care services to remote NT Indigenous communities. The Australian Government has committed $99.7 million to expand health service delivery in remote NT Indigenous communities over the next two years from July 2008.

This initiative is expected to impact on the level of ill-health and disease in NT remote Indigenous communities by delivering long term, sustainable improvements in the NT primary health care system. Implementation is being done in collaboration with Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance NT (AMSANT) and the NT Department of Health and Families (DHF). It will provide for the delivery of expanded regionally based primary health care services in remote NT Indigenous communities, to support more efficient and comprehensive primary health care.

To assist the delivery of increased primary health care services a Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) is being established as part of this initiative, to supplement the recruitment efforts of Aboriginal Medical Services and DHF. The RAHC agency will have a strong focus on the recruitment of urban-based health professionals to provide increased primary health care through job sharing, fly-in/fly-out and other outreach arrangements targeting priority health needs for Indigenous people of all ages.

Another example is the crèche component of the Supporting Families Measure. This initiative will have positive impacts on disadvantaged Indigenous children and families in the Northern Territory by increasing access to and engagement in early childhood education and care. Access to early childhood programs will contribute to improved whole of life outcomes generally as young children who are exposed to early learning opportunities have a smoother transition to school and employment related activities and better outcomes. Additional outcomes for children and families are facilitated through linkages and referrals to other programs through the child care platform.

The commitment by COAG to pursue the building blocks reform framework means that future investment in the NT will be built around these strategic platforms in order to reach the COAG closing the gap targets.

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Social Inclusion Agenda

On 21 May 2008, the Social Inclusion Board met for the first time. The Board's role is to provide advice to the Government on effective, practical solutions at the level of government, local communities of service providers, employers, families and individuals themselves and to make recommendations on policy that could change the lifetime circumstances of jobless families and children at risk.

The Prime Minister spoke at the Board's first meeting on the need for and significance of the Government's social inclusion agenda, including that the Government wants to act on causes, not symptoms, to achieve concrete measurable outcomes, through programs and services that work and make a difference. In particular the Prime Minister identified the potential to work through early intervention, building and adapting services to meet individual needs, no more one size fits all; building capability and lifting skills through education and training, and building partnerships with business, communities and local organisations to foster ground-up solutions.

The Government has identified closing the gap for Indigenous Australians as one of the early priorities for the social inclusion agenda. FaHCSIA is leading the Australian Government's work on closing the gap.

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Child protection framework

As part of its election commitment the Australian Government has taken the lead in developing a National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children.  Recognising the importance of this issue, the Commonwealth has moved quickly, working in partnership with State and Territory Governments and community sector.  The Commonwealth developed a discussion paper, Australia's children: safe and well – A national framework for protecting Australia's children, which was released by Minister Macklin on 25 May 2008.  The discussion paper identified six key areas of focus, one of which was improving responses for Indigenous children in the child protection system. 

The discussion paper has also been used to develop and guide intensive consultations on the potential shape of a national framework for protecting Australia's children, and on possible actions by governments and the community sector organisations which would contribute to the framework.  Specific consultations have focussed on how to improve responses to Indigenous children.  These consultations have involved State and Territory governments, Indigenous groups, non-government organisations working with Indigenous children and families, out-of-home care systems and Indigenous kinship carers.  Young Indigenous people who have left the out-of-home care system have also been consulted.

FaHCSIA has received over 200 written responses to the discussion paper, coming from State and Territory Governments, the community sector, academics and the general public.

The framework will be practical and based on partnership with State and Territory Governments and the non-government sector to protect all children.  FaHCSIA will use the learnings from the review of the NTER to inform the development of the framework.  COAG has asked that Community and Disability Services Ministers provide the national framework for their consideration in December 2008.

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State developments – Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia

Queensland

The NTER Review Board has requested information on the operation of the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) which has been established as part of the Cape York Welfare Reforms.

The FRC has responsibility for issuing income management notices (IM notices) to Centrelink in Cape York.  IM is only one of a range of actions that the FRC may use to intervene early to encourage members of the welfare reform communities to adopt more socially responsible standards of behaviour.

The Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 (FRC Act) (Qld), which is a Queensland law, sets out the legislative parameters for the FRC.  The Act provides for FRC decisions to be the result of conferences involving three commissioners (the Commissioner and two local commissioners).  The decisions of conferences are based on the majority vote of two members.

Community members may be notified to the FRC for issues regarding school attendance and enrolment, child safety and wellbeing, unlawful activity and tenancy breaches. The aim of the FRC is to assist and encourage community members to take action to address the issues that have lead to their notification. Community support services regarding alcohol and drug abuse, mental health issues, family violence, gambling, parenting and family budgeting will be available to assist community members in this regard.

When considered necessary, the FRC will attempt to come to an agreement with relevant community members about attending support services to assist them to address their issues. However, if a person is unwilling to come to such an agreement, the FRC may direct the person to attend services. Where the safety and wellbeing of a person's family is of concern, the FRC may direct that the person's income be managed by Centrelink to ensure that the priority needs of their family, such as food, clothing and shelter, are met. It is intended that the FRC will only make decisions to subject a community member to IM as a last resort.

IM notices issued by the FRC will contain information about the name and address of the person to be income managed and the period for which IM applies (at least 3 months and no more than one year) and may contain directions or recommendations about the proportion of the person's welfare payments to be income managed.

The FRC has the discretion to issue IM notices for part or all of a person's entitlement.  The FRC Commissioner, Mr David Glasgow, has indicated that he intends to issue IM notices for either 60 per cent of fortnightly payments and 100 per cent of lump sum payments, or 75 per cent of fortnightly payments and 100 per cent of lump sum payments, depending on the circumstances in which the notice is issued.  In line with legislation, the FRC Commissioner has authority to vary the percentage in consultation with local commissioners. 

A person may approach the FRC to request an early termination of their IM notice.  The FRC may do this only if it is not detrimental to the best interests of children or other vulnerable people in the community.

Sections 105 to 109 of the FRC Act allow the Commissioner to enter into a voluntary agreement and to issue a notice about IM for a community member, if approached to do so by that community member.  The FRC Commissioner may terminate an IM notice resulting from a voluntary agreement, if requested to do so by the person, provided he is satisfied doing so would not be detrimental to the best interests of children or other vulnerable people in the community.

Further information and links to relevant Australian and Queensland Government legislation are at Appendix 4.

Western Australia

Welfare reform initiatives are also being undertaken in cooperation between the Australian Government and the Western and South Australian Governments in relation to recent reports on remote communities in those states. In the Kimberley region and the Cannington area of Perth, a trial beginning in 2008-09 will give State protection authorities the power to recommend to Centrelink that income support and certain payments to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are managed for the benefit of their children.

As part of this initiative families will be assisted in developing budgeting and money management skills. Families experiencing difficulties in managing their money will have voluntary access to IM.

South Australia

In response to the Mullighan report (May 2008), the Australian Government has committed to work with the SA Government to protect children in the APY lands. Since the release of the report, the Australian Government has made the following funding and other commitments in response to its recommendations:

• $15 million to build a third police station at Mimili and housing for the eight extra police and five more child protection workers that will be posted by the State Government in communities in the APY Lands. This is in addition to the Commonwealth's existing commitment of $7.5 million over two years for construction of two police stations and accommodation at Amata and Pukatja
• offer of demountables to the SA Government to house police officers on the APY Lands, while permanent facilities are built (the offer includes conversion, transportation and installation of the demountables and is expected to cost around $700,000)
• $2.8 million for 30 additional places for secondary students in the APY Lands to go to the successful Wiltja Residential Program, linked to Woodville High School in Adelaide
• $1.3 million over three years allocated to APY Lands under the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program to aid the recovery of people severely affected by mental illness, and help connect them to essential services
• $300,000 to the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement in SA for the provision of civil assistance to criminal matters on the APY Lands in anticipation of increased demand arising out of the Mullighan Inquiry
• appointment of an Executive Coordinator to lead the Australian Government's response on the APY Lands and engage with Anangu leaders, the State Government and other key stakeholders.

The Australian Crime Commission has been asked to consider the findings of the Mullighan report and make recommendations for action to its Board. This will be in the context of its work in leading the National Indigenous Intelligence Taskforce.

In addition, in August 2007, the previous Commonwealth Government offered the SA Government $25 million for new houses and to upgrade a number of existing houses on the APY lands.  The $25 million funding offer requires the SA Government to manage existing and new community housing as public housing and ensure Anangu people have the opportunity to be trained and employed in jobs relating to housing services including construction, repair and maintenance and tenancy management. Negotiations are currently underway with the SA Government and communities on the APY Lands regarding the offer.

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Indigenous economic development strategy

The Commonwealth Government is currently developing its Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (IEDS). The strategy will be finalised before the end of the year.

The overarching objective of the IEDS will be to promote economic participation of Indigenous communities and individuals by improving Indigenous employment, business and wealth creation opportunities. The IEDS will be a key driver for halving of the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians over the next ten years.

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Housing

In relation to housing, the Australian Government is investing $813 million in remote Indigenous housing and infrastructure in the NT, including $793 million over the next four years as part of a joint agreement with the NT Government.

Under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program, living conditions for 80 per cent of people in targeted communities will be improved. This will include:

• around 750 new houses including new subdivisions
• more than 250 new houses to replace houses to be demolished
• over 2,500 significant housing upgrades
• essential infrastructure and improvements in living conditions in town camps.

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Alcohol, substance misuse and smoking

The socio-economic disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Australians places them at greater risk of exposure and vulnerability to health risk factors such as smoking and alcohol misuse, and exposure to violence. However socio-economic disadvantage alone does not explain all of the differences in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Many of the risk factors associated with chronic disease are behavioural.

The Australian Government is making a significant investment in addressing Indigenous substance use through recent Council of Australian Government (COAG) initiatives targeting drugs, alcohol and tobacco, recurrent funding for substance use services and investment under the NTER.

This investment includes:

• $49.3 million over four years for additional drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services in regional and remote Indigenous communities (COAG 2006)
• a further $49.3 million over four years for Indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment services, particularly in remote areas (COAG 2007 Closing the Gap Measure)
• $14.5 million over four years for the Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative to help reduce the high rates of tobacco consumption in the Indigenous population (Closing the Gap Measure)
• recurrent funding to support Indigenous substance use services across Australia through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Substance Use Program ($27.621 million in 2007-08)
• an initial allocation of $11.4 million for drug and alcohol services under the NTER and a further $2.6 million for 2008-09 under the Closing the Gap – NT – Follow Up Care Measure to continue drug and alcohol services implemented under the NTER.

The Australian Government recognises the important role of family and community in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to make the behavioural changes required for long term recovery, and the need for treatment and support services to be culturally appropriate.

New service delivery models incorporating substance use services within the primary health care setting in the NT have been developed in consultation with the NT Department of Health and Families and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory. The models encompass the spectrum of care from community based counselling and education, residential rehabilitation and treatment services, to aftercare services which support transition back to community.

Priority areas for future funding to support these models are increasing workforce and providing professional development opportunities, increasing capacity of rehabilitation and treatment services and developing and implementing models for transition aftercare.

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Taxation review

On 13 May 2008 the Australian Government announced the review of Australia's tax system. The review will look at the current tax system and make recommendations to position Australia to deal with the demographic, social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

The review will consider improvements to the tax and transfer payment system for individuals and working families. This will include consideration of the relationships of the tax system with the transfer payments system and other social support payments, rules and concessions, with a view to improving incentives to work, reducing complexity and maintaining cohesion. Consultations will be undertaken as part of the broader review.

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Appendix 1: Measures and sub-measures

MEASURE: Promoting Law and Order

Sub-measures:

• Increased police presence in remote communities
• Australian Crime Commission (National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Taskforce and Child Abuse Desk)
• Alcohol, drugs and pornography restrictions
• Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Services
• Expansion of Northern Territory Night Patrol Services
• Additional Legal Services for Indigenous Australians

MEASURE: Improving child and family health

Sub-measures:

• Child health checks and medical follow-up and treatment
• Child special services
• Drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services

MEASURE: Supporting families

Sub-measures:

• Childrens' services and family support (including crèches and child care services upgrades)
• Child at risk workers for NT child protection services
• Safe place for families escaping family violence
• Youth alcohol diversionary services

MEASURE: Enhancing Education

Sub-measures:

• Additional classrooms
• Scaffolding literacy (Accelerating Literacy Program)
• Quality Teaching Package
• School Nutrition Programs – breakfast and lunch program

MEASURE: Welfare reform and employment

Sub-measures:

• Welfare reform including income management and community stores
• Increased participation activities for people on income support in remote areas (including Remote Area Exemptions and Work for the Dole)
• Community Employment Brokers1

MEASURE: Housing and land reform

Sub-measures:

• Five year lease program
• Urgent repairs to infrastructure
• Community clean-up
• Permits
• Government Business Manager housing

MEASURE: Coordination

Sub-measures:

• Taskforce role
• Government Business Managers
• Community engagement (including Leadership Development) and volunteering programs
• Commonwealth Ombudsman support for the NTER
• Logistical support (including temporary accommodation, telecommunications and vehicles)

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Measure: Law and order

Sub-measure: Increased police presence in remote communities

What are we aiming to do?

As part of the immediate emergency response, to increase policing levels in NTER communities, including requesting secondments from other jurisdictions to supplement NT resources, funded by the Australian Government.

Why are we delivering this?

The Gordon Inquiry report and the Senate Petrol Sniffing report identified the need for police in communities to secure law and order.2,3 This has been reiterated in the LCS report in respect of NT communities.4 The Valentin report identified a level of additional police required in NT communities.5

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and State police forces have provided additional police officers. The additional police are working closely with NT police and are under NT police command. The additional police have NT police powers.

The costs of the additional police and the incidental cost to the NT of administering these police are being met by the Australian Government.

What has been achieved?

Since the NTER started in June 2007, an additional 51 police (33 AFP & Interstate police & 18 NT Police), in 18 remote communities, have been deployed. The stations are typically staffed by one NT Police Officer and two State or Australian Federal Police (AFP) Officers.

Additional AFP Officers were first deployed to the NT in July 2007 with the first interstate police (Queensland) deploying at the end of August 2007. Tasmanian, New South Wales, South Australian and Victorian police progressively deployed over following months with Victoria the last to deploy early in 2008. The periods of deployment were for six months except NSW where it was for four months. As interstate police have completed deployment, they have been replaced with AFP police who are progressively building up to a total commitment of 66 officers.

The absence of infrastructure in remote communities delayed the rollout of the additional full-time police presence in communities in some cases. The NT Police, funded by the Australian Government, have put in place temporary infrastructure to provide office, housing and custodial facilities. The additional stations in the south of the NT generally became operational earlier than the northern stations as a result of infrastructure issues. Before infrastructure was available, the additional police would visit the communities including, where possible, staying overnight.

State and AFP Officers deployed to the NT as part of the NTER are under the operational control of the NT Police Commissioner.

Locations of the additional stations and the dates they began full-time operations are as follows:

Alpurrurulam	20/12/2007
Arlparra	11/07/2007
Bulman	18/11/2007
Galiwinku	12/11/2007
Gapuwiyak	14/01/2008
Haasts Bluff	11/07/2007
Imanpa	11/07/2007
Minjilang	30/01/2008
Minyerri	24/12/2007
Mutitjulu	5/07/2007
Numbulwar	17/09/2007
Nyirripi	11/07/2007
Peppimenarti	10/12/2007
Ramingining	21/01/2008
Santa Teresa	11/07/2007
Warrawi	22/02/2008
Willowa	18/07/2007
Yarralin	26/11/2007

The additional police in communities has resulted in the reporting of additional crimes and other incidents.

A number of other communities without a police station have requested that a full- time police presence be located in their community. It is worth noting that:

• 15 communities that do not have a police presence are located half an hour or less from a community that has a police station6
• 18 communities have a THEMIS station7
• 15 communities have a permanent police presence which was in place prior to the commencement of the NTER.

Next steps

The Australian Government has recently agreed to fund a substance abuse intelligence desk and additional sniffer dog unit in the north of the Territory. This follows the success of the southern substance abuse intelligence desk based in Alice Springs which was established two years ago as part of the Integrated Petrol Sniffing Strategy.

Funding has been provided in the Australian Government Budget for 2008-09 for support for activities linked with changes to alcohol and pornography laws, assistance to the NT Police in managing the deployment of AFP and supporting the additional police stations. Funding has also been provided for the AFP for 2008-09 and 2009-10 to deploy 66 officers to the NT for remote policing and the child abuse taskforce.

Sub-measure: Australian Crime Commission (ACC) (National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Taskforce (NIITF) and Child Abuse Desk).

What are we aiming to do?

The NIITF is providing its key stakeholders such as Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies with an enhanced understanding of crime in Indigenous communities and what is driving that crime. This is achieved through the following objectives:

• improving national coordination in the collection and sharing of relevant information and intelligence
• enhancing national understanding about the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities
• providing related intelligence and other advice, including on organised criminal involvement in drugs, alcohol, pornography and fraud
• conducting research on intelligence and information coordination and identification of good practice in the prevention, detection and responses to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.

Why are we delivering this?

The NIITF was authorised by the ACC Board on 13 July 2006. This followed a resolution by the Australasian Police Ministers' Council to establish the Taskforce to address issues raised by the Intergovernmental Summit on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities. The Taskforce, led by the ACC, is being resourced jointly by the Commonwealth and states and territories and includes involvement of the AFP, some state and territory jurisdictions and the Australian Institute of Criminology.

How are we delivering this?

NIITF operations are underpinned by a coordinated program of community visits, undertaken in close consultation with local authorities. National and regional level consultative arrangements have been and will continue to be established, where possible, utilising existing structures.

NIITF liaises extensively before and during visits to communities with its partner law enforcement and government agencies, and consults closely with stakeholders including Indigenous leaders, women's groups, health and education workers, police, government officials and community members in collecting information and intelligence.

Making contact with Indigenous groups and individuals in communities to obtain information is undertaken with sensitivity to the local circumstances and all staff involved in the NIITF undertake cultural awareness training.

Deployments are coordinated to ensure a broad national geographical and cultural representation of communities.

Activities are being coordinated by the NIITF operational head, based in Alice Springs, with support from the ACC and jurisdictional staff working from Darwin and other ACC offices. The NIITF has developed operational relationships with the NTERT and NTER operations centre, which involves regular meetings, briefing GBMs and liaising with the NT Police.

Through this approach the NIITF has established a comprehensive intelligence collection capability which underpins the analysis in intelligence assessments and advice to government.

Child abuse desk

In 2006-07, the ACC received seed funding under the NTER to scope the establishment of a national child abuse desk (CAD) that would be accessible by all state/territory law enforcement agencies and key Commonwealth Government agencies. 

Child Abuse Taskforce

Note: The Child Abuse Task Force is an initiative of the NT Government and was expanded under its Closing the Gap response to the LCS Report.

What has been achieved?

Since it began operations in December 2006 to 28 August 2008, the NIITF has made 166 community visits to 124 communities nationally. The Taskforce has also conducted 65 visits to 43 different towns/regional centres.

In total, over the period December 2006 to 28 August 2008, in line with its information sharing objective, the NIITF has made:

• 447 disseminations to law enforcement and government agencies (102 of these have been disseminated to NT agencies and the NTERT)
• over 1,067 reports have been uploaded onto the Australian Criminal Intelligence Database (ACID), over 450 of which have related to the NT
• eight comprehensive intelligence products have been produced on situations or persons of interest and provided to NT departments.

Over this same period a Special Intelligence Operation focussing on National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse (SIO-IVCA) was approved by the Board on 5 February 2008 under amendments made to the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 as part of the NTER package of legislation. The use of special powers will be reviewed in December 2008. The initial focus of the SIO-IVCA has been in the NT.

ACC examinations have been conducted in Alice Springs and Darwin between May and July 2008. Examinations in the NT will continue and examinations will be held in NSW, QLD, WA and SA over the coming 12 months.

The outputs from this approach include:

• evidence based advice to government and key stakeholders regarding the nature and extent of crime and related social issues in Indigenous communities
• enhanced understanding of what drives crime in Indigenous communities
• enhanced understanding of the efficacy of measures and policies that relate to crime and related social issues in Indigenous communities
• a national information sharing capability through the establishment of a dedicated component of ACID that collates all intelligence reports in the database relating to crime in Indigenous communities
• comprehensive research that underpins advice to government and adds significant value to the scholarship in this area.

Next steps

NIITF is continuing its comprehensive collection strategy which is focusing on specific crime and socially related issues in a cross-section of remote, regional and urban regions of Australia. This approach has been informed from intelligence gathered by the NIITF over the last two years.

NIITF's intelligence collection strategy will continue to be complemented, where appropriate, with the ACC's coercive powers. This will result in comprehensive intelligence products which will underpin informed advice to government and partner agencies on crime and related social issues in Indigenous communities, in priority regions in Australia. These products will contribute to the evidence-based approach of the Government's Closing the Gap strategy.

Sub-measure: Alcohol, drugs and pornography restrictions

What are we aiming to do?

To introduce widespread alcohol restrictions and to reduce the availability of 'pornography' in the 'prescribed areas' as defined in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTNER Act).

Why are we delivering this?

The LCS report found a strong association between substance abuse, particularly alcohol, and the sexual abuse of children.

The consequences of alcohol abuse for Indigenous Territorians are extraordinarily damaging. The Australian Government has imposed significant alcohol restrictions on Aboriginal land. These restrictions were intended to help stabilise communities.

The LCS report also referred to community complaints of pornography being available to children in communities.

How are we delivering this?

In August 2007, legislation was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament to ban the sale, possession, transportation and consumption of alcohol. The ban commenced on 5 August 2007 with penalties applying from 15 September 2007.

Legislation was also passed in August 2007, banning the possession or supply of X 18+ films, restricted publications, Refused Classification material and unclassified material likely to be at these levels. This involved amendments to the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Classification Act) contained in the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory Emergency Response and Other Measures) Act 2007. The bans commenced on 14 September 2007.

The alcohol and pornography restrictions apply in relation to 'prescribed areas' which is defined in section 4 of the NTNER Act and covers a broad region including, including 55 communities, 82 community living areas, and 45 town camps.

Under the NTNER Act, the Commonwealth FaHCSIA Minister may declare by legislative instrument that additional areas are 'prescribed areas'.

Alcohol

In the prescribed areas there is a ban on people possessing, selling, transporting and drinking alcohol.

In the whole of the NT, liquor licensees and their employees are required to ask people purchasing liquor to show identification, and provide their name and address and ask the purchaser where the liquor is proposed to be consumed and record the name and address of that place, if the purchaser buys:

• $100 or more of take-away alcohol; or
• more than five litres of wine either in a single container, or two or more containers of at least 2 litres each.

Penalties and offences under the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (NTNER Act)

The penalties and offences of the NTNER Act prohibit the consumption, possession, supply and transportation of liquor in prescribed areas, unless a person has a liquor permit or is drinking in licensed premises.

Harsher penalties apply (maximum fine of $74,800 or 18 months in gaol) for more serious offences involving 1350 ml or more of pure alcohol (for example, 3 cartons or more of light strength beer). These offences are designed to stop the large scale trafficking of illegal alcohol into prescribed areas, and profiting from the vulnerability of Aboriginal communities.

Much lower penalties apply for offences under 1350 mls (maximum fine of up to $1,100 for a first offence or $2,200 for a second and subsequent offence), reflecting the desire of the Australian Government to divert people away from the criminal justice system and into health and rehabilitation services.

Signs

The NT Government was responsible for implementation, however, due to the tight timeframes and complexity involved, the project has been managed by FaHCSIA staff in FaHCSIA's NT State Office.

At the start of the project, the urgent nature of the work did not allow time for consultation with stakeholders. As the project has continued, stakeholders, including Indigenous communities have been engaged on a range of matters including the placement of signs, wording and declaration applications.

There has also been significant public education undertaken, including production of posters and fliers explaining the alcohol bans and restrictions, radio advertisements in English and in language and face-to-face consultations by FaHCSIA NT State Office (NTSO) staff and GBMs in communities.

Licensing Inspections

Under the NTER, the Australian Government provided funds in 2007-08 to employ eight out of a total of 12 new licensing inspectors. The primary objective of the positions is to provide liquor regulatory and compliance services to targeted rural and remote areas, with a particular focus in the prescribed areas.

In line with the funding agreement, the inspectors are expected to visit all prescribed communities, providing outreach services from regional offices in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. The licensing inspectors will provide an important on-the-ground resource in the prescribed areas and will work closely with the GBMs, police and other agencies to monitor ongoing compliance with the alcohol provisions of the NTNER legislation. FaHCSIA is putting in place a formal process for continuing information exchange on emerging issues identified during the licensing inspectors' site visits and their potential impact on the ongoing operation of the Act.

FaHCSIA NTSO has also been involved in research projects to explore solutions for long-term management of alcohol as a complement to the NTNER Act initiatives. A research project is being undertaken by the Australian National University in three communities, Elliott, Epenarra and Canteen Creek, to engage the communities on alcohol issues they experience or have experienced and potential solutions.

Restrictions on licensed premises in prescribed areas

Since October last year, the trading conditions of licensed premises in prescribed areas were changed to apply the following restrictions:

• limiting alcohol sales to mid strength and light beer only

• prohibiting trading during the middle of the day

• limiting trading days to 4 days a week, and 3 hours a day where licensees agree to make substantial (i.e., hot) food available

• prohibiting all take-away alcohol sales.

Eleven licensed premises are currently operating in the prescribed areas. Complaints have been received from some licensees arguing that the restrictions have led to a loss of income, of up to $10,000 a week in some cases. The NTNER Act makes no provision for private enterprises to be compensated for loss of business arising out of any of the measures of this Act.

Separate restrictions have been imposed on the "wet-mess" licenses of mining and gas pipeline operations in prescribed areas. These include liquor being sold only in open containers, all liquor to be consumed within the confines of wet-mess licensed areas, and companies agreeing that removal of liquor from the wet-mess area will be grounds for an employee's instant dismissal. These restrictions have generally been agreed, with only two licensees asking the Minister for a relaxation of the requirement to sell liquor in open containers. Both requests were rejected.

The NT Government is developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to tackle alcohol misuse.

Pornography

To facilitate the immediate removal of prohibited material, police are able to seize material found in prescribed areas where a police officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the material is prohibited. Seizure of potentially prohibited material maybe made without obtaining a court order or conviction.

Police must still obtain a warrant or consent to enter and search premises. Seized material may be returned, on application, where the responsible police officer, or a magistrate, is satisfied on reasonable grounds that it is not prohibited material. If the material is not returned, it is forfeited to the Commonwealth and must be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

The Attorney-General's Department (AGD) received additional funding of $15,000 in 2007-08 from FaHSCIA to fund travel by AGD staff and education materials to support a 'pornography' education campaign. In August 2007, AGD officers attended several workshops in the NT at the request of the NT Government. These workshops were held in major NT centres to seek ideas about how an education campaign on classification could be developed and presented to communities. AGD initially provided an outline of a community education program and then provided additional information. AGD also provided a 'train the trainer' package on the new laws to the NT Police College. Following the workshops held in August 2007, the Department provided information and participated in the development of an education campaign. The campaign was launched in Darwin on 3 March 2008.

AGD continues to liaise with FaHCSIA and NT Police on operational issues under the relevant provisions of the Classification Act.

During October 2007, and at the request of the NT Government, an officer from the Community Liaison Scheme, a joint initiative of State, Territory and Australian Governments and located within the AGD, visited 44 locations including roadhouses, petrol stations, video stores and restricted premises (that is, adult shops) in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Darwin and Nhulunbuy to assess compliance with classification laws. A restricted premises in Alice Springs was referred to NT Police for potential breaches of classification legislation. Meetings were also held with the NT Police and ACC's NIITF.

AGD provided advice and assistance for radio and print advertising, call centre scripts, cards and posters, a Question and Answer document and factsheet and signage.

In February 2008, an officer from the Community Liaison Scheme delivered several presentations (in Alice Springs and Darwin) to NT Police, the ACC, FaHCSIA and the AFP on the National Classification Scheme including the NTER laws.

In February 2008, AGD drafted a seizure notice for NT Police to use in seizing material under section 107 of the Classification Act.

Legislation for the restriction of R18+ programming transmitted by pay television services in prescribed areas is currently before the Parliament.

The first audit of publicly funded computers in the NT took place on 2 June 2008. 264 organisations were contacted in relation to the 2 June 2008 audit. These organisations were required to complete the audit, or provide a declaration that the computers referred to are not ordinarily situated within a prescribed area. These responses were due within 14 days, however due to the remote location of many computers and organisations there were delays in receiving responses in many cases.

At 30 June 2008, responses were still being received and collated.

What has been achieved?

Alcohol

There have been some anecdotal reports that some communities are quieter. Information on alcohol sales and consumption and alcohol related incidents is not yet available.

Pornography

As at 14 May 2008, the Commonwealth DPP has confirmed that five offences under section 101 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (possession or control of level 1 prohibited material in prescribed areas) have been referred from the NT Police. As at that date, only one matter has gone to court. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined $500.

As at 7 May 2008, the NT Police advised that they have handled seven cases - one case resulted in a fine, two other cases have been adjourned and there are a further four cases before the court. (All of these cases relate to offences under section 101).

The legislation is currently before Parliament that will permit the possession, supply or intended supply of prohibited material in a prescribed area if the sole purpose for bringing the material into the prescribed area is to transport the material outside the prescribed area.

The first audit of publicly funded computers commenced on 2 June 2008. The collation of audit material and compliance recording is currently underway.

The audit had significant value in relation to the requirements around internet filters, raised awareness regarding appropriate computer usage and the requirement to run the FaHCSIA provided audit software.

Next steps

NT Police has been funded to produce a multimedia DVD providing consistent information on the NTNER legislation targeted to police, licensing inspectors and others charged with the enforcement and management of the alcohol and pornography provisions. Police have also been funded to undertake research on possible collaborative approaches with the NT Licensing and Regulation Division on joint surveillance and enforcement relating to licensed premises in prescribed areas.

Sub-measure: Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Services

What are we aiming to do?

To provide access to interpreting services for Indigenous people who interact with the justice system.

Why are we doing this?

The implementation of specific law and justice measures under the NTER has created a heavy demand on the existing resources of Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Services (NTAIS).

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Government, through AGD, jointly funds the NTAIS with the NT Government. This funding is specifically focused on improving access to interpreters for legal assistance service providers in the NT funded by AGD.

In recognition of the increase in demand for interpreters as a result of the NTER, AGD received $800,000 for the 2008-09 financial year.

The NTAIS is a NT Government body. Funding is allocated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Australian and the NT governments for the purchase of additional interpreter services from the NTAIS.

What has been achieved?

The NTAIS has conducted a number of recruitment drives and recruited additional staff to assist with the demanding schedule resulting as a consequence of the NTER. The NTAIS has also conducted training workshops relating to income management in communities throughout the NT. The workshops have included a 3-day Induction/Centrelink Interpreter Training Session.

NTAIS has reported a significant increase in the use of interpreters, and the use of interpreters by Australian Government officials continues to be promoted.

Next Steps

The following challenges have been identified by the NTAIS: recruitment and retention of interpreters, the lack of literacy and numeracy skills of potential interpreters, and the need for accredited interpreters for legal proceedings.

The NTAIS is working with Government agencies and communities to arrange recruitment drives and training of interpreters. The NTAIS has also reported that they are considering options to assist with accreditation.

Sub-measure: Expansion of NT Night Patrol Services

What are we aiming to do?

The aim of NT Night Patrol Services (NPS) is to assist people at risk of either self-harm, or causing harm to others or becoming victims of harm.

Why are we delivering this?

Night patrol services were recognised from the outset in NTER planning as essential to promoting law and order. The LCS report considered night patrols to be important for law and order in communities and recommended the development of violence management strategies based around existing services and infrastructure available to run night patrols, safe houses and other related services available to territory communities.8 Prior to the NTER, the AGD had funded 23 night patrols in 2007-08. A 2003 evaluation of NPS provided a generally favourable assessment of the effectiveness of night patrols in reducing the level of contact of community members with the criminal justice system and as an adjunct to, but not a replacement for, policing.9

How are we delivering this?

The Commonwealth AGD is responsible for implementing this sub-measure and has entered into funding agreements with service providers in the NT Government shire council regions to establish and manage the services. The service providers are responsible for undertaking community consultations to identify individual community safety needs and develop the most appropriate service for that community, recruiting and training night patrol staff, and managing operation of the night patrols.

Prior to the NTER, NPS in the NT were usually an identified Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program activity, with night patrols staffed by CDEP participants. Until the announcement of the NTER in June 2007, the AGD funded night patrols in NT communities through its Prevention, Diversion, Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice (PDRR) program.

Under NTER measures, AGD was required to establish night patrols in 50 additional Indigenous communities to ensure all 73 NTER communities had night patrol services. AGD developed an Implementation Strategy for the expansion in November 2007. The Implementation Strategy also foreshadowed an evaluation of the 2007-08 expanded NPS.

AGD identified NT local government reforms as an opportunity to deliver NPS through a regional administrative framework, or 'hub and spoke' model. Regional night patrol manager positions were created to support the delivery model and manage relationships between shire councils and communities.

Key tasks of a regional night patrol manager include:

• regularly consulting with communities on appropriate safety measures
• identifying and sourcing employment and training requirements
• managing and developing NPS in accordance with AGD's operational requirements (outlined in the AGD interim Operational Framework 2007-08 and the Operational Framework 2008-09).

AGD and the NT Government agreed on the terms of Performance Funding Agreements (PFAs) to facilitate service delivery. PFAs were entered into with the MacDonnell and Central Desert Shire Councils on 20 December 2007, the West Arnhem and Tiwi Island Shire Councils on 23 January 2008, the Barkly and Victoria Daly Shire Councils on 24 January 2008, the East Arnhem Shire Councils on 30 January 2008 and the Roper Gulf Shire Council on 13 March 2008.

On 12 January 2008, NT Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, announced that the Top End Shire would not be included in the NT local government reforms. Two NTER identified communities, Belyuen and Acacia Larrakia/Batchelor, are located in this region. AGD sought alternative arrangements for implementation of night patrols in these communities and signed a funding agreement with a private provider Ironbark (NT) Employment and Training Inc in March 2008.

AGD received supplementary funding of $11.048 million in the Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Act (No. 1) 2007-2008. As part of this appropriation, $8.486 million was provided to extend the night patrol program to all 73 NTER communities.

The $8.486 million in funding for the NT night patrol service is comprised of $8.211 million in administered funding and $0.275 million to cover departmental costs associated with the expanded program. As at 9 May 2008, all funding had been committed.

The establishment of night patrols has been delayed in some communities due to:

• difficulty in recruiting staff while community members are uncertain about the future of CDEP in their communities
• delays in obtaining suitable night patrol vehicles, with delivery not expected to occur in some regions until September 2008
• lack of existing infrastructure within communities for night patrol services.

Service providers are working to overcome these difficulties, for example by promoting the benefits of 'real jobs' over CDEP, and operating foot patrols in some communities until vehicles are available.

Service providers have submitted operational plans for establishing night patrol services in the NTER identified communities. These plans outline the strategies in place to effectively establish night patrols, risks and risk mitigation strategies, and proposed timelines to deliver the services.

What has been achieved?

As at 15 August 2008, 46 night patrols were operational in communities with 27 in the consultation phase. The consultation phase involves service providers initiating primary discussions with community members, establishing night patrol bases and recruiting night patrol workers.

Next steps

An evaluation of the implementation of the expanded night patrol services in the NT in 2007-08 by AGD and the service providers is planned to be undertaken in the 2008-09 financial year. The evaluation will contribute to further risk identification, capacity building and evidence to improve the NPS effectiveness.

Consistent performance measures for all NPSs across the NT, including in those communities not identified by the NTER, have been applied in the 2008-09 PFAs. These agreements are being negotiated with service providers.

Sub-measure: Additional Legal Services to Indigenous Australians

What are we aiming to do?

To meet the legal assistance needs of Indigenous people in the NT arising from the NTER.

Why are we delivering this?

Indigenous legal aid providers, the NT Legal Aid Commission and Community Legal Centres require funding to meet the additional demand for legal assistance created by the emergency response. This assistance targets high need clients (for example, women, domestic violence victims, Indigenous males or females).

How are we delivering this?

Indigenous legal aid service providers employ lawyers and field officers to address demand for services, meet the increase in referral rates and meet the service delivery needs of rural and remote Indigenous communities. Additional staff located with services in Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin will provide outreach services to rural and remote Indigenous communities.

AGD received $2 million for the 2008-09 financial year to address urgent and unavoidable demand arising from the emergency response. This funding provides additional capacity for providers of legal aid services to respond to the needs of Indigenous people in the NT arising from the emergency response.

AGD is funding the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd (NAAJA) and Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service Inc (CAALAS) to deliver a Welfare Rights Outreach Project. The project will provide early dispute resolution services to divert Indigenous people away from the legal system by providing information and advice on their social security rights in relation to NTER measures.

What has been achieved?

The anticipated increase in prosecution of child sex offences has not occurred. Services do report increases in prosecutions of teenagers for under-age consensual sex cases and increased prosecutions by police of traffic offence matters.

Alcohol management issues have been a significant area of demand for additional services. ATSILS have put significant resources into explaining to clients how the laws in regard to alcohol management have changed and that the police have additional powers which are not open to being challenged.

Services have reported increasing demand for legal assistance in the area of welfare rights issues as a result of the new income management arrangements.

Next Steps

Consideration is being given to possible extension of outreach service visits to regional and remote Indigenous communities to provide community legal education and legal assistance services in line with identified community needs. The provision of services will be assessed to ensure it is responsive to actual areas of increased demand for services compared to what was originally anticipated to be the legal assistance impact of the NTER.

Welfare rights

An evaluation of the Welfare Rights Outreach Project is planned to be undertaken in the 2008-09 financial year. The evaluation will look at the effectiveness of the Project in providing expert legal advice, assistance and advocacy to Indigenous Australians affected by the significant social security changes included in the NTER.  The evaluation will also seek information from service providers on the efficiency of Centrelink and social security policies and their implementation in the communities.

Consistent performance measures for the Welfare Rights Outreach Project have been applied in the 2007-08 PFAs.

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Measure: Improving child and family health

Sub-measure: Child Health Checks and medical follow-up and treatment

What are we aiming to do?

To provide voluntary child health checks (CHCs) and follow up treatment to Indigenous children under 16 years of age in the NTER communities. The aim of the checks was to detect, treat or refer children for clinically significant problems.

Why are we delivering this?

The CHC initiative was based on existing health checks that are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 15 years or under through Medicare (Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) item number 708). The MBS 708 health checks were introduced prior to the NTER and have continued in parallel.

The MBS 708 Child Health Check (CHC) was developed by DoHA in conjunction with NACCHO, RACGP and was listed on the MBS in May 2006.

The purpose of this check is to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children receive the optimum level of health care by encouraging prevention, early detection, diagnosis and intervention for common and treatable conditions that cause considerable morbidity and early mortality.

The CHC aims to regularly assess a child's health and physical, psychological and social function, and determine what preventive health care, education and other assistance should be offered to that patient or the patient's parents/carer, to improve the patient's health and physical, psychological or social function.

The justification for this is the disparate burden of disease, exposure to other life stress events and social dysfunction that Indigenous children experience as compared to non-Indigenous children.10 The detection of health problems and/or risk factors at an early stage, through regular assessment enables effective early intervention to reduce the impact of the health problem.

The CHC provides an avenue to proactively identify issues and develop a plan of management for health, social and emotional well-being as identified from the check.

How are we delivering this sub-measure?

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is responsible for implementing this sub-measure. The initial focus under the Child Health Check and Follow-up sub-measure was on the delivery of CHCs in the NTER communities.

DoHA established the Northern Territory Emergency Coordination Centre (NTECC) to coordinate the delivery of the CHCs. NTECC was responsible for:

• recruiting and deploying paid health professional volunteers in CHC teams
• arranging training, clinical and personal support and debriefing for all CHC team members
• arranging the acquisition and transportation of all medical supplies required by CHC teams
• liaison with ADF to arrange logistics support for deployed CHC teams
• liaison with the NTER Operational Command Centre to ensure coordinated scheduling of CHC team deployments
• establishing and implementing a data collection and reporting system.

A database of health professionals interested in volunteering to participate in the delivery of NTER CHCs was established by NTECC to support the coordination of workforce supply to the initiative. As at 30 June 2008, the database included 1,050 health professionals who had registered their interest in participating in the NTER.

Most of the checks were conducted by teams recruited and deployed by the Australian Government. The teams were made up of a doctor, up to three nurses and administrative support workers working in conjunction with local health services. Where possible, each team comprised members of both genders and included team members with skills in paediatrics and Aboriginal health.

Local health services contributed to the compilation of community surveys, which were used to inform the scheduling of CHC team visits and infrastructure requirements, i.e. clinic and staff accommodation for visiting teams. Local health services were also engaged to provide access to each child's medical records to ensure the health check teams were informed of each child's medical status/background and there was no duplication of previous health check activity (through, for example, CHCs, the Growth Assessment and Action Program or the Healthy School Aged Kids checks).

Community meetings were undertaken prior to or upon arrival of CHC teams to explain the purpose of the CHCs and to clarify any misconceptions regarding the provision of CHCs under the NTER, i.e. CHCs being used as a screening tool for sexual abuse. Departmental Liaison Officers travelled with the CHC teams to each community and spent a day or two facilitating engagement between the CHC teams and communities.

A number of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHOs) undertook to provide CHCs directly or in conjunction with teams deployed by the Australian Government. Both ACCHOs and NT Department of Health and Families (DHF) have, and will continue to, provide CHCs throughout the follow-up phase and beyond.

The first CHC team was deployed on 10 July 2007 and the final CHC team directly deployed by the Commonwealth finished on 14 June 2008. Within this timeframe, 102 CHC teams were deployed, involving over 260 paid, volunteering health professionals, to 49 communities and 15 town camps across the NT (including between 1 and 8 deployments to some communities). CHCs will continue to be provided by local health services across the NT.

Child Health Check Follow-Up Services

Follow-up services are being delivered by existing health services in the NT rather than by teams deployed directly by the Australian Government. DoHA is providing additional funding to DHF and ACCHOs to deliver the follow-up services required as a result of the CHCs, as well as CHCs for those children who did not receive one in the first phase.

Initial data gathered by the CHC teams indicated that the follow-up care requiring the greatest resourcing was primary health care follow-up, specialist hearing and ear, nose and throat (ENT) services and specialist dental services. This data formed the basis of the planning for the follow-up health services.

Initial planning for the delivery of follow-up services highlighted that the most effective way of delivering primary care follow-up services was:

• with the support of the existing primary health care service delivery infrastructure in the NT, mainly through DHF and ACCHOs
• to apply findings of the CHCs to inform the type and extent of follow-up services required.

Extra resources were therefore made available to local health service providers to ensure the capacity to provide follow-up care. Resources enabled the acquisition of additional workforce, clinical and administrative supplies and clinic and staff accommodation.

Primary Health Care Follow-up

Funding has been provided by the Australian Government to ACCHOs and DHF for the delivery of primary health care follow-up services across the NT. Primary health care follow-up has commenced in all regions and will continue in 2008-09. DoHA has provided assistance with the acquisition of infrastructure required to deliver the follow-up care and the supply of potential workforce for employment by local health services. At 30 June 2008, 69 health professionals had been referred by DoHA to health services for consideration for employment.

To aid in the coordination of referrals, the existing Paediatric Liaison Unit in Alice Springs Hospital has been coordinating the follow-up of referrals from CHCs in Central Australian communities. The Australian Government contributed funding to a new Paediatric Liaison Unit in Darwin which has been coordinating follow-up services for children in the Top End.

Hearing and ENT Follow-up Services

DHF is being funded to deliver hearing and specialist ENT follow-up services across the NT. Implementation is staged, with services commencing in the Central Australian region and now progressively rolling out to other regions.

Non-surgical specialist hearing and ENT services are generally provided through local health centres and surgical services are provided in regional hospitals. DHF arranges all of the travel and accommodation of children requiring surgery, and their carers.

Oral Health Follow-up Services

DHF is being funded to deliver the majority of oral health follow-up services. A number of ACCHOs are also being funded to deliver oral health follow-up. Non-surgical dental follow-up services are generally provided through local health centres and surgical services are provided in regional hospitals. DHF arranges all of the travel and accommodation of children requiring surgery, and their carers.

What has been achieved?

Child Health Checks

Between July 2007 and June 2008, over 260 health care professionals were involved in the provision of 9,428 CHCs across the NT. This represents an estimated 55 per cent coverage and is comparable with other voluntary screening programs.

An estimated 2,000 MBS Item 708 CHCs were also provided to Indigenous children in the NTER communities through the usual care provided by primary care services. In total, approximately 11,200 children aged under 16 years in the NTER areas received a comprehensive CHC, representing a 66 per cent coverage rate.

Follow-up service delivery has now commenced in all regions through existing service providers. Both child health checks and follow-up services will continue during 2008-09. The major impediments to the rollout of the CHCs and follow-up were local infrastructure to support an increased workforce, particularly accommodation for clinical work and staff housing, and workforce availability. These were targeted for action in 2008-09 and will continue to be a focus of attention for the next two years under the new Expanding Health Service Delivery measure.

The Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: Health Conditions and Referrals11 report (the 'Progress Report') describes the number and types of health conditions identified during the CHCs as well as the number and types of referrals made as part of those health checks. The report provides detailed and comprehensive information on child health, at the regional level and by age groups, collected during the CHCs and which has been used to plan and manage referrals and will assist in planning future health strategies.

The most recent data (currently unpublished at August 2008) on health conditions identified through 8,227 CHCs shows the following:

• Smoker in household. Over three in four (76 per cent) children were identified as living in a household with a smoker.
• SIDS risk factors. 72 per cent of children aged less than 1 year were at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) due to bed sharing, 32 per cent of children were at risk due to soft sleeping surfaces and loose bedding, and 23 per cent due to prone sleeping.
• Oral health issues. 44 per cent of children were found to have an oral health issue, with the most common issue being untreated caries (affecting 41 per cent of children).
• Ear disease. Just under one in three (30 per cent) children were found to have ear disease.
• Respiratory. 38 per cent of children had a history of recurrent chest infection.
• Immunisations were due for 16 per cent of children.
• Skin sores. 31 per cent of children were identified as having a skin problem, with skin sores and scabies being the most common problem specified (affecting 10 per cent and 8 per cent of all children respectively).
• Physical growth. Growth was found to be faltering in 16 per cent of 0 to 5 year olds, 12 per cent of all children were wasted (i.e. light for their height), 10 per cent were underweight (light for their age), 5 per cent of children between the age of 2 and 15 years were overweight (heavy for their height) and 4 per cent of children were stunted.

Referrals and treatment

Primary health care (PHC) clinic follow-up. Health teams indicated that just under two in five (39 per cent) children who received a health check required a PHC clinic follow-up.

Dental referrals were made for 34 per cent of children.

Other referrals. Twelve per cent of children were given a paediatric referral, 13 per cent received a referral for tympanometry and audiology, 8 per cent a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist, and 3 per cent were referred to a cardiologist or for cardiac investigations. 0.6 per cent of children have been referred to the Department of Health and Families, Family and Children's Services Division.

Number of referrals per child. Two out of three children (69 per cent) were referred for at least one type of follow-up service.

Provision of vaccination. Overall, 6 per cent of children received a vaccination during their health check.

Child Health Check Monitoring and Evaluation

DoHA has established two key pieces of infrastructure for the monitoring and evaluation of the Child Health Check Initiative (CHCI):

• a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DoHA, Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services (NT DHCS), Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
• the CHCI and follow-up data collection.

The CHCI data collection, including the production of the progress report above, is managed by AIHW. DoHA is undertaking data collection on the extent to which follow up services are being received. This data base is still being developed and data is not yet available.

The overall objective of the shared work program under the MOU is to measure the implementation of the NTER CHC initiative and its impact on, and outcomes for, the target population.

Monitoring and evaluation will be based on the data collected through the CHCI and follow-up, as well as data from other sources which can be linked with those CHCI data within the scope of consent provided by CHC recipients. The evaluation will be undertaken by an independent expert.

Next Steps

Child health check follow-up services will continue into 2008-09 to ensure that all children receive the follow-up care they require. Ongoing health care, including annual access to child health checks (as specified in the MBS Child Health Check) will be better integrated into service delivery through local health service providers.

The Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative ($99.7 million over the next two years) will provide increased capacity for local health service providers to build and sustain the enhanced focus on child health achieved through the first twelve months of the NTER.

Sub-measure: Child special services

What are we aiming to do?

To provide specialist counselling and support services for Aboriginal children and their families dealing with the affects of child abuse and trauma.

Why are we delivering this?

The LCS report referred to the need to support children who have suffered abuse related trauma and to also provide support to families. LCS recommended the expansion and upgrade of the Sexual Assault and Referral Centres in the NT and the development of victim and community assault programs.

How are we delivering this?

DoHA is responsible for implementing this sub-measure.

The Child Special Services sub-measure aimed to build on existing services for children and families suffering the effects of child abuse and trauma, provided by the NT Government and the Aboriginal community controlled health sector. The sensitivities inherent within this issue have meant that negotiations on agreed approaches were unavoidably lengthy.

The approach agreed between the Australian and Northern Territory Governments involved the expansion of the existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres to include a Mobile Outreach Service to Aboriginal communities to deliver counselling services to children, families and communities who have suffered trauma from child abuse.

Two project approaches were also agreed with Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Congress) in Alice Springs:

• the scoping phase of a Healing Model of Adolescent Sex Offenders which will involve community education and engagement in Yuendumu. Recruitment of personnel and initial community engagement activities are underway; and
• A Male Health Summit to provide a forum for Aboriginal men in Central Australia to discuss issues associated with violence and abuse and to explore positive methods to address these issues.

What has been achieved?

The Child Special Services implementation proceeded following analysis of existing service delivery and extensive consultation with NT Government and non-government stakeholders. The development and delivery of the new Sexual Assault Referral Centre Mobile Outreach Service (MOS) from April 2008, together with funding secured for a further four years is a major increment to service availability of this type.

A Mobile Outreach Service is now being delivered in communities where the Sexual Assault Referral Centre had not previously had a presence. Services are being provided by professionals who are part of the development team working on a service delivery model for children and families in communities. A professional consultant has been appointed to provide expert clinical input and staff supervision and development.

Congress was funded to host a Male Health Summit, 'Taking care of our children' to explore ways to address child abuse related trauma and related health issues and their impact on victims, families and communities. The Summit was held from 30 June to 3 July at Ross River Resort, 85km from Alice Springs and was attended by over 400 Aboriginal men. A report of the Summit outcomes has been presented to the Australian Government.

Next steps

The Mobile Outreach Services will continue to deliver services in 2008-09. Negotiations are currently underway with the NT Government to undertake an evaluation of the NT Sexual Assault Referral Centres Mobile Outreach Service to inform the enhancement and expansion of the program.

Sub-measure: Drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services

What are we aiming to do?

To expand Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) treatment and rehabilitation services across the NT to support individuals and communities affected by the new alcohol legislation.

Why are we delivering this?

It was anticipated that the new alcohol restrictions would increase the demand for alcohol withdrawal, treatment and rehabilitation services across the NT.

How are we delivering this?

DoHA is responsible for implementing this sub-measure. In November 2007, a working group consisting of membership from AMSANT, NT DHCS and the NT and Central offices of the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) was established to oversee the implementation of this measure.

Initial activities focused on providing immediate support to individuals and communities affected by the alcohol legislation through:

• the provision of detoxification beds at both Katherine District Hospital and Tennant Creek Hospital
• the deployment of specialist medical teams at both Katherine District Hospital and Tennant Creek Hospital for an initial six week period
• increasing the bed capacity of selected residential rehabilitation services
• the provision of professional resources including a 1800 national clinical advice line and dissemination of the Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians.

Feedback from the sector following the implementation of the initial package of activities indicated that there was not a significant increase in demand for detoxification services in the acute setting. There was, however, an increased demand for treatment and rehabilitation services across the regional centres of the NT, and subsequent activities under this sub-measure aimed to build the capacity for service delivery within this setting.

These activities included:

• the deployment of AOD Outreach Workers to selected primary care services and substance use services
• the appointment of an NT based AOD Clinical Director
• increased capacity of selected sobering up shelters
• provision of drug and alcohol training and education for both drug and alcohol, health and community workers
• health promotion activities including community education.

Funding for dedicated detoxification hospital beds at Tennant Creek and Katherine District hospitals continued until 30 June 2008.

Agreement has been finalised with NT Government for the funding of hospital-based support workers at selected hospitals, including Alice Springs, Darwin, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Gove.

What has been achieved?

Twenty-eight AOD outreach personnel (including Registered Nurses, local Indigenous Community Support Workers, one Social Worker and one sessional GP) have been engaged in selected primary care and substance use services.

Workers are supported by the NT-based Clinical Director who also provides clinical advice to the sector more broadly.

A broad range of community health promotion activities and professional education has been delivered to communities and services across the Territory. Expansion of selected residential rehabilitation services and a sobering up shelter has been finalised.

Next steps

AOD services will continue in 2008-09. An evaluation of the AOD program will be undertaken to measure the achievements made through the program and to inform the ongoing improvement of service delivery models.

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Measure: Supporting Families (including crèches and child care services upgrades)

Sub-measure: Childrens' services and family support

What are we aiming to do?

Providing existing services with additional funding and funding new Early Childhood Program services in the NT priority communities will provide assistance to more families and children, including increased coverage in outlying areas.

This will be achieved by the establishment of up to 10 new crèches and upgrades for up to 16 existing crèches with identified urgent health and safety concerns.

Why are we delivering this?

The provision of a range of options and programs to support parenting skills through the early childhood years assists in laying a foundation for capacity building within the family, which leads to greater capacity of the individuals and the community as a whole.  Experience shows that early childhood programs and playgroups provide a place where children can socialise through play, and parents can share ideas and gain information in a supportively organised and routine environment.  Such initiatives also provide opportunities for other service providers to introduce their services to families in a more relaxed and natural setting.

New crèches are being established in communities with little or no early learning and child care services for children under 5 years. The 10 new crèches in Indigenous communities will provide Indigenous families with young children access to early learning programs for the first time. Services will also facilitate linkages with other services such as material health, child health clinics, school and parenting services.

How are we delivering this?

Australian Government funding has been provided for:

• Additional playgroups ($859,000)

• 2 new Intensive Support Playgroups

• 3 new Locational Supported Playgroups.

• Expansion of current Early Childhood Programs ($400,000)

• Additional funding to current Indigenous Children Programme (ICP) - Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS) Inc. ($70,000)

• Additional funding for 3 Invest to Grow projects: Core of Life's 'Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding and Early Parenting Program' ($100,000); Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation (NPY) Child Nutrition Program ($130,000); and Let's Start – Exploring Together for Indigenous Preschools ($100,000).

• Establishment of up to 10 new crèches and upgrade of up to 16 existing crèches at a total cost of $4.2 million
• New crèches are being established in Milikapiti, Peppimenarti, Lajamanu, Robinson River, Yarralin, Docker River (Kaltukatjara), Areyonga and Timber Creek. Lajamanu opened on 11 August 2008
• Creche upgrades have been completed in Nyirripi, Ntaria and Santa Teresa
• Creche upgrades will be undertaken in Arltarlpitta/Atitjere (Harts Range), Warruwi, Pirlangimpi, Maningrida, Wugularr (Beswick), Minjilang (Mamuruni), Gapuwiyak, Borroloola and Minyeri.

What has been achieved?

Additional Playgroups – Intensive Support Playgroups - Sites and service providers have been identified and approved for Tennant Creek and Katherine. Funding agreements have been finalised and service delivery has commenced. Locational Supported Playgroups – Three sites have been identified and approved. They are Numbulwar, Milingimbi and Yuendumu.

ICP – CAAPS: Initial funding agreement from 1 January to 30 June 2008. Funding was used to purchase a licence for Jubudah program which teaches children about their feelings and how to deal with them. Staff were trained to deliver the program and it was incorporated into the Indigenous Children Program. Twenty-one children 0 to 8 years and 15 parents/caregivers were assisted by the program.

Invest to Grow: Funding was provided to expand three projects: Child Nutrition Program, Core of Life and Let's Start and agreements began in January 2008. Achievements for the period January to June 2008 include:

• Child Nutrition Program: Intensive family support, advocacy, coordination and case management and nutrition rehabilitation for 11 children and their families (existing clients) and new referrals for 10 more children at risk. Also 18 nutrition education sessions have been provided to 75 participants.
• Core of Life: five community forums and needs analysis conducted in Wadeye, Groote Eylandt, Darwin, Alice Springs and Tiwi Islands. Facilitator training conducted in Groote for 12 participants, with facilitator training scheduled for Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Mutitjulu, Alice Springs and Wadeye between May and July 2008. Training resources are being developed for each community involving local images and artwork to increase local ownership.

Challenges: Core of Life uses multidisciplinary teams and the time constraints of service providers in some communities and wet weather led to a delay in delivering some training sessions.
• Let's Start has been laying ground work and developing contacts with target communities in preparation for running programs. Let's Start is a ten week program for preschool children and their parents, which includes parenting management sessions for parents, parent-child interaction sessions and children's social skills learning in a children's group. The program also includes training for local early childhood personnel.

Creches:

• first new crèche opened on 11 August 2008 – remaining new crèches to open progressively to March 2009.
• payments to establish seven additional new crèches have been made.
• three upgrades to existing crèches are complete.
• payments made for an additional six upgrades.
• in 2008-09 three additional upgrades are under development.

Next steps

Additional Playgroups: Intensive Support Playgroups (ISP) - agreements are now in place to 30 June 2009 and service delivery continues. Activity reports due in October 2008. Locational Supported Playgroups (LSP) - Work has commenced to undertake a selection process to identify service providers for the three LSPs. It is expected that the selection processes and approval of service providers will be completed in late 2008 with service delivery commencing in early 2009.

ICP – CAAPS: Service delivery will continue. Funding has been approved to 30 June 2009 and new agreements are being negotiated. A progress report is due 1 February 2009 and the final report is due 15 May 2009.

Invest to Grow: Service delivery will continue. Funding has been approved to 30 June 2009 and new agreements are being negotiated. The first performance reports are due in February for the period July to December 2008, and final progress reports are due in late May 2009. In all three projects, service delivery will be similar to that provided in the reporting period January to June 08.

Creches: Construction continues to establish new crèches and upgrades. A process is under development to secure providers for new crèches. Basic child care skills training is underway in communities where a new crèche is being established.

Sub-measure: Child at risk workers for NT child protection services

What are we aiming to do?

Consistent with recommendations of the LCS report, increase the number and capacity of child protection and Remote Aboriginal Family & Community Workers (RAFCWs) in remote communities.

Why are we delivering this?

The LCS report recognised that as a consequence of greater focus on child protection issues, increased media coverage, and the NT Inquiry Board's proposal for more professional and community education, there would likely be increased reporting of suspected sexual abuse (and other maltreatment). A boost to the resourcing of child protection services and health and family support services would be needed to cope with and respond effectively to this demand. The LCS report recommended that the numbers of child protection workers be increased and there be enhanced training and support for workers, and more strategic and planned investment in local community workers.12

How are we delivering this?

The Family Support Package allocated funding in 2007-08 to supporting families and children in the NT including establishing a Mobile Child Protection Team of 10 to 12 workers and recruiting thirteen RAFCWs to be placed in remote communities.

Mobile Child Protection Teams

Families and Children's Services NT will establish a team of ten child protection practitioners, plus a coordinator and an administrative officer to deliver a Mobile Child Protection Team. The team will work closely with local support services, RAFCWs and police to support families and communities and will investigate reports of child maltreatment and neglect. The mobile team will be based in Darwin and will be available to service the NT Regional FACS offices including Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and surrounding remote communities.

Remote Aboriginal Family and Community Workers

Funding has been provided to the NT Government to recruit 13 RAFCWs plus two regional coordinators to provide a link between families, local services and regional services, particularly child protection. The workers will have a primary role of linking services to children, young people and their families in a culturally appropriate way to reduce the risk of harm to children. These workers will be established in the following communities: Beswick, Gunbalanya, Hermannsburg, Ti Tree, Daly River, Mutitjulu, Numbulwar, Yuendumu, Galiwinku, Nguiu, Papunya, Borroloola and Elliott.

What has been achieved?

Eight child protection workers, one coordinator and one administration assistant had commenced employment and begun undertaking investigations by 30 June 2008.

Ten RAFCWs and two coordinators had been recruited by the end of June 2008. One coordinator has since left the position and will be replaced.

Next steps

From the 2008-09 Budget, FaHCSIA has $9.5m in administered funds to contribute to the project. Negotiations are continuing with the NT Government to determine actual use, but it is intended to support the operation of the safe houses, mobile child protection team and the RAFCWs.

Sub-measure: Safe place for families escaping family violence

What are we aiming to do?

Consistent with recommendations of the LCS report, increase the number of safe houses in communities and the capacity of existing safe houses/places for women and children fleeing violence.

Why are we delivering this?

The LCS Report and the Senate Community Affairs Committee report indicated the need to provide children and families with safe places from which to escape violence and abuse.13 The LCS report indicated that safe places for women and children (and sometimes men) fleeing violence are generally viewed as a critical part of a violence management strategy for many communities. In many of the communities visited by the Inquiry and at the regional forums conducted as part of the NT inquiry, the need for safe houses was consistently identified as a key service for keeping women and children safe from violence.

How are we delivering this?

The Family Support Package allocated $11.83m in 2007-08 to establishing, or expanding, 22 safe houses in 16 remote communities and expanding safe houses in Darwin and Alice Springs.

Safe Houses

Containers were chosen to deliver the safe house model as they represented the most efficient and effective way of addressing an immediate need in communities to protect women and children and help break the cycle of violence.  Containers were considered to offer a higher level of building security than demountables, are cyclone coded, quick to construct and are less expensive to retrofit.

Formaldehyde Issue

Shipping containers are being used for safe houses in remote communities. These are not the same containers originally found to have harmful fumes. FaHCSIA advised the NT Government to suspend rollout to allow testing to ensure the containers were safe.

Initial testing indicated there may be air quality issues. The NT Government decided to recommence the rollout, but safe houses will not be occupied until comprehensive testing shows them to be safe. It is anticipated that the remaining safe houses will be completed by 30 September 2008.

What has been achieved?

Ten safe houses have been constructed from shipping containers in eight communities though these are not yet occupied – Apatula (Finke), Angurugu, Hermannsburg, Nguiu (2), Pmara Jutunta, Ramingining (x2), Ti Tree and Yuendumu.

Progress of Safe Houses

Community	Commenced	Expected completion	Status at 19 June 08
Alyangula			GEMCO have concerns over site, continuing to work to resolve issues.
Angurugu	May 2008	June 2008	Built – Not Open
Apatula (Finke)	March 2008	April 2008	Built – Not Open.
Hermannsburg	March 2008	April 2008	Built – Not Open.
Kalkarindji/ Daguragu			House on Lot 13 to be demolished to allow for container facility.
Lajamanu			Upgrade to existing safe house - awaiting quote from builder.
Maningrida			Containers in Darwin awaiting transport.
Nguiu (Bathurst Island)	May 2008	June 2008	2 Built – Not Open
Ngukurr			Construction to commence w/e 27th June.
Peppimenarti	January 2008	June 2008	Upgrade of existing building nearing completion. Fit out of youth and storage container underway. Proposed delivery date of late June/early July.
Ramingining	May 2008	May 2008	2 Built – Not Open
Pmara Jujunta	March 2008	March 2008	Built – Not Open
Ti Tree	May 2008	May 2008	Built – Not Open
Beswick (Wugalarr)			Containers utilised for Angurugu and will be replaced.
Yarralin			Construction to commence w/e 27th June.
Yuendumu	April 2008	April 2008	Built – Not Open.
Alice Springs			Appropriate safe houses have been located and inspected.
Darwin			Appropriate safe houses have been located and inspected.

Next steps

From the 2008-09 Budget, FaHCSIA has $9.5m in administered funds to contribute to the project. Negotiations are continuing with the NT Government to determine specific usage, but it is intended to support the operation of the safe houses, mobile child protection team and the RAFCWs.

Sub-measure: Youth alcohol diversionary services

What are we aiming to do?

To curb alcohol and drug abuse and anti-social behaviour among young people in NT communities. This measure targeted young Indigenous people aged between 12 to18 and their families and aimed to reduce the incidence and impact of alcohol use by young people.

Why are we delivering this?

The LCS report and the 2006 Senate Community Affairs Committee report Beyond Petrol Sniffing: Renewing Hope for Indigenous Communities indicated the need for and importance of youth diversionary services in reducing the incidence of alcohol and substance misuse by young people in communities.14

How are we delivering this?

Through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the NTER Operations Centre, the FaHCSIA Northern Territory State Manager, and non-government service providers, a three-part youth alcohol diversionary (YAD) implementation strategy was developed. The strategy included:

• establishment of an NT Regional Youth Development Network. The goals of this network were to bring about an increase in the quality, quantity and coherence of diversionary activities for young people aged between 10 and 20 years in the West Arnhem and Daly River regions and to seed the development of a sustainable regional network of youth oriented services and youth leaders that will work together to develop, secure broad endorsement for, and implement an integrated youth diversion plan across the region
• Alice Springs Town Camp Youth Diversion Project and Central Australian School Holiday Program. The goals of this element were to reduce the incidence of alcohol and other substance use by youth in the Alice Springs town camps; and to prevent the uptake of alcohol and other substance use, including petrol, in a number of the remote communities in Central Australia through the provision of a Christmas school holiday program
• a NT Indigenous Youth Flexible Funding Component to fund youth diversionary projects and activities that target young Indigenous people in NTER designated communities. Applications for funding were sought from communities through GBMs and Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs).

In preparing for implementation, it was apparent there was insufficient capacity in the youth services sector in Alice Springs to deliver the Alice Springs Town Camp element of the proposal within the required timeframes. Funds allocated to this activity were rolled into the Flexible Funding component, with priority to be given to activities in Central Australia.

It also became apparent in the responses from GBMs and ICCs that there was a great need to provide, repair, or upgrade recreation and sporting infrastructure. As a result, the final scope of the measure included infrastructure, art and culture, sports, and youth sector development initiatives.

The 2007-08 YAD expenditure was $8.5 million on 95 projects. Implementation began in December 2007. Providers were secured for the school holiday programs and these were delivered in ten communities over the Christmas, Easter and mid-year school holidays.

The first round of Youth Diversion Flexible Funding Proposals were sought in early January 2008. On 29 January 2008, the Minister announced 30 youth activity projects aimed at young people living in Indigenous communities in the NT, to a value of $2.6 million. This included 20 sport/recreational infrastructure builds or upgrades (basketball courts, recreation halls, ovals, storage sheds, etc), sport and recreation materials and equipment grants, one project involving the employment of a youth worker in a community, and five event or ongoing organised activity projects (3-day youth gatherings, a series of dance clinics).

In January 2008, a prominent youth service provider in Alice Springs closed severely impacting on the capacity of the local youth sector to deliver any additional activities. Funds allocated to the Alice Springs Town Camp element of the measure were rolled into the Flexible Funding component, with priority to be given to activities in Central Australia.

In February 2008, the Australian Red Cross was auspiced as the provider for the Youth Development Network in the Arnhem Land and Daly River regions. It brought together non government organisations with a track record of delivering focussed youth activities and programs, in order to bring about a coordinated approach to youth service delivery. Seven communities participated in the committee and assessment process. They were Warruwi, Oenpelli, Daley River, Maningrida, Minjilang, Wadeye, and Jabiru. Twenty activities were approved and funded across 15 NGO providers, for a total of $1.79 million.

In March 2008, a further $2.75 million of Youth Diversion Flexible Funding Projects was announced for 26 youth diversion activity projects, again across a range of equipment, infrastructure and activities projects.

School Holiday Programs were delivered in ten communities in April and June/July 2008.

What has been achieved?

In total, across the three elements of the Youth Diversion Measure 95 projects were funded for a total of $8.5million.

Next steps

Rollout of funding is complete and now awaiting evaluation reports.

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Measure: Enhancing Education

Sub-measure: Additional classrooms

What are we aiming to do?

To provide additional classrooms in schools where increased enrolment and attendance may place pressure on existing infrastructure.

Why are we delivering this?

Approximately 8000 children are enrolled in 69 schools in the 73 NTER communities, at least 2500 of whom were not attending school regularly when the Emergency Response began. As many as 2000 children of school age were not enrolled in education. 

At least ten schools in the NTER area had an average student attendance that exceeded available classroom capacity, with classroom pressures emerging in further schools.

How are we delivering this?

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is responsible for this measure and has provided capital funds to Northern Territory Education providers for building more classrooms. The NT Government has been allocated $6 million to construct up to 14 additional classrooms and the Catholic Education Office $1.703 million to build four new classrooms in Wadeye.

With construction commencing in early June 2008, it is anticipated that the majority of these classrooms will be completed by 29 September 2008. The classrooms come equipped with reverse cycle air-conditioning units, storage and work benches, sewage, water and power connections, and carpeting.

What has been achieved?

The outcome of the NT Government 07/08 tender process provided for the construction of 13 classrooms. Efficiencies achieved through this process have allowed for the construction of two more classrooms to be considered in 2008.

Four further classrooms at the non-government school of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Wadeye are due for completion in December 2008.

Next steps

Funding of $2.626m has been provided in the Australian Government Budget for 2008-09 for the construction of six additional classrooms. This will bring the total number of additional classrooms to 25.

Sub-measure: Scaffolding literacy (Accelerating Literacy Program)

What are we aiming to do?

To support the NT education providers by putting in place a number of regionally based specialist teams to provide onsite, and in context, professional development training to embed at the local level, good teaching practices to accelerate literacy and numeracy outcomes for Indigenous students in remote communities.

Why are we delivering this?

The provision of school services is primarily the responsibility of the NT Government and non–government education providers.  The Australian Government is providing additional funding support to the NT education providers to help them manage the anticipated increases in school enrolment and attendance as a result of the NTER.

Schools in the remote areas of the NT are predominantly small, staffed by less experienced teachers and experience high staff turnover, poor student attendance and low literacy and numeracy outcomes. There are significant challenges to these schools, whereby teachers need to be culturally aware and have English as a Second Language experience.

The Accelerating Literacy specialist teams work directly with the teaching staff in these schools to improve and consolidate classroom practices through in-class support, mentoring and delivery of onsite and external professional development in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Approaches focus both on the individual and the whole school.

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has contracted the NT Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) and the NT Catholic Education Office (CEO) to implement the Accelerating Literacy measure and the Quality Teaching measure under an integrated package.

The NT DEET contract was executed on 26 March 2008 for $7.53 million over 2007-08. The CEO contract was executed on 3 April 2008 for $0.64 million over 2007-08.

The NT CEO is coordinating on behalf of the non-government sector and has established one specialist team called 'Practitioners in Residence' who are targeting the following ten remote schools:

• Ltyente Apurte Community Education Centre (Santa Terresa)
• Murrupurtiyanwu Catholic School (Bathurst Island)
• St Francis Xavier (Daly River)
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Wadeye (Port Keats)
• Xavier Community Education Centre (Bathurst Island)
• Nyangatjatjara College (Yulara)
• Yipirinya School (Alice Springs)
• Yirara College (Alice Springs)
• Gawa Christian School (Elcho Island)
• Wolaning Homeland Christian College (Litchfield)

The NT DEET has established three specialist teams. There are two 'Remote Schools Improvement Strategy teams' based in Darwin servicing the Top End schools listed below. The 'Strengthening Classroom Practices Project team' is based in Alice Springs and services the Central Australia schools listed below.

NT DEET Accelerating Literacy Remote Schools

TOP END	CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Angurugu	Areyonga
Borroloola	Finke
Gapuwiyak	Mutitjulu
Gunbalanya	Titjikala
Jabiru Area School Council	Ntaria
Kalkaringi	Nyirripi
Lajamanu	Mt Allan
Maningrida	Walungurru
Milingimbi	Papunya
Minyerri	Willowra
Ngukurr	Ali Curung
Numbulwarr	Epenarra
Ramingining	Newcastle Waters
Shepherdson	Canteen Creek
Yirrkala	Neutral Junction
	Elliott
	Alpurrurulam
	Alcoota
	Harts Range
	Bonya

The implementation details vary slightly from team to team depending on the specific needs of each of the targeted schools.

The specialist teams make preliminary visits to each of the target schools to discuss with the teachers and the School Principal the level of support that is required and the sort of literacy and numeracy curriculum being used. The teams then prepare a program of support tailored to the needs of each school and supplement this with the appropriate support material before going back out to the schools and spending one week with the teachers in their class delivering onsite support.

The specialist teams also organise follow up visits to provide ongoing support and in conjunction with teachers and assistant teachers, assess the effectiveness of the strategies and approaches introduced during the first visit.

What has been achieved?

The Accelerating Literacy measure was developed through continued collaboration with the Department's NTER Joint Steering Committee (JSC) partners – the NT Government, NT CEO and the NT Association of Independent Schools. Through this process, it was determined that an integrated approach with the Quality Teaching Package and the Accelerating Literacy specialist teams approach would help NT education providers improve teaching standards in remote schools by raising the capacity of the existing education workforce and embedding at the local level good teaching practices to accelerate literacy outcomes.

The NT DEET contract was executed on 26 March 2008 and the NT CEO contract was executed on 3 April 2008. NT DEET and NT CEO have undertaken a comprehensive recruitment process to establish the specialist teams. The Project Manager for NT DEET's Central Australia team commenced on 28 April 2008, and the Top End Project Managers commenced on 7 April 2008. The NT CEO 'Practitioners in Residence' team contracts commenced on 14 July 2008.

A series of consultation sessions have been undertaken with school principals to determine the target school locations. Schools were selected on the basis of their poor literacy results in the national benchmarks.

All 45 schools selected to participate in this initiative have now been contacted and specialist teams have now commenced the schools systems audit of literacy and numeracy packages, materials and professional development needs. The teams are currently in the process of compiling benchmark data on literacy and numeracy achievements for each of the target schools. The teams are also working with each of the schools to assist in interpreting and using this data to inform their classroom planning practices.

NT DEET's Central Australia team has commenced their preliminary visits and some of the follow up onsite training sessions as per the below table:

School	Preliminary visit	Mentor Visit
Areyonga	29 July	4 – 8 August
Ntaria	7 August	18 – 22 August
Papunya	25 July	1 – 5 September
Ali Curung	21 May	21 – 25 July
Newcastle Waters	5 August	18 – 22 August
Neutral Junction	22 July	18 – 22 August
Elliott	5 August	18 –22 August
Canteen Creek	20 May	2 – 6 June
Epenarra	19 May	16 – 20 June
Alcoota	13 August
Harts Range	14 August
Alpurrurulam	24 July	4 – 8 August
Bonya	15 August

As of 7 April, NT DEET's Top End teams have conducted scoping visits (up to three times) to the following target schools:

• Angurugu
• Jabiru
• Maningrida
• Numbulwar
• Shepherdson
• Yirrkala
• Milingimbi
• Gapuwiyak
• Gunbalanya
• Borroloola
• Ngukurr
• Minyerri
• Lajamanu
• Kalkaringi

Ramingining has had no visits as yet, however the Principal and other staff have participated in telephone consultations and meetings both in Darwin and other locations (eg: PD at Groote Eylandt).

The NT CEO's 'Practitioners in Residence' team commenced on the 14 July 2008 at the 10 targeted non-government schools. A week of Professional Learning Accelerated Literacy training was followed by four days (21-24 July 2008) of induction/mandatory reporting, professional development and training.

Visits to the ten schools to obtain the baseline data on numeracy and literacy commenced on Monday 28 July 2008 and is scheduled as follows:

School	Visit
Xavier CEC, Bathurst Island	28 July
Murrupurtiyanwu Catholic School	31 July
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Wadeye	6 August
Saint Francis Xavier, Daly River	11 August
Wollaning Homeland Christian College, Litchfield	18 August
Gawa Christian College, Elco Island	25 August
Yirara College, Alice Springs	1 September
Yipirinya School, Alice Springs	8 September
Nyangatjatjara College, Yulara	15 September
Ltyentye Apurte CEC, Santa Terresa	22 September

Term 4 visits are currently being negotiated with schools.

Next Steps

The specialist teams will finalise the initial scoping visits and commence the onsite training sessions over the next quarter. NT DEET and NT CEO are next due to report to DEEWR on the outcomes of the scoping visits and progress with the site visits on 30 September 2008.

Sub-measure: Quality Teacher Package

What are we aiming to do?

To help NT education providers to attract and retain the best teachers, and to develop those already in remote schools, with a particular emphasis on developing local Indigenous education staff. It is anticipated that the Quality Teacher Package (QTP) will improve teaching standards and subsequently student educational outcomes, and reduce the high turnover of teaching staff in these communities.

Why are we delivering this?

The provision of school services is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government and non-government education providers. The Australian Government is providing additional funding support to the NT education providers to help them manage the anticipated increases in school enrolment and attendance as a result of the NTER.

Schools in the remote areas of the NT are predominantly small, staffed by less experienced teachers and experience high staff turnover, poor student attendance and low literacy and numeracy outcomes. This initiative provides training, mentoring, in-classroom support and the acquisition of additional teaching skills through professional learning and training incentives.

The QTP targets improvements in teaching standards in remote schools by raising the capacity of teachers and developing teaching support resources with a particular focus on the development of local Indigenous staff.

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) have contracted the NT Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) and the NT Catholic Education Office (CEO) to implement the Accelerating Literacy measure and the Quality Teaching measure under an integrated package. Further information on Accelerating Literacy is detailed in the previous sub-measure.

The QTP is a professional development framework focused on up-skilling local Indigenous staff who are more likely to stay long term in communities. It is managed collaboratively with the Accelerating Literacy sub-measure and is targeted at all 35 government schools (see list under Accelerating Literacy sub-measure) and five of the NT CEO schools:

• Ltyentye Apurte Community Education Centre (Santa Teresa)
• Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic School (Bathurst Island)
• St Francis Xavier (Daly River)
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Wadeye (Port Keats)
• Xavier Community Education Centre (Bathurst Island).

The focus on the development of Indigenous staff is being implemented in two stages. The first stage is the establishment of Career Development Framework that maps the skills qualifications and career opportunities based on a series of consultations with principals and teaching staff in the target schools. The second stage is to support the take-up of the opportunities for Indigenous staff to gain qualifications focussing on the attainment of Certificate III and IV and Diploma level qualification in Indigenous Education Work through NT DEET agreements with Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.

The QTP makes provision for (depending on need):

• a career planning and development phase for Indigenous staff
• 75 places for improved qualifications in Cert III, IV or Diploma in Indigenous Education Work through the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (includes costs associated with travel and accommodation)
• 20 places to undertake a Teaching Degree
• 50 places for Graduate Certificates in Accelerated Literacy
• 12 Masters Scholarships in Literacy, Numeracy, English as a Second Language (ESL) or Cross Cultural Teaching, and
• incentive bonuses to staff on the successful completion of accredited training.

What has been achieved?

The QTP measure was developed through continued collaboration with the Department's NTER Joint Steering Committee (JSC) partners – the NT Government, NT CEO and the NT Association of Independent Schools. Through this process, it was determined that an integrated approach with the Quality Teaching Package and the Accelerating Literacy specialist teams would help NT education providers improve teaching standards in remote schools by raising the capacity of the existing education workforce and embedding at the local level good teaching practices to accelerate literacy outcomes.

On 30 January 2008, the Deputy Prime Minister approved funding of $3.485 million in 2007-08 for the QTP. The Joint Steering Committee determined that NT DEET would coordinate this work on behalf of all sectors to achieve a higher economy of scale and allocate 15 per cent of all study and professional development placements to the non-government sector.

The QTP Project Coordinator based in NT DEET commenced in April 2008. A dedicated Indigenous staff development coordinator was appointed on 23 June 2008. In addition, the JSC agreed in July 2008 to transfer $80,000 from NT DEET to NT CEO to appoint a non-government QTP Coordinator to better facilitate access to study and professional development placements in the non-government sector. The non-government QTP Coordinator commenced in August 2008 and will work closely with the NT DEET Project Coordinator and all non-government target schools.

Nine stakeholder meetings have been conducted to date with target school principals and Group Cluster Principals to workshop the development of Indigenous Career Development Framework and to identify appropriate training and professional development opportunities.

NT CEO have also conducted a series of consultations with their target school principals to determine the needs of their education staff.

NT DEET and NT CEO are both close to finalising the skills qualifications and professional development needs of the educational staff within their target schools. This will inform the implementation and take up of additional training and professional development opportunities over Terms 3 and 4 (commencing 21 July 2008). The feasibility of the original targets will also be reviewed on this basis.

A number of curriculum resources have been identified to support the implementation of the QTP and negotiations are underway with Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute to align professional development programs to accredited units and qualifications.

Next steps

NT DEET and NT CEO will continue to collaborate on the implementation and take up of the additional training and professional development opportunities over Terms 3 and 4 (commencing 21 July 2008). Placements are currently being organised and procured for study and professional development at Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute of Technology.

NT DEET are also developing a supporting coaching pilot and targeted communications and marketing strategy.

Sub-measure: School Nutrition Programs (SNP) – breakfast and lunch program

What are we aiming to do?

The School Nutrition Program (SNP) was introduced as an indirect way to improve school attendance and engagement by providing breakfast and lunch to school aged children in schools in prescribed communities in the NT. It also provides employment opportunities for local Indigenous people to administer and deliver the program.

Why are we delivering this?

Enrolment and attendance rates in the prescribed communities have historically been very poor. Prior to the NTER approximately 8,000 children were enrolled in NTER schools. A further 2,000 children were estimated to be not enrolled; and among the children who were enrolled, at least 2,500 were not attending school regularly enough to benefit from their education (NT DEET 2007).

The Little Children Are Sacred report to the NT Government specifically recommended that a school nutrition program be established (Recommendation 52a). In addition, The SNP compliments the policy goal of closing the Indigenous disadvantage gap by contributing to halving the gap in literacy and numeracy within 10 years.

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) are responsible for the administration of the SNP. A key implementation principle followed by DEEWR has been that the program should, wherever possible, harmonise with existing nutrition programs and individual community circumstances.

DEEWR works with each community to establish and fund SNP providers so they can employ local workers to prepare and deliver the meals, to upgrade their kitchen facilities and other supporting infrastructure where necessary, and to meet the costs of any related professional development. CEBs also assist with the SNP's operations as required.

Parents and carers are expected to contribute to the cost of the food for each child they support. Participation in the program is voluntary and encouraged for income managed (IM) clients with school aged children.

Implementation of the SNP has sought to harmonise, wherever possible, with existing nutrition programs (i.e. the Red Cross Good Start Breakfast Club program) and community needs. Due to the broad range of community settings in which the program operates, there is no single model for implementation. For example, providers may include, but are not limited to, Aged Care Centres, Child Care Centres, schools and stores. To assist with local capacity issues, some of the communities are being supported by an additional book-keeping arrangement.

What has been achieved?

As at 1 August 2008 all communities and town camps have now been scoped to assess the viability and options for implementation. In most communities the SNP is operating from the commencement of IM in that community. There are school nutrition programs established in 61 communities. The SNP has also successfully accommodated the needs of eight town camp areas even though the 2007-08 SNP appropriation did not include funding for jobs or equipment in relation to town camps.

There are many contributing factors to poor school attendance and engagement in education such as poor health, overcrowded housing, a child's innate ability, basic infrastructure, the level of school access, quality and support and so on. School nutrition programs have proven to have a positive impact on school enrolment and attendance rates, and it is reasonable to assume that this would articulate over time into improved educational outcomes. The SNP must however be considered as part of broader school engagement strategy.

Based on a telephone survey of available providers at 21 June 2008, 69 employment outcomes had been achieved for the SNP. This figure is made up of 59 Indigenous employees and 10 non-Indigenous employees. Of the 69, 15 are employed on a full time basis and 54 are employed on a part time basis.

Next steps

SNP has secured $7.4 million in funding in the 2008-09 Budget to continue operating in the NTER communities. All current SNP contracts have been extended to the end of September 2008 while the operational model and program guidelines for the SNP in 2008-09 can be modified and responsive to implementation issues experienced to date, and to bring the program in line with the Government's forward agenda for Indigenous affairs following the NTER Review.

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Measure: Welfare reform and employment

Sub-measure: Income management, food security and community stores

What are we aiming to do?

The aim of income management (IM) is to promote socially responsible behaviour by setting aside whole, or part, of a person's welfare payments for their individual and families' priority needs. This ensures that:

• money paid by the Government for the benefit of children is directed to the needs of children
• better financial security is provided to women and elderly community members who are vulnerable to 'humbugging'
• the amount of cash in communities is reduced where substance abuse, gambling and other antisocial behaviours are problems that can lead to child abuse and community dysfunction.

Why are we delivering this?

To ensure that money provided for children is used for their benefit and not directed towards substance abuse and other anti-social behaviours.

How are we delivering this?

IM has been rolled out on a community by community basis. Every community member who is receiving a relevant welfare payment receives half of their payment in the usual way, while the other half is held in an account to pay for priority needs, such as food, clothing, housing, transport and utilities. Prior to IM commencing, Centrelink will sit with a person to discuss their priority needs and regular expenses, and the needs of the person's family or children. Funds that are income managed cannot be used to purchase items such as alcohol, tobacco, pornography or gambling products.

Centrelink, as the agency responsible for delivering IM services to customers in the NT, provides flexibility in the way that people access their income managed funds. Centrelink also aims to ensure that, as far as possible, people on IM are not inconvenienced in purchasing essential items and services. People on IM will meet with a Centrelink officer to agree on how the money will be allocated to best meet their individual needs or the household. People can access their income managed funds in a number of ways, including:

• through individual IM accounts at licensed community stores
• through store specific cards for use in larger retail outlets such as Woolworths, Coles, Big W and Target. Centrelink is able to provide the relevant card or make the necessary deduction to certain merchants depending on the customer's preference, their priority needs and their IM balance
• Centrelink can also make direct deductions to a range of third party organisations and traders so that customers can meet less regular expenses such as mechanic or phone bills with their income managed funds.

As part of the 2008-09 Budget, Minister Macklin announced that the Government will fund the development an IM card, called the 'BasicsCard', to provide greater flexibility in delivering income managed funds to customers. Once issued with a BasicsCard, customers will be able to use the card to purchase non-excluded items and services from approved outlets. The BasicsCard will deliver more choice for customers in more locations than is currently available. This is a PIN protected card which allows customers to use their income managed funds to purchase everyday priority items such as food, clothing and household items, and not for one-off or large purchases, at a range of approved merchants using EFTPOS facilities.

Integrated money management services have been introduced alongside IM to provide financial education, training and financial crisis support to people in communities where IM has commenced.

What has been achieved?

At 30 June 2008, income management (IM) was operating in 53 communities and their associated outstations and 8 town camp regions. There were 13,305 people on IM at 30 June 2008.

Early anecdotal evidence and advice from government staff working on the ground is that IM is having a positive impact. The licensing of community stores, which is a necessary pre-condition for starting IM, has resulted in improvements in the quality and availability of fresh food.

Community store managers have reported that customers had changed their shopping habits considerably, buying more fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy goods, frozen vegetables and meat and that, in some stores, sales of cigarettes has halved.

The improvement of food security in remote communities through IM and community stores has been a positive outcome of the NTER. A total of 62 community stores have been licensed under the NTER arrangements: 45 stores operating under their own licences and 17 stores operating under corporate licences.

FaHCSIA is monitoring the implementation of IM and has commenced an evaluation of the measure, which is expected to be completed by June 2009. Sources of data will include Centrelink systems data, stakeholder surveys (e.g. income managed customers, Government Business Managers, store managers), reports from Centrelink and Operations Centre staff and, possibly, stakeholder focus groups. Data gaps have been identified, particularly in the collection of baseline data, due to the speed of implementation. Some baseline data will be available and FaHCSIA recently commissioned research in four communities where IM had not yet commenced. Follow up surveys will be conducted to evaluate progress in these communities.

Next steps

The BasicsCard will be rolled out progressively in September 2008, in a number of jurisdictions. Centrelink will issue the BasicsCard to individuals and provide support to those who may need assistance in learning how to use the card. Centrelink will work with the income managed customers to determine an agreed amount of income managed funds to be allocated to the customer's BasicsCard account. The card will have a notional balance which will enable the individual to purchase priority goods and services from any merchant in the approved merchant list.

Sub-measure: Increased participation activities for people on income support

What are we aiming to do?

Increase participation opportunities for people on working age income support payments in NTER communities.

The measure's aim is to improve the lives of people by promoting economic independence via increased participation and the take up of appropriate employment; and provide employment services and programs for those not immediately job ready including language, literacy and numeracy training. Strong partnerships with business and the private sector is an important next step in increasing employment opportunities and greater economic independence based on a community place based methodology.

Why are we delivering this?

Indigenous people on working age income support payments in communities were previously granted a Remote Area Exemption (RAE)15 as it was considered that they did not have access to a local labour market or employment services. A number of residents in these communities were Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) participants.

Initially the focus was on getting adults to clean up their communities via Work for the Dole (WfD). To achieve this, guidelines were changed so that job seekers could be commenced immediately in WfD rather than waiting for a period of mutual obligation and WfD participation could extend for longer than six months in a twelve month period.

After the stabilisation phase of NTER, WfD expanded to include a wider range of work relevant skills development tasks.

Establishing a participation culture via attendance in employment programs and services and getting jobs is a major focus of this measure.

How are we delivering this?

To help ensure employment programs and services are delivered effectively within each community, DEEWR has employed Community Employment Brokers (CEBs) from the inception of the NTER. CEBs work in communities, generally as a live in presence within communities where accommodation is available and provided. CEBs work with residents, employment service providers, Community Councils, NT Government and local shires, Centrelink and GBMs to achieve the most appropriate employment and related support for jobseekers.

All RAEs were lifted from job seekers in the period from July to December 2007. Jobseekers were assessed by Centrelink and Job Capacity Assessors to ensure they were on the correct income support payment that reflected their capacity to look for, and secure employment.

As RAEs were removed, Indigenous specific and mainstream employment services and programs available to urban and regional Australians were delivered to communities. Services and programs include:

• Indigenous Employment Program – Structured Training and Employment Program (STEP) and STEP – Employment and Related Services (STEP ERS)
• Job Network
• Work for the Dole
• specialist programs including Vocational Rehabilitation Service (VRS), Personal Support Program (PSP), Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) and Disability Employment Network (DEN)
• Language Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP)
• Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL).

At the same time as RAEs were lifted, CDEP was being progressively abolished in communities as announced by the former Government on 23 July 2007. CDEP was to be to be replaced by real jobs, training and Indigenous-specific or mainstream employment services and programs.

Changes were implemented on a community by community basis, commencing in September 2007, and were to be aligned with the introduction of IM.

Immediate job opportunities were realised by Job Network providers and via the NT Jobs Package16 for former CDEP participants and some working age income support payment jobseekers.

On 10 December 2007, a moratorium was announced by the new government on any further transition of CDEP participants in the NT. By this time, 16 CDEP providers and over 2,000 participants had been transitioned. The Government also announced its intention to reform the CDEP program to better focus on promoting enterprise, training and jobs.

On 30 April 2008, the Government announced that it would address inconsistencies created by the removal of CDEP. It announced that as an interim measure, CDEP would be made available from 1 July 2008 to the 30 NTER communities and town camps where the program was removed as part of the emergency response.

In making CDEP available, the Government is mindful that a great deal of progress has been made in converting CDEP positions to jobs via the NT Jobs Package. Therefore, certain activities previously funded under CDEP which were now funded as "real jobs" would no longer be appropriate.

FaHCSIA has written to all CDEP providers and providers of 'transitional' activities in the NT to inform them of the process for negotiating 2008-09 funding. (Further information on CDEP is provided below).

The replacement program for CDEP will be implemented from 1 July 2009.

In July 2009, new employment services will commence that will provide better, more tailored assistance to job seekers, particularly those who are disadvantaged, and to place greater emphasis on assisting employers to address skill shortages and fill job vacancies. The Government is committed to employment services delivered through high quality, not-for-profit and for-profit, organisations.

Further Reform - Increasing Indigenous Economic Opportunity

This discussion paper aims to encourage debate and ideas on economic development and jobs for Indigenous Australians. The discussion paper seeks feedback on how:

• individuals, businesses, communities and partnerships could be involved to lift Indigenous employment rates
• to remove disincentives for people to study, train, or take up other work outside CDEP
• to encourage people to travel for work and training opportunities
• employers of Indigenous workers can be better supported
• we can build on the principle that improved universal employment services and training places are essential for sustained economic development.

In conjunction with the release of the discussion paper, between 19 May and 20 June 2008, FaHCSIA conducted 39 public consultations, undertaken jointly with DEEWR consultations on Indigenous Employment Services reforms. In addition, 17 community consultations have been held in remote communities and targeted sessions have been held with employers and unemployed Indigenous people.

In the NT, public consultations were held in Darwin, Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Community consultations were held in Tiwi Islands, Borroloola, Galiwinku, Hermannsburg, Maningrida, Papunya, Elliot and Wadeye.

The Government received feedback from more than 2,000 people on the future of the programs. In addition, more than 120 written submissions have been received in response to the discussion paper. FaHCSIA, jointly with DEEWR, will collate feedback received through consultation sessions, written submissions and all other information received to date.

This valuable feedback is assisting the Government to consider the best possible ways to reform the CDEP and Indigenous Employment Program. Further consultations will be undertaken later in the year, once the Government has considered feedback and developed a proposed model. It is anticipated that reforms to these programs will be implemented from July 2009 and will form part of a broader Indigenous Economic Development Strategy. The reformed programs will also complement the Government's new universal employment services model.

What has been achieved?

Solid progress has been made towards increasing the participation of job seekers, in light of the limited abilities and experience of many jobseekers and practicalities associated with the delivery of mainstream employment services and programs in very remote areas. Key outcomes (as at 30 June 2008) include:

• RAEs removed from jobseekers in 86 communities (including all NTER communities)
• 5,830 Job Capacity Assessments (JCA) completed identifying jobseekers' barriers to participation, interventions to address those barriers, assessing jobseekers capacity to work and recommending referral to an employment service where appropriate
• over 5,000 JCAs recommended referral to either Job Network, DEN, VRS, PSP, or JPET
• 8,119 jobseekers receiving Job Network services
• 80 Work for the Dole activities delivered across the NTER. Of these, 55 have been delivered to 42 of the NTER communities, 23 to town camps and two to outstations
• 1,300 jobs under NT Jobs Package been created, with the majority filled, and  more to come in 2008-09
• in addition, there has been 982 job outcomes brokered with the assistance of Job Network providers
• there have been 261 STEP and 924 STEP ERS commencements - both programs help to assist employers to provide ongoing employment for Indigenous Australians, particularly in the private sector
• there have been a total of 1,373 people who have started on WfD projects
• there have been 1,189 jobseekers engaged in specialist programs including VRS, PSP, DEN and JPET
• there has been 809 referrals to LLNP
• 138 people have commenced in WELL. 

Next steps

The Government is committed to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and has set targets, including halving the gap in employment outcomes within a decade.

The Australian Government is currently developing its Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (IEDS). The IEDS will be finalised before the end of the year.

The overarching objective of the IEDS will be to promote economic participation of Indigenous communities and individuals by improving Indigenous employment, business and wealth creation opportunities.

The IEDS will be a key driver for halving the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians over the next ten years.

It is proposed that key components underpinning the IEDS will include:

• enhancing employment opportunities and pathways supported by reforms of CDEP and Indigenous Employment Program and better use of universal employment services for Indigenous people
• leveraging land and native title assets, rights and interests to support economic development and ensure intergenerational benefit
• facilitating access to markets and business finance and skills, including through partnerships with the private sector and appropriate incentives for business and enterprise development
• leveraging infrastructure investment and related economic activity to improve and sustain employment and business opportunities
• fostering better engagement between Indigenous Australians, governments and the private sector, including through the recognition of the diversity of economic opportunities faced by Indigenous communities and individuals
• building capacity and leadership to enable Indigenous people to take ownership of the economic development agenda and progress initiatives in partnership with the private sector and government.

Sub-measure: Community Employment Brokers (CEBs)

What are we aiming to do?

CEBs work with residents, employment service providers, Community Councils, NT Government and local Shires, Centrelink and GBMs to achieve the highest level of employment related support for jobseekers.

Why are we delivering this?

The social dysfunction and inter-generational poverty that welfare dependency creates is well documented. Employment is one of the ways out of dependency. In 2007 the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, published a project report titled From Hand Out to Hand Up which canvassed the concept of employment brokers who worked in communities to help people make the transition to employment.17

How are we delivering this?

CEBs are strategically placed in NTER communities to coordinate the delivery of employment related services and job outcomes where their assistance is most warranted. Increasingly, CEBs are becoming involved in the implementation of early childcare and education measures to ensure a 'one DEEWR' service offering is provided to community residents.

CEBs play a key role in identifying increased economic development opportunities, supporting jobseekers to retain their participation activity (i.e. this includes a job opportunity) and working with former CDEP participants now employed under the NT Jobs Package.

CEBs are a resource for communities on early childhood, education and employment related matters. They raise awareness of the benefits that flow from a participation culture and create the means by which Indigenous people can take advantage of employment and other participation opportunities.

What has been achieved?

Solid progress has been made towards increasing the participation of job seekers, in light of the limited abilities and experience of many jobseekers and practicalities associated with the delivery of mainstream employment services and programs in very remote areas. Key outcomes at 30 June 2008 include:

• 80 Work for the Dole activities delivered across the NTER
• 33 CEBs employed providing service to 65 NTER communities. As at 31 July 2008, there were 31 CEBs servicing 60 of the 73 NTER communities .

With the reduction in CEB numbers initially planned and ongoing lack of suitable accommodation in some communities with the closure of Australian Government accommodation complexes, DEEWR has instituted alternative arrangements to ensure as many of the 73 NTER communities continue to receive appropriate service including:

• CEB placement within the community
• Service as a community caseload by DEEWR NT Office staff across the NT
• Service as a Whole of Government service visit provided by Centrelink employment service providers and DEEWR Contract Managers who travel together to service a community and/or communities
• Drive in/drive out service where communities remain without a CEB until FaHCSIA supplied demountable accommodation is established.

Next steps

CEBs make a difference in improving participation outcomes on the ground. DEEWR will maintain around 31 operational CEBs over the next 12 months. CEBs will be deployed in line with a place based assessment of where their services can offer most value to communities and that whilst maintaining focus on employment and training outcomes, their role will be broadened to include childcare and education elements of the portfolio.

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Measure: Housing and Land Reform

Sub-measure: Five-year lease program

What are we aiming to do?

Acquisition of leases over major communities for the period from commencement of the leases until 20 August 2012 and cadastral (boundary) surveys of five-year leased communities.

Why are we delivering this?

The leases were acquired to facilitate security of tenure and access for the repair of buildings and infrastructure. This sub-measure establishes a platform to support implementation of other measures and initiatives.

A range of NTER initiatives have been, or will be, carried out on the basis of these leases including:

• installation and use of Government Business Manager accommodation
• implementation of new property and tenancy management arrangements
• installation of new safe houses
• refurbishments through the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP).

How are we delivering this?

The Australian Government is funding new property and tenancy management arrangements for community houses in the 64 communities where the Australian Government holds five year leases and in another nine communities (Angurugu, Finke (Aputula), Kalkarindji (Wave Hill), Kybrook Farm, Milyakburra, Mutitjulu, Nauiyu (Daly River), Nguiu, Umbakumba) where the Government does not hold such leases. The NT Government will implement the new arrangements which will be based on the NT Government's Remote Public Housing Management Framework (RPHMF).

Section 31 of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (the NTNER Act) provides for the acquisition of leases over 64 specified communities and allows for the acquisition of further leases by regulation. These leases (known as five-year leases) continue until five years from the commencement of the NTNER Act regardless of the date on which they commence. The leases come into effect by operation of the legislation without any requirement for consent by Land Councils or traditional owners.

All 64 leases over specified communities, detailed in the table below, are now in force. Twenty-six of the leases commenced on 18 August 2007 while the balance of 38 leases commenced on 17 February 2008. No additional leases have been the subject of regulations to date.

The terms and conditions of the five-year leases are set out in section 35 of the NTNER Act which also allows for additional terms and conditions to be determined by the Minister.  On 17 August 2007, the then Minister for Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs determined the Additional Terms and Conditions for Leases.

Underlying title to the land remains unaffected by the five-year leases and pre-existing interests in the land are preserved. Pre-existing registered leases are automatically excluded from the five-year leased area.

The leases can be lifted by the Minister as an administrative decision.  No legislation or formal instrument would be required.  Where a lease is granted over Aboriginal land in accordance with section 19 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (the Land Rights Act) over an area the subject of a five year lease, the five-year lease will cease to have any effect in relation to the area of land covered by the new lease.  The five-year lease is also automatically terminated if a whole of township lease is granted in accordance with section 19A.

The boundaries of the leases were initially set by the legislation using mechanisms including aerial photography and larger areas than necessary were acquired.

Cadastral boundary surveys have been conducted and are expected to lead to reductions in the lease boundaries so that they more closely match the actual area of the township.

The original legislated boundaries remain current until such time as the leases are varied by the Minister giving written notice to landowners.

Payments to Land Owners in relation to the Five-Year Leases

The NTNER Act provides that if the five-year leases amount to an acquisition of property within the meaning of the Australian Constitution, the land owners will be entitled to reasonable compensation. A mechanism is also available under the legislation for an independent valuation by the Northern Territory Valuer-General to determine a reasonable rent to be paid by the Australian Government for a five-year lease.

A special appropriation to cover these payments is provided for by section 63 of the NTNER Act.

The Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 2008 included amendments to the NTNER Act to add flexibility on payments for five-year leases by facilitating the negotiation of agreed payments with the Land Councils. The amendment will enable the Commonwealth and the Aboriginal owners of the land to negotiate an amount for a five-year lease and enable the Land Councils to represent Aboriginal landowners in negotiations for payments (including the option of representing community living areas if requested by the land owners).

The Government would prefer to negotiate the amount of any payment for five-year leases rather than go to court. These negotiations are yet to commence having regard to the fact that the surveys of the five-year lease boundaries have recently been completed and that the Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Act 2008 was recently passed by Parliament.

What has been achieved?

The NT Government's Territory Housing (TH) has agreed in principle to deliver property and tenancy management services for community houses on the 73 NTER communities.

The transition to the RPHMF will lead to improved community housing in the communities and will take place over the next 2 to 3 years. It will also lead to the houses being managed in a similar way to other public housing properties, with policies such as:

• waiting lists based on need
• effective repair, maintenance and upkeep procedures
• tenancy support services that ensure tenants understand their rights and responsibilities and are supported to meet their obligations, including paying rent and maintaining their home.

Considerable effort has gone into ensuring that there has been adequate community consultation to ease the transition to the new arrangements. This has included the delivery of a community consultation and engagement campaign that started in January 2008 and resulted in community engagement visits to 61 communities by 30 June 2008.

Next steps

The communication and consultation process is ongoing and includes TH establishing Housing Reference Groups in each community that will inform tenancy management practices such as developing waiting lists and managing difficult tenants.

There was no consistent performance indicator data available for property and tenancy management at 30 June 2008, as the new arrangements had not taken effect until 1 July 2008. However, it is anticipated that data will become available from 1 October 2008 as the new arrangements are implemented.

Facilitating rollout of remote housing

In relation to housing, the Australian Government is investing $813 million in remote Indigenous housing and infrastructure in the NT, including $793 million over the next four years as part of a joint agreement with the NT Government.

Under the SIHIP, living conditions for 80 per cent of people in targeted communities will be improved. This will include:

• around 750 new houses including new subdivisions
• more than 250 new houses to replace houses to be demolished
• over 2,500 significant housing upgrades
• essential infrastructure and improvements in living conditions in town camps.

Five-Year Leases Under s31 NTNER Act 2007

Five-Year Leases

Commenced 18 August 2007			Commenced 17 February 2008
Name	Land Type	Land Council	Name	Land Type	Land Council	Name	Land Type	Land Council
Ali Curung	ALRA	CLC	Acacia Larrakia	ALRA	NLC	Peppimenarti	ALRA	NLC
Alpurrurulam	CLA	CLC	Amanbidji	ALRA	NLC	Pigeon Hole	ALRA	NLC
Amoonguna	ALRA	CLC	Barunga	ALRA	NLC	Pirlangimpi	ALRA	TLC
Ampilatwatja	ALRA	CLC	Belyuen	ALRA	NLC	Rittarangu	CLA	NLC
Areyonga	ALRA	CLC	Beswick	ALRA	NLC	Robinson River	ALRA	NLC
Atitjere	CLA	CLC	Binjari	CLA	NLC	Tara	CLA	CLC
Daguragu	ALRA	CLC	Bulla	CLA	NLC	Wadeye	ALRA	NLC
Gapuwiyak	ALRA	NLC	Bulman	ALRA	NLC	Warruwi	ALRA	NLC
Gunbalanya	ALRA	NLC	Canteen Creek	MISC	CLC	Weemol	ALRA	NLC
Gunyangara	ALRA	NLC	Engawala	CLA	CLC	Willowra	ALRA	CLA
Hermannsburg	ALRA	CLC	Galiwinku	ALRA	NLC	Wilora	CLA	CLC
Kaltukatjara	ALRA	CLC	Haasts Bluff	ALRA	CLC	Yuelamu	ALRA	CLC
Kintore	ALRA	CLC	Imangara	CLA	CLC
Minyerri	CLA	NLC	Imanpa	CLA	CLC
Ngukurr	ALRA	NLC	Jilkminggan	CLA	NLC
Nyirripi	ALRA	CLC	Lajamanu	ALRA	CLC
Papunya	ALRA	CLC	Laramba	CLA	CLC
Pmara Jutunta	ALRA	CLC	Maningrida	ALRA	NLC
Ramingining	ALRA	NLC	Manyallaluk	ALRA	NLC
Santa Teresa	ALRA	CLC	Milikapiti	ALRA	TLC
Titjikala	CLA	CLC	Milingimbi	ALRA	NLC
Wallace Rockhole	ALRA	CLC	Minjilang	ALRA	NLC
Wutunugurra	CLA	CLC	Mt Liebig	ALRA	CLC
Yirrkala	ALRA	NLC	Nturiya	ALRA	CLC
Yuendumu	ALRA	CLC	Numbulwar	ALRA	NLC
Yarralin	CLA	NLC	Palumpa	ALRA	NLC
26			38
TOTAL COMMUNITIES ACQUIRED: 64

Legend

ALRA = Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976

CLA = Community Living Area

MISC = Miscellaneous (NT crown land subject to ALRA claim)

NLC = Northern Land Council

CLC = Central Land Council

TLC = Tiwi Land Council

ALC = Anindilyakwa Land Council

Sub-measure: Urgent repairs to infrastructure

What are we aiming to do?

To repair buildings and other infrastructure

Why are we delivering this?

Several reports have documented the poor state of infrastructure in remote communities18,19, 20. This measure is being delivered to contribute to the future development of communities, including supporting increased housing.

How are we delivering this?

A range of infrastructure works requiring immediate upgrades in NTER communities. Additional projects were identified and funding was allocated to the Tasks of Opportunity (ToO) for these projects.

As part of the NTER rollout, NTER communities have been able to access ToO funding to cover the costs of minor capital items, for example, sewerage services, fencing and road upgrades. Funding was via two projects, one administered by the NT Government and the other by the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. In addition, communities with GBMs have had access to a specific funding pool designed to fund minor upgrades and refurbishments of community facilities.

Tasks undertaken included a sewerage pond upgrade involving extension of a sewerage sprinkler system, airstrip repairs, airstrip lighting installation, water tank upgrades, bore water machinery repairs, chlorination of water supplies, installation of fencing around community dump, repairs to community swimming pools and repairs to community roads.

Overall, these projects will provide improved health conditions for the communities and assist in meeting increased demand for infrastructure.

What has been achieved?

Some works completed and others funded.

Next steps

To complete works.

Sub-measure: Community Clean-Up

What are we aiming to do?

To make communities safer and healthier

Why are we delivering this?

The condition of many properties is poor. It should be noted however that some communities have excellent maintenance programs for their housing stock.

How are we delivering this?

The Community Clean-Up (CCU) sub-measure targeted the 73 NTER communities (excluding outstations) under the NTER.

The CCU program includes 5 components:

1. Component 1 – "Make Safe Works" - electrician and plumber/gasfitter provided expert advice on safety for houses and facilities and carried out physical works where dangerous electrical and sewerage situations exist and could be fixed quickly. If there were dangerous electrical situations where the work could not be fixed quickly, the electrician and/or plumber/gasfitter used a lock out/tag out process to prevent use of that electrical or sewerage system until the Trade Contractor House repair team was mobilised to the site.
2. Component 2 – Rubbish Removal, Cleaning and Painting of Dwellings – the trade contractors purchased the paint and support the Community Works Coordinator (supplied by then DEWR) in the supervision of the painting and arranging and administering the hire of light trucks and equipment from both the Trade Contractors and/or local organisations to support the rubbish clean-up activities.
3. Component 3 – Detailed Property Assessments - Property Condition Reports were provided for all dwellings. These reports detail the scope of works for the minor repair works (Component 4 – Scheduled Repair Works) to a maximum of $5000 labour and $5000 materials.
4. Component 4 – House Repair Works – Trade contractors provided the materials and carried out the repair works to the standard specified in the Scheduled Repair Works for each community.
5. Component 5 – Community Summary Report – the Project Manager provided detailed completion reports for each community. These reports include:

• general outcomes

• general overview of the properties in the community

• community involvement;

• community relations;

• summary of works, categorised into:

• Component 1 - Make Safe Works

• Component 2 – Rubbish Removal, Cleaning and Painting of Dwellings

• Component 3 – Detailed House Assessments

• Component 4 – Scheduled Repair Works

• estimated material costs and labour hours of further required works, per dwelling and public/community building; and

• recommended future housing and infrastructure improvements for future of community.

The public/community buildings included under the CCU Program in addition to housing were:

• recreation halls/community halls including toilets showers, stage, spare rooms, indoor basketball courts, lighting
• drop in centres
• public laundries
• women's business houses
• men's business houses
• art centres
• museums (men/women)
• football ovals/ pools including change rooms, toilet blocks
• outdoor basketball courts including lights
• adult training facilities
• music studios

What has been achieved?

3,046 properties surveyed to assess their condition and need for repair. In all of these properties, "make safe" repairs have been undertaken, that is, the most urgent repairs. The next level of repair work, "minor vital repairs", has been completed in 2,995 properties. The make safe and minor vital repairs work has been undertaken in 68 communities.

Asbestos Surveying was also done as part of the initial "make safe" component of the CCU program. Any asbestos identified was clearly labelled for future management. Members of the community were encouraged to participate where possible.

Next steps

The collection of data on the condition of the properties will provide up to date information for the Strategic Alliance Project, under SIHIP, which is another larger more intensified construction and upgrade project that is due to begin in 2008-09. 

This new project is being funded jointly by the NT Government and the Australian Government and managed by the NT Government. 

Sub-measure: Permits

What are we aiming to do?

The Government is proposing to repeal previous amendments to Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA) which gave public access to communal areas in major communities in the NT. A Bill for the repeal of the provisions is currently before the Parliament.

Why are we delivering this?

In 2006 the previous Government commenced a review of the permit system. The discussion paper that accompanied the request for submissions referred to concerns that the permit system was causing already remote Aboriginal communities to be "closed off" from scrutiny and excluded from potential economic benefits that could flow from increased numbers of people accessing communities.21

The Government made an election commitment to reinstate the permit system on Aboriginal land. The Government takes the view that Aboriginal people should have the right to decide who visits their land and have highlighted the position taken by the Northern Territory Police Association which has stated that the permit system is an additional tool in policing these communities and keeping out grog and drug runners.

How are we delivering this?

The ALRA made it an offence to enter or remain on Aboriginal land without a permit and established the operation of the permit system and made provision for the Land Councils and traditional owners to issue and revoke permits, and for the NT Minister to issue permits.

The 2007 NTER legislation package made changes to the permit system that came into effect in two stages.

On 18 August 2007:

• all government workers and contractors were provided with a defence for entering and remaining on Aboriginal land
• the Federal Minister was given the power to authorise a 'class of persons' to enter and remain on Aboriginal land for the five year period of the NTER. On 10 October 2007, the previous Minister used this power to make an authorisation to allow government workers, contractors and volunteers that were engaged by the NTER to enter and remain on Aboriginal land for the five year period (this was primarily aimed at the medical profession and volunteers working as part of the NTER who may not have come under the category of government workers and contractors). This authorisation remains in force.

On 17 February 2008:

• members of the public no longer require a permit to access common areas of 52 major communities. A Ministerial determination specifying which roads the public may use to access these communities has not been made and as such, members of the public may only access the communities by sea or air (or on a small number of public roads to communities)
• a permit is no longer required by people attending a court hearing on Aboriginal land
• permits issued by Land Councils or traditional owners can only be revoked by the issuer of the permit.

The Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008 (the Bill) was introduced to Parliament on 21 February 2008. Schedule 3, Access to Aboriginal land, makes amendments to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 to repeal the permit system amendments in relation to access to major communities made by the previous Government which came into force on 17 February 2008. The previous Government's amendments which provided for government workers to access Aboriginal land without a permit will not be affected.

What has been achieved?

The Bill is currently before the Parliament. Proposed new subsection 70(2BB) of the ALRA in Item 1 of Schedule 3 of the Bill provides for a ministerial authorisation to provide 'a class of persons' access to Aboriginal land. This ministerial authorisation power is currently provided for in the existing section 70(2BB). It has been in force since the NTER legislation package was passed in 2007. The amendment that is proposed in the Bill is to refine this power to provide that the authorisation can be limited to a geographical area, such as major communities, and that it can be subject to conditions.

The existing power and the proposed power will endure only for the five year period of the intervention. Section 70(2BD) of the ALRA provides that the ministerial power to issue authorisations will expire at the end of the five-year period that commenced with the NTER legislation package.

It is intended that the authorisation power be used to provide access to major communities for journalists for the purpose of reporting on events in communities, subject to certain conditions. FaHCSIA has consulted the four NT Land Councils and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance on the conditions of the authorisation.

The Bill was referred to the Senate Community Affairs Committee on 19 March 2008 and the Committee Report was tabled on 15 May 2008. The majority report from Government Senators recommends the Bill be passed. The Bill remains before Parliament.

The following table provides a summary of access arrangements to Aboriginal Land in the NT.

NTER Permit Sub-measure

Original measure in the NTNER Legislation	Date of effect	Current Conditions	After 2008 NTER Consolidation Bill passed
Public access to common areas of major communities	17 February 2008	Permit Not Required	Permit Required
Public access to airstrips and landing places servicing major communities	17 February 2008	Permit Not Required	Permit Required
Public access to roads on Aboriginal land	17 February 2008	Permit Required - Minister Macklin has declined to make the necessary determination that any road may be travelled over by the public	Permit Required
Public access to Court hearings on Aboriginal land	17 February 2008	Permit Not Required	Permit Required
Government workers able to access Aboriginal land when acting in official capacity	18 August 2007	Permit Not Required	Permit Not Required
Power to issue Ministerial Authorisation for the duration of the NTNER	18 August 2007	Ministerial authorisation may be made - one such authorisation is in place	Ministerial authorisation may be made - subject to conditions. Minister Macklin proposes to make an authorisation to allow access to journalists to report on events in communities
Prohibition on Land Councils revoking TO permits and vice versa	17 February 2008	Prohibition is in place	Prior position will be reinstated

Sub-measure: Ongoing accommodation for Australian Government personnel in remote communities.

What are we aiming to do?

This initiative aims to improve the temporary accommodation standards for GBMs to facilitate their work within remote communities.

Why are we delivering this?

Current temporary staff accommodation in cyclone prone coastal areas (24 locations) is provided through 20 foot containers. These are very small and basic and do not provide an environment suitable for longer term occupation.

The provision of better temporary accommodation will provide a more positive living environment and assist in both the recruitment and retention of GBMs.

How are we delivering this?

Demountable complexes comprising of two demountables joined by a common breezeway will be established within each of the 24 coastal community locations. The demountable complexes will be installed in priority order as resources become available. Subject to environmental conditions, the intention is to install all the demountables within the communities by December 2008.

What has been achieved?

Demountables have been purchased and installation will commence late August 2008.

Next steps

Examine future staff accommodation requirements based on the outcomes of the NTER Review.

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Measure: Coordination

Sub-measure: Taskforce role

What are we aiming to do?

The NTER Taskforce (NTERT) was appointed to oversight the response to deal with child abuse and family violence and remote Aboriginal communities in the NT.

Why are we delivering this?

The NTERT was formed to advise the Australian Government and oversee the implementation of the NTER during the first year.

How are we delivering this?

The Taskforce was appointed by the former Government and chaired by Dr Sue Gordon AM, with Major General Dave Chalmers AO CSC as the Operational Commander in charge of the Operations Centre.

What has been achieved?

The Taskforce's final report to the Australian Government, available at www.fahcsia.gov.au/nter/reports, was released on 21 June 2008.

Next steps

The Taskforce ceased on 30 June 2008.

Sub-measure: Government Business Managers

What are we aiming to do?

To improve governance of communities

Why are we delivering this?

So that problems can be tackled community by community, with local input and ownership.

How are we delivering this?

Government Business Managers (GBMs) are being appointed in Indigenous communities as part of the NTER.

GBMs are the single face of the Australian Government at the local community level. They will be in place in communities for at least five years and may work across more than one community.

The GBMs have a leadership role in coordinating Australian Government work at the community level to ensure the effective whole-of-government delivery of services in communities and to maximise the benefits to the community of Australian Government funding provided to the community.

The role of GBMs can be expected to evolve over time as the NTER moves into its next phases and with the rollout of local government reforms in the NT.

Where GBMs are not deployed, such as in town camps, outstations and other small communities (eg Mataranka), Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) and the NTER Operations Centre will work together to coordinate Australian Government effort.

GBMs provide the key liaison and consultation point in communities and are key sources of local information to the NTER Operations Centre and Australian Government agencies about progress of the NTER measures, government-funded service delivery and issues impacting on the local communities. Their knowledge and information will guide coordinated government action and decision-making that is tailored to the on-the-ground needs of the community.

The Government Business Managers' Flexible Funding Pool (GBM FFP) contributes to the stabilising and supporting of communities by facilitating a streamlined response to immediate community needs that cannot be addressed through other established programs. Priorities are identified by the GBM through consultation with the community, the relevant ICC and the NTER Operations Centre.

The GBM FFP has enabled minor infrastructure repairs and upgrades within the community and projects aimed at enhancing community capability across the NTER communities. Some examples of activities funded from the GBM FFP include the fencing of houses, training for Indigenous people in business and management skills, upgrades to ovals and playgrounds, purchase of fire fighting equipment and child restraints to enable children to safely travel to medical treatment.

What has been achieved?

At 30 June 2008, 55 GBMs were employed providing service to 72 NTER communities.22

Next steps

Funding has been provided for 2008-09 to continue GBM roles in communities.

Sub-measure: Community engagement (including Leadership Development) and volunteering programs

What are we aiming to do?

To facilitate greater engagement and involvement of Indigenous people at the community and local level in policy development and service delivery.

Why are we delivering this?

Community engagement is considered a success factor in complex implementations. Engagement of volunteers was considered as a way to address skill needs and to include highly motivated individuals who wished to contribute to the well-being of Indigenous Australians.

How are we delivering this?

The Indigenous Leadership and Engagement Group (ILEG) developed and delivered a community engagement approach for the NTER resulting in engagement with and support for development of 300 Indigenous people from targeted communities. The approach was to use a series of workshops for key people from the NT communities to promote understanding of the NTER and the implementation process and encourage communities to engage effectively with government representatives. ILEG was able to establish contact with key community stakeholders through its network of past leadership development course participants, and so set up regional workshops to cover the 73 NTER communities.

The community engagement workshops were successful in promoting understanding of Government plans and their implementation among Indigenous communities, and in encouraging communities to engage effectively in the implementation (for example, by articulating their communities' priorities across the measures to be available via the NTER). Workshop facilitators conducted a qualitative assessment of success in achieving the community engagement aims.

The approach of the new Government is to be more consultative and responsive to the expressed views of Indigenous people. The community engagement approach aligns very well with the change in policy direction and coordination and appropriate sequencing should prove less difficult in future. No formal evaluation process was possible.

What has been achieved?

Community engagement and leadership

ILEG developed and delivered the workshops to 178 people, covering the 73 NTER communities between July and November 2007. A further six cluster workshops which included a leadership training component were delivered to another 122 participants between January and June 2008.

The community engagement approach, as assessed by the workshop organisers/facilitators, was that all stakeholders gained a better understanding of what was planned by the Government and how it could affect them. The reaction to the workshops was generally positive, although a few participants remained pessimistic. The value of engaging actively with Government was well understood.

Details on the NTER Community Engagement Workshops are as follows:

• Phase 1, June – December 2007, approximately 178 participants, delivered in Alice Springs, Darwin, Erldunda, Katherine and Nhulunbuy
• Phase 2, Cluster Workshops March – June 2008, approximately 122 participants, delivered in McDonald Shire, Vic/Daly & Roper/Gulf Shires, Tiwi Islands Shire, Barkly Shire, West Arnhem Shire and Darwin Town Camps and near-by communities.

Volunteers

With the exception of paid medical volunteers to assist with CHCs, no volunteers have been deployed as this initiative raised a number of operational difficulties which have not been resolved. These difficulties include:

• lack of suitable transport to and accommodation in Indigenous communities
• need to provide a high level of supervision and support to volunteers in order to meet the duty of care obligations to volunteers and community members
• unresolved insurance issues, including occupational health and safety obligations.

Next steps

The major message from all the workshops was that there needs to be more communication with community members. People want to know what is going on and how they can be involved.

The 2008-09 Budget also provides for the engagement of up to 20 Indigenous community members to act as community agents, providing a conduit between community and government representatives and facilitating greater community input to government decision making.

The volunteers initiative is not continuing.

Sub-measure: Commonwealth Ombudsman support for the NTER

What are we aiming to do?

The Commonwealth Ombudsman will investigate complaints from people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or unreasonably by an Australian Government agency.

Why are we delivering this?

To provide transparency and an avenue for review and procedural fairness to people in communities affected by the NTER.

How are we delivering this?

The Commonwealth Ombudsman was provided with funding to investigate complaints from people who believe that they have been treated unfairly or unreasonably by an Australian Government agency in connection with the NTER and provide an objective channel of communication for Indigenous communities.

Staff of the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman have been visiting NTER communities, and investigating complaints.

What has been achieved?

By 30 June 2008, the Commonwealth Ombudsman had received 489 complaints, of those, 340 have been or are being investigated.

By 30 June 2008, the Commonwealth Ombudsman had visited 39 communities and town camps and held complaint clinics in Alice Springs and Wadeye.

Next steps

The target is to visit all NTER communities after the commencement of IM.

Sub-measure: Logistical support (including temporary accommodation, telecommunications and vehicles)

What are we aiming to do?

To provide logistical and administrative support

Why are we delivering this?

Joint Task Force (JTF) 641, and in particular North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE), was engaged to conduct this support because of its familiarity with area of operation (NT), ability to mobilise quickly and ability to adapt to change at short notice.

How are we delivering this?

On the 27 June 2007, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) commenced Operation OUTREACH by raising JTF 641, with the objective to provide direct support to the immediate rollout of NTER operations. The ADF responded within 48 hours of notification of the task and deployed from Darwin.

Composition

JTF 641 comprised primarily of the NORFORCE as the lead unit. Members involved were drawn from all three services (Navy, Army and Air Force). ADF members included both full and part-time personnel, with a diverse range of experience from across Australia including almost 200 Indigenous personnel in various capacities within the JTF.

Task

Tasks included transport and communications, camping support, accommodation, meals and rations, distribution of construction stores and other commodities, linguistic support and liaison.

Physical

JTF 641 provided enabling logistics and base infrastructure support to NTER through the physical deployment of ADF assets to support DoHA, CHC teams and the establishment of NT police stations in some communities. JTF 641 provided land, air and sea transport to other government agencies. NORFORCE established processes and enabled the transmission of both data and voice communications.

Brokering

NORFORCE acted as a two way interface between communities and government agencies. Initial misgivings and uncertainty about the emergency response were alleviated by the communication of the intention and intended outcomes of the NTER to the community.

Duration of Support

Agreed levels of support to the stabilisation phase of the NTER were provided from 27 June 2007 and ceased on 31 December 2008. After 31 December 2008, FaHCSIA and other agencies became responsible for logistical support for their operations.

What has been achieved?

Aim of logistical support was achieved.

Next steps

Ongoing NTER logistical support provided through FaHCSIA and other agencies involved.

---

1. Note: Whilst Community Employment Brokers (CEBs) is not a separate NTER measure (it is a sub-measure of the Welfare Reform and Employment Measure) it is important to note that CEBs play a key coordination role for DEEWR employment and education services and programs and work closely with Government Business Managers as the key Australian Government representatives within communities.

2. Gordon, S Hallahan, K Henry, D (2002), Putting the picture together, Inquiry into Response by Government Agencies to Complaints of Family Violence and Child Abuse in Aboriginal Communities, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia, Chapter 9 - Policing pp. 197-231.

3. Senate Community Affairs Committee, (2006), Beyond Petrol Sniffing: Renewing Hope for Indigenous Communities, Parliament of Australia, Canberra, 26 June 2006, http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/COMMITTEE/CLAC_CTTE/completed_inquiries/2004-07/petrol_sniffing/report/c01.htm.

4. Valentin, JP (2007) An Independent Assessment of Policing in Remote Indigenous Communities for the Government of Australia, http://www.facs.gov.au/Internet/Minister3.nsf/content/valentin_25may07.htm, pp 12-15 re NT police presence in remote communities.

5. LCS, Chapter 10, pp. 109.

6. Please note: The numbers represented above are related to the distance between a community and the closest police station. Actual response times are dependent on the urgency of the situation, police resources and availability (police may be responding to a situation in a different community), police transportation (car, boat or plane) and accessibility to the community (dependant on weather conditions).

7. 'THEMIS' is the operation name selected by the NT Police for their component of the NT Government response to the National Taskforce Against Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities.

8. LCS, Chapter 21, pp. 191, Rec. 76.

9. Blagg H, (2003) An Overview of Night Patrol Services in Australia, 2003, Attorney-Generals' Dept, Canberra. <http://www.crimeprevention.gov.au/agd/www/rwpattach.nsf/personal/5F8FC82F1B5448FCCA256E6F00070F68/$FILE/NightPatrol.htm>.

10. Vos T, Barker B, Stanley L, Lopez AD, (2007), The burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2003. Brisbane: School of Population Health, The University of Queensland.

11. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Welfare Unit, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2008 Progress of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Child Health Check Initiative: Health Conditions and Referrals, Canberra. <http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/nterchciProgressReport>.

12. LCS report, Chapter 8, rec 19, pp102-103.

13. Senate Community Affairs Committee, (2006), Beyond Petrol Sniffing: Renewing Hope for Indigenous Communities, Parliament of Australia, Canberra, 26 June 2006 http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/COMMITTEE/CLAC_CTTE/completed_inquiries/2004-07/petrol_sniffing/report/c01.htm.

14. Senate Community Affairs Committee,(2006), Beyond Petrol Sniffing: Renewing Hope for Indigenous Communities, Parliament of Australia, Canberra, 26 June 2006 http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/COMMITTEE/CLAC_CTTE/completed_inquiries/2004-07/petrol_sniffing/report/c01.htm.

15. A person with an RAE is not required to satisfy the activity test in return for their income support payment (i.e. they do not have to look for work or participate in services and programs).

16.The Jobs Package provides funding for jobs in Australian Government and NT Government service delivery provision for former CDEP clients. The Government has committed funding to create paid jobs to support the delivery of government services rather than relying on CDEP to do this work. The Government will continue the process of converting CDEP positions delivering Australian Government services and will also work with state and territory governments to convert positions to support state and territory services.

17. Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership,(2007), From Hand Out to Hand Up, Cape York Welfare Reform Project, Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, Mossman Gorge, Design recommendation, Cairns.

18. Commonwealth Grants Commission (2001), Report on Indigenous Funding, Commonwealth Grants Commission, Commonwealth Grants Commission, Canberra, pp148-191, in particular conclusions re infrastructure at p. 191.

19. Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs,(2007), Living in the Sunburnt Country, Indigenous Housing: Findings of the Review of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Programme, Final Report, February 2007, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Ch 4, pp 51-84.

20. Productivity Commission, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage – Key Indicators reports 2003, 2005, 2007 (environmental health, sewerage and clean water).

21. Department of Families, Community Services And Indigenous Affairs (2006), Discussion Paper, 'Access to Aboriginal Land under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Rights Act – Time for Change?', October 2006 http://www.oipc.gov.au/permit_system/docs/permits_Discussion_Paper.pdf.

22. The community of Acacia Larrakia is an NTER community temporarily not serviced by a GBM.

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Appendix 2: NTER measures rollout timetable by community

 

NTER measures rollout timetable by community

This information has been submitted by relevant agencies and is current as of 25 July - 19 August 2008	Welfare Reform and Employment										Promoting Law and Order									Enhancing Education					Supporting Families								Improving Child & Family Health			Housing & Land Reform										Coordination
Communities	Income Management - Implementation Start (1)	Income Management - Implementation Finish (1)	Income Management - Commencement (1)	Community Stores Licensing - Start Date (2)	Community Stores Licensing - Expiry Date (2)	Community Stores Licensing - Store (2)	Community Stores Licensing - Status (2)	RAE Lifts - Dates (week commencing) (3)	CDEP Transition - Date (4)	Community Employment Brokers - Dates Allocated to Communities (20)	Increased Police Presence- No. of Added Positions (5)	Increased Police Presence - Date Commenced (week ending) (5)	Themis Stations - Operational Date (week ending) (6)	Station Upgrades - Status (7)	Banning alcohol (legislation enacted) (8)	Banning Pornography (legislation enacted) (9)	Expansion of Night Patrols - Date Operational (10)	NT Aboriginal Interpreter Services & Additional Legal Services for Indigenous Australians (34)	Australian Crime Commission (National Intelligence Taskforce & Child Abuse Desk) (21)	School Nutrition Program - Commencement Date (11)	Additional Classrooms - Expected Completion Dates (22)	Scaffolding literacy (Accelerating Literacy Program) (23)	Additional Teachers (24)	Quality Teacher Package (25)	Safe Houses - Type (12)	Safe Houses - Completion Date (12)	Safe Houses - Status (12)	Playgroups (26)	Indigenous Children Program (27)	Invest to Grow (28)	Youth Alcohol Diversionary Services (29)	RAFCW - Children at risk workers for NT Protection Services (13)	Drug & Alcohol Treatment & Rehabilitation Services (30)	Child Special Services (31)	Child Health Checks & Medical Follow up Treatment (14)	Leases - Signed (15)	Leases - Duration (years) (15)	Cadastral Surveys - Date of Completion(16)	Make Safe Works 1 (17)	Minor Vital Repairs 1 (17)	Make Safe Works 2 - Flying Squad (17)	Minor Vital Repairs 2 - Flying Squad (17)	Painting (17)	Abestos Survey (17)	All CCU Works Completed (17)	GBMs (18)	Community Consultation Visits - MG Dave Chalmers (19)	Community Consultation Visits - Brian Stacey (19)	Community Consultation Visits - Sue Gordon (19)	Community Consultation Visits - Taskforce (19)	Community Visits - Ombudsman (32)
Acacia Larrakia	29 Oct 2007	12 Dec 2007	13 Dec 2007				Food security provided from Pine Creek and Katherine	15 Oct 2007	16 Nov 2007	15 Nov 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	20 Aug 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008															Mar - Apr 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	11 Jul 2008	08 May 2008	16 Jun 2008			16 Jun 2008	16 May 2008	16 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007		25-26 Oct 2007			31 Jan 2008 6-11 March 2008
Ali Curung	25 Feb 2008	4 Apr 2008	7 Apr 2008	23 Jun 2008 1 Jul 2008	22 Dec 2008 30 Jun 2009	Warrabri Bakery Ali Curung Store - Outback Stores	Licensed Corporate License - Outback Stores	Pre NTER		17 Dec 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008		21 May 2008		May 2008							1/05/2008;1/05/08				Jun - Jul 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	3 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008	04 Jun 2008			26 Jun 2008	18 Apr 2006	26 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007					05 Mar 2008
Alpurrurulam (Lake Nash)	14 Apr 2008	23 May 2008	26 May 2008	26 May 2008	25 Aug 2008	Alpurrurulam Store	Licensed	6 Aug 2007		01 May 2008	3	20 Dec 2008	20 Dec 2008		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	26 May 2008	30 Sep 2008	24 Jul 2008												01 May 2008	Apr - May 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	28 May 2008	18 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008			25 Jun 2008	17 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008	03 Sep 2007	11 Feb 2008	15 Apr 2008
Amanbidji (Kildirk)			Not scheduled at this time				Food security options are being investigated	24 Sep 2007		Not Assigned					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	Program not finalised															Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	22 Jun 2008	11 Apr 2008	26 May 2008			30 Jun 2008	23 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	12 Jul 2008		09 May 2008
Amoonguna	29 Oct 2007	13 Dec 2007	7 Jan 2008			Amoonguna Store	Not licensed - Under Assessment	Pre NTER	16 Nov 2007	23 Jul 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008													01 Apr 2008		Jul 2007 - Jun 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	23 May 2008						Apr 2008	Entry refused by Council	24 Aug 2007		4 Oct 2007
Ampilatwatja (Aherrenge)	14 Apr 2008	23 May 2008	26 May 2008	26 May 2008	25 Nov 2008	Aherrenge Community Store	Licensed	29 Oct 2007		29 Mar 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	26 May 2008				May 2008							13/6/08;5/4/08;4/4/08;1/04/08;7/12/07				Apr - Jun 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	16 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008	10 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	15 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007		14 Apr 2008	08 Nov 2008
Angurugu	21 Apr 2008	11 Jul 2008	14 Jul 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Angurugu Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	24 Sep 2007		19 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 July 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		07 Apr 2008		May 2008	Men & Youth	13 Jun 2008	Complete, not operational				1/05/08;28/5/08				Oct - Dec 2007	20 May 2008 Letter of Intent	40							28 Jun 2008	28 Jun 2008	03 Sep 2007	27 Nov 2007	30 Apr 2008 19-20 May 2008	30 Apr 2008
Areyonga	1 Oct 2007	9 Nov 2007	19 Nov 2007	1 Jul 2008	31 Aug 2008	Areyonga Store	Licensed	6 Aug 2007	9 Nov 2007	07 Aug 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	31 March 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	12 Nov 2007		29 Jul 2008		May 2008							1/05/08;4/4/08;4/4/08;7/12/07		01 Apr 2008		Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	7 Jun 2008	19 Oct 2007	09 Jun 2008	04 Apr 2008	09 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	12 Mar 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Aug 2007		2 Oct 2007	2 Oct 2007 14 Apr 2008		15 Nov 2007
Atitjere (Harts Range)	4 Feb 2008	20 Mar 2008	25 Mar 2008	7 Apr 2008 25 Mar 2008	30 Jun 2008 24 Sep 2008	Bonya (Homelands) Store Atitjere Store	Under review for license extension Licensed	23 Jul 2007		03 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Mar 2008	30 Sep 2008	14 Aug 2008		May 2008							13/6/08;5/4/08;28/3/08;7/12/07				Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	16 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008	28 Apr 2008			27 Jun 2008	20 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008	24 Sep 2007		31 Jan 2008	8 Nov 2007 31 Jan 2008
Barunga (Bamyili)	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Barunga Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	28 Oct 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008															Oct - Dec 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	4 Jun 2008	19 Dec 2007	17 Apr 2008			14 Feb 2008	05 Feb 2008	17 Apr 2008	22 Oct 2007	12 Mar 2008 7 Jun 2008		12 Mar 2008 6-7 Jun 2008	12 Mar 2008	11 Dec 2007 2 July 2008
Belyuen	29 Oct 2007	25 Feb 2008	25 Feb 2008	25 Feb 2008	24 Aug 2008	Delissaville Store	Licensed	22 Oct 2007	16 Nov 2007	26 Nov 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5 Aug 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Feb 2008											4/04/08				Sep - Oct 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	16 Jun 2008	13 Dec 2007	10 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	29 May 2008	29 May 2008	22 Oct 2007	27 May 2008	25-26 Oct 2007	27 May 2008		12 Mar 2007 22 Apr 2008
Beswick (Wugalarr)	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	25 Dec 2007	1 Jul 2008	31 Aug 2008	Wuduluk Store	Licensed	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	29 Oct 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008					Men & Youth	10 Jul 2008	Complete, not operational					30 June 2008 1 full time - recruited			Oct - Dec 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	2 Jun 2008	21 Dec 2007	18 Apr 2008			14 Feb 2008	06 Feb 2008	18 Apr 2008	22 Oct 2007	09 Apr 2008		12 Mar 9 Apr 2008 6 Jun 2008		11 Dec 2007 2 July 2008
Binjari	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007				Food security provided from Katherine	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	08 Nov 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Currently operating and serviced by Kalano Association	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	22 Jul 2008											4/06/08				Nov 2007 - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	9 Apr 2008	21 Dec 2007	23 May 2008			30 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008	30 Jun 2008	12 Nov 2007		9-10 Oct 2007	08 May 2008		11 Dec 2007 30 Jan 2008
Bulla (Gubabijin)			Not scheduled at this time			Bulla Community Store	Not licensed - Assessment process underway	24 Sep 2007		Not Assigned					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	Program not finalised															Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	19 May 2008	11 Apr 2008	23 May 2008			19 Jun 2008	23 Apr 2008	19 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	11 Jul 2008		08 May 2008
Bulman	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Gulin Gulin Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	28 Oct 2007	3	18 Nov 2007	18 Nov 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008	30 Sep 2008										1/04/08;9/5/08				Oct - Nov 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	28 Jun 2008	11 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008			30 Jun 2008	01 Jul 2008	01 Jul 2008	24 Sep 2007	04 Dec 2007	05 Dec 2007	04 Dec 2007		01 Jul 2008
Canteen Creek (Owairtilla)	25 Feb 2008	4 Apr 2008	7 Apr 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Canteen Creek Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	Pre NTER		12 Mar 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008	30 Sep 2008	20 May 2008		May 2008							1/05/08			May, June 08	Jun 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	5 Jun 2008	13 Feb 2008	13 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	15 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	22 Oct 2007		22-24 Oct 2007	22-24 Oct 2007
Daguragu	31 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	19 May 2008				Food security provided from Kalkarindji	24 Sep 2007		06 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	19 May 2008											1/04/08;18/4/08;18/4/08			April, June 08	Feb - Mar 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	11 Jun 2008	25 Feb 2008	02 May 2008			30 Jun 2008	12 May 2008	30 Jun 2008	01 Oct 2007	29 Apr 2008	27 Mar 2008	29 Apr 2008
Engawala (Alcoota)	4 Feb 2008	20 Mar 2008	25 Mar 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Engawala Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	23 Jul 2007		05 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Mar 2008		13 Aug 2008		May 2008							13/6/08;28/03/08;20/3/08				Jul - Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	14 Jun 2008	28 Jan 2008	28 Apr 2008			27 Jun 2008	21 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	12 Feb 2008	31 Jan 2008	31 Jan 2008
Finke (Apatula)	20 Aug 2007	14 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2008	Aputula (Finke) Community Store	Licensed	20 Aug 2007	7 Sep 2007	03 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	17 Sep 2007		To be scheduled		May 2008	Men & Youth	14 Apr 2008	Complete, not operational			Jan - March 08 NPY Nutrition team: intensive family support for chidlren with nutritional deficiencies; and nutrition education sessions	4/04/08				Jul 2007				21 Sep 2007	29 Feb 2008	07 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	30 Jun 2008	01 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	01 Jul 2007	11 Sep 2007	11 Sep 2007	23 Aug 2007 4 Feb 2008		12 Nov 2007
Galiwinku (Elcho Island)	4 Feb 2008	20 Mar 2008	25 Mar 2008	1 Mar 2008 16 Jun 2008	31 Aug 2008 15 Sep 2008	Galiwinku Community Store - Arhnemland Progress Association Takirrina Top Store - Harry Chin Seng Low	Corporate License - ALPA Licensed	12 Nov 2007		08 Feb 2008	3	12 Nov 2007	12 Nov 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Mar 2008		28 Jul 2008: 7 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	May 2008							4/04/08	30 June 2008 1 full time - recruited		01 May 2008	Nov 2007 - May 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	5 Jun 2008	23 Jun 2008	24 Jun 2008				22 Jul 2008	22 Jul 2008	02 Feb 2008	07 Apr 2007	4 Feb 2008	22-24 Oct 2007 7 Apr 2008 26 May 2008	22-24 Oct 2007 7 Apr 2008
Gapuwiyak (Lake Evella)	7 Apr 2008	6 Jun 2008	10 Jun 2008	1 Mar 2008	31 Aug 2008	Gapuwijak Community Store - Arhnemland Progress Association	Corporate License - ALPA	12 Nov 2007		29 Mar 2008	3	14 Jan 2008	14 Jan 2008		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 July 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008	30 Sep 2008	07 Apr 2008		May 2008							11/04/08;16/5/08			01 May 2008	Oct 2007 - Feb 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	8 Jul 2008	01 May 2008	16 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	19 Jun 2008	19 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007		11 Apr 2008
Gunbalanya (Oenpelli)	10 Mar 2008	18 Apr 2008	21 Apr 2008	21 Apr 2008 21 Apr 2008 21 Apr 2008	20 Jun 2008 20 Oct 2008 20 Oct 2008	Demed Council store Service station store	Under review for license extension Licensed Licensed	Pre NTER		05 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008		07 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	May 2008							24/04/08;24/04/08;24/4/08;24/4/08;1/5/08;1/5/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;9/5/08;21/5/08;23/5/08;15/6/08	30 June 2008 recruited			Oct 2007 - Mar 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	14 May 2008	05 May 2008	27 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	26 May 2008	27 Jun 2008	10 Sep 2007	30 Aug 2007	21 Jan 2008 13 Mar 2008			25 Jun 2008
Gunyangara (Ski Beach, Marngarr)	28 Apr 2008	6 Jun 2008	10 Jun 2008				Food security provided from Nhullunby	12 Nov 2007		24 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008													01 Mar 2008	01 Jun 2008	Nov 2007 - Mar 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	5 Jun 2008	24 Mar 2008	19 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008		23 Apr 2008	07 Sep 2007
Haasts Bluff (Ikuntji)	12 May 2008	11 Jul 2008	14 Jul 2008	14 Jul 2008	22 Dec 2008	Kanparrka Store	Licensed	24 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	03 Jul 2007	2	11 Jul 2007	11 Jul 2007	Under construction: Infrastructure 15 Aug & Comms/IT 18 Aug 2008	18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008											5/04/08;4/4/08				Jul 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	1 Jun 2008	21 Dec 2007	27 Feb 2008			27 Jun 2008	13 Dec 2007	27 Jun 2008	22 Oct 2007	15 Apr 2008	22 Oct 2007
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)	1 Oct 2007	9 Nov 2007	19 Nov 2007	12 Nov 2007 1 Jul 2008	9 May 2008 31 Jan 2009	Ntaria Community Store Finke River Mission Store	Under review for license extension Licensed	6 Aug 2007	26 Oct 2007	04 Jul 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	12 Nov 2007		07 Aug 2008	21 Jul 2008	May 2008	Women & Children	7 Apr 2008	Complete, not operational				13/6/08;1/05/08;1/05/08;5/4/08;7/12/07	30 June 2008 1 full time - recruited	01 Apr 2008		Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	12 Jun 2008	28 Sep 2007	30 May 2008	21 Mar 2008	30 May 2008	30 Jun 2008	13 Mar 2008	30 Jun 2008	20 Aug 2007	19 Jul 2007 28 Aug 2007 28 Oct 2007	3 Oct 2007 15 Jan 2008	28 Oct 2007 15 Jan 2008		14-15 Nov 2007 19 Dec 2007
Imangara (Murray Downs)	18 Jun 2008	25 Jul 2008	28 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari Aboriginal Coporation via IGA - Alice Springs) - commenced 28 July 2008	Pre NTER		18 Dec 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008	30 Sep 2008														Not done - still to be scheduled by DHF	17 Feb 2008	5	3 Jun 2008	04 Feb 2008	23 Jun 2008			24 Jun 2008	18 Apr 2008	24 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007
Imanpa (Mt Ebeneezer)	20 Aug 2007	14 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Imanpa Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	23 Jul 2007	14 Sep 2007	11 Jul 2007	2	11 Jul 2007	11 Jul 2007	Scheduled Yet to commence	18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	17 Sep 2007	30 Sep 2008	21 Jul 2008								Jan - March 08 NPY Nutrition team: intensive family support for chidlren with nutritional deficiencies; and nutrition education sessions			01 Apr 2008		Jul 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	6 June 20008	10 Aug 2007	30 Nov 2007	07 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	16 May 2008	07 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	24 Jul 2007		6 Sep 2007	21 Aug 2007		25 Sep 2007 13 Nov 2007
Jilkminggan (Duck Creek)	10 Jun 2008	4 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Jilkminggan Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	22 Oct 2007		01 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008	30 Sep 2008										1/04/08;28/3/08				Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	10 Apr 2008	30 Jan 2008	13 May 2008			19 Jun 2008	14 May 2008	19 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	09 Apr 2008	24 Jan 2008 8 May 2008	09 Apr 2008
Kalkarindji (Wave Hill)	31 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	19 May 2008				Food security provided from Kalkarindji Service Station Store and Kalkarindji Meat Supply	24 Sep 2007		06 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	19 May 2008		07 Apr 2008		May 2008	Women & Children		Planning commenced							April, June 08	Feb - Mar 2008				25 Feb 2008	05 May 2008			30 Jun 2008	11 May 2008	30 Jun 2008	01 Oct 2007	29 Apr 2008	27 Mar 2008	29 Apr 2008
Kaltukatjara (Docker River)	22 Oct 2007	10 Dec 2007	11 Dec 2007	1 Jul 2008	31 Jan 2009	Docker River Store	Licensed	20 Aug 2007	9 Nov 2007	09 Jul 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008		21 Jul 2008								Jan - March 08 NPY Nutrition team: intensive family support for chidlren with nutritional deficiencies; and nutrition education sessions.	24/04/08				Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	4 Jun 2008	02 Nov 2007	30 May 2008	18 Apr 2008	05 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	06 Mar 2008	30 Jun 2008	10 Aug 2007	15 Apr 2008	19 Oct 2007	22 Aug 2007 14-15 Apr 2008
Kintore (Walungurru)	22 Oct 2007	10 Dec 2007	11 Dec 2007	1 Jul 2008	31 Jan 2009	Kintore Store	Licensed	8 Oct 2007	9 Nov 2007	01 Aug 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008		28 Jul 2008 To be scheduled		May 2008							13/6/08;2/5/08;24/4/08;5/4/08;28/3/08;7/12/07		01 Apr 2008		Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	6 June 20008	05 Oct 2007	01 Apr 2008	02 May 2008	06 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	05 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	28 Jun 2007	17 Aug 2007	19 Oct 2007 31 Jan - 1 Feb 2008	07 Apr 2008		17 Apr 2008
Kybrook Farm	10 Jun 2008	18 Jul 2008	21 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Pine Creek and Katherine	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	06 Nov 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008															Aug - Dec 2007				22 May 2008	13 Jun 2008			28 Jun 2008	09 May 2008	28 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007		9-10 Oct 2007 13 May 2008			12 Mar 2008
Lajamanu (Hooker Creek)	31 Mar 2008	16 May 2008	19 May 2008	19 May 2008	18 Nov 2008	Lajamanu Progress Association Store	Licensed	24 Sep 2007		26 Mar 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	2 Jun 2008		07 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	May 2008	Women & Children	11 Jul 2008	Complete, not operational				2/05/08				Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	15 Jun 2008	15 Feb 2008	10 May 2008			30 Jun 2008	15 May 2008	30 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	29 Apr 2008	31 Mar 2008	29 Apr 2008
Laramba			Not scheduled at this time			Laramba Community Aboriginal Store Napperby Station	Not licensed - Under Assessment Not licensed - Under Assessment	6 Aug 2007		06 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	Program not finalised	30 Sep 2008										28/3/08;20/3/08				Jul - Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	3 Jun 2008	20 Dec 2007	23 Apr 2008			27 Jun 2008	15 Jan 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	01 Oct 2007
Maningrida	17 Mar 2008	2 May 2008	6 May 2008	6 May 2008 6 May 2008	5 Aug 2008 5 Nov 2008	Maningrida Progress Association Store Bawinanga Aboriginal Corp Store	Licensed Licensed	29 Oct 2007		24 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	5 May 2008	30 Sep 2008	07 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	Apr 2008	Men & Youth Women & Children		Planning commenced			Let's Start; discussions to possibly provide training for program in preschools	24/4/08;24/04/08;24/04/08;2/5/08;3/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;16/05/08;23/5/08;20/6/08				Aug - Nov 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	19 May 2008	10 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	16 Jun 2008	16 Jun 2008	24 Sep 2007	23-24 Jul 2007 1 May 2008	14 Mar 2008	23-24 Jul 2007 1 May 2008
Manyallaluk (Eva Valley)	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007				Food security provided from Barunga, Beswick and Katherine	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	31 Oct 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008															Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	23 Jun 2008	31 Jan 2008	14 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	07 Feb 2008	14 May 2008	22 Oct 2007	12 Mar 2008		12 Mar 2008	12 Mar 2008	11 Dec 2007 30 Jun 2008
Milikapiti (Snake Bay)	18 Feb 2008	11 Apr 2008	14 Apr 2008	31 Mar 2008	30 Sep 2008	Milikapitit Community Store	Licensed	Pre NTER		09 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008			21 Jul 2008							13 May 08 Let's Start; network meetings and discussions for possible program in preschools					Sep 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	31 May 2008	25 Mar 2008	16 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	08 Jun 2008	16 Jun 2008	17 Dec 2007	8 Aug 2007 12 Dec 2007	14-16 Nov 2007 12 Dec 2007 18-19 Feb 2008 27 Feb 2008	13 Feb 2008 27 Feb 2008		08 Jul 2008
Milingimbi	7 Apr 2008	23 May 2008	26 May 2008	1 Mar 2008	31 Aug 2008	Milingimbi Community Store - Arhnemland Progress Association	Corporate License - ALPA	8 Oct 2007		16 Dec 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	26 May 2008		07 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	Apr 2008				Approved by Minister as LSP site on 16-6-08			24/04/08				Sep 2007 - Feb 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	3 Jul 2008	26 Mar 2008	02 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	21 Jul 2008	21 Jul 2008	31 Aug 2007		7 Dec 2007 10 Apr 2008
Milyakburra (Bickerton Island)	21 Apr 2008	11 Jul 2008	14 Jul 2008	18 Jun 2008	17 Dec 2008	Milyakburra Community Store	Licensed	24 Sep 2007		17 Jul 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 July 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008															Dec 2007	20 May 2008 Letter of Intent	40							25 Jun 2008	25 Jun 2008	03 Sep 2007
Minjilang (Croker Island)	10 Mar 2008	24 Apr 2008	28 Apr 2008	1 Mar 2008	31 Aug 2008	Minjalang Community Store - Arhnemland Progress Association	Corporate License - ALPA	8 Oct 2007		26 Mar 2008	3	30 Jan 2008	30 Jan 2008		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008											24/04/08;24/04/08;24/04/08;1/5/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;28/5/08;10/6/08				Sep 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	23 May 2008	15 Apr 2008	20 May 2008			20 May 2008	30 Jul 2008	30 Jul 2008	06 Mar 2008	07 Feb 2008	22 Jan 2008 11/03/2008	07 Feb 2008		27 Jun 2008
Minyerri (Hodgson Downs)	10 Jun 2008	4 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008 7 Jul 2008	6 Jan 2009 6 Jan 2009	Mr Quinn's Store Alawa Store	Licensed Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	29 Oct 2007		07 May 2008	3	24 Dec 2007	24 Dec 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		07 Apr 2008		May 2008							28/03/08				Feb - Mar 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	26 Jun 2008	17 May 2008	23 May 2008				15 May 2008	23 May 2008	25 Feb 2008	26 Jun 2008	24 Jan 2008 8 May 2008	8 May 2008 26 Jun 2008
Mt Liebig (Watiyawanu)	22 Oct 2007	10 Dec 2007	11 Dec 2007	6 Dec 2008	5 Jun 2008	Amundurrngu Community Store	Under review for license extension	24 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	07 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008											13/6/08;1/05/08;5/4/08;28/3/08;7/12/07		01 Apr 2008		Jul - Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	4 Jun 2008	11 Dec 2007	18 Mar 2008			30 Jun 2008	05 Dec 2007	30 Jun 2008	10 Oct 2007	03 Aug 2007	22 Oct 2007			15 Apr 2008
Mutitjulu	20 Aug 2007	14 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	8 Jan 2008	7 Oct 2008	Ininti Store	Transfer license to new owner	13 Jul 2007		12 Jul 2007	3	5 Jul 2007	5 Jul 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	17 Sep 2007		28 July 2008 To be scheduled		May 2008						Jan - March 08 NPY Nutrition team: intensive family support for chidlren with nutritional deficiencies; and nutrition education sessions.		30 June 2008 1 part time - recruited	01 Apr 2008		Jul 2007	National Park	99		14 Sep 2007	20 Mar 2008	09 May 2008	06 Jun 2008	26 May 2008	06 Mar 2008	06 Jun 2008	24 Jul 2007	10 Oct 2007		21 Aug 2007		24 Sep 2007 14 Nov 2007
Nauiyu (Daly River)	29 Oct 2007	12 Dec 2007	13 Dec 2007	13 Dec 2007 13 Dec 2007	12 Jun 2008 12 Jun 2008	Daly Tucker Nauiyu Nambiyu Community Store	Under review for license extension Under review for license extension	Pre NTER	16 Nov 2007	14 Nov 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008		28 Jul 2008		28 Apr 2008						April-June 08 Let's Start; discussions to implement program in preschools	24/04/08;24/04/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;20/5/08;30/5/08;6/6/08	30 June 2008 recruited			Nov - Dec 2007				18 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008			01 Jul 2008	27 Jun 2008	01 Jul 2008	03 Sep 2007	11-12 Oct 2007	29 Oct 2007 17 Jan 2008 5-7 Feb 2008	11 Oct 2007 19 Nov 2007
Nguiu (Bathurst Island)	18 Feb 2008	28 Mar 2008	31 Mar 2008	31 Mar 2008 31 Mar 2008	30 Sep 2008 30 Sep 2008	Ranku Store -Wurankuwu Nuguiu Community Store	Licensed Licensed	Pre NTER		08 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008		28 Jul 2008		22 May 2008	Men & Youth Women & Children	16-20 June 2008	Complete, not operational					1 full time - trying to find suitable worker			Sep - Dec 2007	30 Aug 2007	99		29 May 2008	16 Jun 2008				17 Jun 2008	17 Jun 2008	08 Oct 2007	12 Dec 2007 22 May 2008	14-16 Nov 2007 12 Dec 2007 5-7 Feb 2008 18-19 Feb 2008	12 Dec 2007 19 Feb 2008 22 May 2008	22 May 2008
Ngukurr (Urapunga) (Roper River)	26 May 2008	4 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008	6 Sep 2009	Ngukurr Community Store	Licensed	8 Oct 2007		27 Mar 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		07 Apr 2008		May 2008	Men & Youth Women & Children		Construction in progress				28/03/08;4/6/08;6/6/08				Nov 2007 - Feb 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	27 Jun 2008	10 Apr 2008	16 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	08 May 2008	16 May 2008	24 Sep 2007	23 Oct 2007	24 Jan 2008 9 May 2008	22-24 Oct 2007	22-24 Oct 2007
Nturiya (Ti Tree Station)	18 Jun 2008	25 Jul 2008	28 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari Aboriginal Coporation via IGA - Alice Springs) - commenced 28 July 2008	8 Oct 2007		04 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008												30 June 2008 1 part time - recruited			Jul - Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	24 May 2008	21 Dec 2007	23 May 2008			27 Jun 2008	12 Dec 2007	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	01 Oct 2007	25 Jun 2008
Numbulwar Numburindi	6 May 2008	1 Jul 2008	2 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2008	29 Dec 2008	Numbulwar Community Store - Arhnemland Progress Association	Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	22 Oct 2007		Not Assigned	3	17 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		07 Apr 2008		Apr 2008				Approved by Minister as LSP site on 16-6-08			23/05/08				Nov 2007 - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	29 Jun 2008	21 Mar 2008	29 May 2008			14 Feb 2008	26 Jun 2008	26 Jun 2008	18 Feb 2008		7 May 2008
Nyirripi (Waites Creek)	17 Mar 2008	25 Apr 2008	28 Apr 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Nyirripi Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	1 Oct 2007		11 Sep 2007	3	11 Jul 2007	11 Jul 2007	Under construction: Infrastructure 15 Aug & Comms/IT 18 Aug 2008	18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	28 Apr 2008		To be scheduled		May 2008							2/05/08				Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	10 Jun 2008						03 Apr 2008	03 Apr 2008	28 Jul 2007		17 Mar 2008 28 Apr 2008
Palumpa (Nganmarriyanga)	15 Oct 2007	23 Nov 2007	26 Nov 2007	26 Nov 2007	23 May 2008	Nganmarriyanga Community Store	Under review for license extension	20 Aug 2007	2 Nov 2007	12 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008			21 Jul 2008												Aug - Sep 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	13 Jun 2008	02 May 2008	20 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	03 Jun 2008	27 Jun 2008	01 Oct 2007		11 Oct 2007			07 Jul 2008
Papunya	22 Oct 2007	10 Dec 2007	11 Dec 2007	6 Dec 2007	29 Apr 2008	Papunya Store	Under review for license extension	20 Aug 2007	9 Nov 2007	06 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008		25 Jul 2008		May 2008							13/6/08;1/05/08;11/4/08;5/4/08;28/3/08;7/12/07	1 full time - worker identified	01 Apr 2008		Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	29 May 2008	21 Dec 2007	20 Mar 2008			30 Jun 2008	06 Dec 2008	30 Jun 2008	22 Oct 2007	26 Sep 2007				15 Apr 2008
Peppimenarti	15 Oct 2007	23 Nov 2007	26 Nov 2007	1 Jul 2008	31 Jan 2009	Peppimenarti Store	Licensed	15 Oct 2007	2 Nov 2007	11 Sep 2007	3	10 Dec 2007	10 Dec 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	26 Nov 2007			21 Jul 2008		Women & Children (with additional capacity for youth)		Existing infrastructure renovations complete. Construction not yet commenced.								Dec 2007 May - Jun 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	11 Jun 2008	02 May 2008	20 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	22 May 2008	27 Jun 2008	01 Oct 2007	04 Dec 2007	11 Oct 2007			07 Jul 2008
Pigeon Hole	31 Mar 2008		Not scheduled at this time				Food security options are being investigated	24 Sep 2007		06 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	Program not finalised															Nov - Dec 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	20 Jun 2008	13 May 2008	19 Jun 2008			20 Jun 2008	21 Apr 2008	20 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007
Pirlangimpi (Garden Point)	18 Feb 2008	11 Apr 2008	14 Apr 2008	14 Apr 2008	13 Oct 2008	Pirlangimpi community store	Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	Pre NTER		09 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	10 Jun 2008										May 08 Let's Start; discussions to implement program in preschools	1/04/08				Sep 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	4 Jun 2008	25 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	11 Jun 2008	16 Jun 2008	17 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007	14-16 Nov 2008 12 Dec 2008 18-19 Feb 2008 27 Feb 2008	13 Feb 2008 27 Feb 2008 7 May 2008		08 Jul 2008
Pmara Jutunta (Ti Tree 6 Mile)	18 Jun 2008	25 Jul 2008	28 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari Aboriginal Coporation via IGA - Alice Springs) - commenced 28 July 2008	8 Oct 2007		04 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008					Men & Youth	7 Apr 2008	Complete, not operational						01 Apr 2008		Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	22 May 2008	28 Dec 2007	19 May 2008			27 Jun 2008	12 Dec 2007	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	01 Oct 2007	31 Jan 2008 25 Jun 2008	31 Jan 2008
Ramingining	7 Apr 2008	30 May 2008	2 Jun 2008	1 Mar 2008	31 Aug 2008	Ramingining Commuity Store - Arhnemland Progress Association	Corporate License - ALPA	12 Nov 2007		23 Aug 2008	3	21 Jan 2008	21 Jan 2008		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	2 Jun 2008		To be scheduled	21 Jul 2008	May 2008	Men & Youth Women & Children	26 May 2008 (both)	Complete, not operational				24/03/08;4/4/08;24/4/08			01 May 2008	Sep - Oct 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	1 Jul 2008	20 Mar 2008	25 Apr 2008			14 Feb 2008	18 Jun 2008	18 Jun 2008	03 Sep 2007	24 Oct 2007	11 Apr 2008	22-24 Oct 2007	22-24 Oct 2007
Rittarangu	10 Jun 2008	4 Jul 2008	7 Jul 2008			Food security provided from Ngukurr Community Store and Roper Bar Station Store		8 Oct 2007		08 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	SNP will not be delivered															Feb - Mar 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	1 Jul 2008	10 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	08 May 2008	16 Jun 2008	24 Sep 2007	26 Jun 2008	9 May 2008	26 Jun 2008
Robinson River	12 May 2008	20 Jun 2008	23 Jun 2008	25 Jun 2008	24 Dec 2008	Robinson River Community Store	Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	Pre NTER		07 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008															Oct - Nov 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	11 Jun 2008	16 May 2008	26 Jun 2008			30 Jun 2008	23 Jul 2008	23 Jul 2008	18 Feb 2008	07 Sep 2007	14 May 2008	22-24 Oct 2007	22-24 Oct 2007
Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte)	1 Oct 2007	9 Nov 2007	19 Nov 2007	12 Nov 2007	9 May 2008	Santa Teresa Community Store	Under review for license extension	6 Aug 2007	26 Oct 2007	27 Jun 2007	2	11 Jul 2007	11 Jul 2007	Delivery of infrastructure anticipated to commence 1 August 2008	18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008		28 Jul 2008		02 Jun 2008							13/6/08;5/4/08;20/3/08;7/12/07		01 Apr 2008		Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	25 May 2008	31 Aug 2007	09 Jun 2008	29 Feb 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	07 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	10 Sep 2007	27 Aug 2007	27 Sep 2007			07 Nov 2007
Tara	4 Feb 2008	4 Apr 2008	7 Apr 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari (PAK) Aboriginal Coporation via IGA - Alice Springs) - commenced 7 Apr under PAK only model and transitions on 28 July to current model	10 Sep 2007		04 Feb 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008		22 Jul 2008		May 2008											Jun 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	24 May 2008	01 Feb 2008	12 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	18 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	24 Jun 2008	31 Jan 2008 24 Jun 2008	31 Jan 2008		18 Jun 2008
Titjikala	20 Aug 2007	14 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2007	17 Sep 2008	Titjikala Community Store	Licensed	Pre NTER	28 Sep 2007	28 Jun 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008		To be scheduled		May 2008							13/6/08;5/4/08;7/12/08		01 Apr 2008		Jul 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	29 May 2008	14 Sep 2007	15 Feb 2008	04 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008	14 Feb 2008	09 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008	31 Aug 2007	16 Jul 2007 11 Sep 2007	11 Sep 2007	22-24 Oct 2007	16 Jul 2007 22-24 Oct 2007	26 Sep 2007 8 Nov 2007
Umbakumba	21 Apr 2008	11 Jul 2008	14 Jul 2008	18 Jun 2008	17 Dec 2008	Mikbamurra Store	Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	24 Sep 2007		19 May 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008			21 Jul 2008												Nov - Dec 2007	20 May 2008 Letter of Intent	40							27 Jun 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	27 Nov 2007	1 May 2008 19-20 May 2008	01 May 2008
Wadeye	29 Oct 2007	11 Jan 2008	14 Jan 2008	7 Jan 2008 7 Jul 2008 7 Jul 2008	13 Aug 2008 31 Jan 2009 31 Jan 2009	Murrinhpatha Nimmipa Store Wadeye Butcher Shop Mi Patha Takeaway Community Store	Licensed Licensed Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	20 Aug 2007	2 Nov 2007	07 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008	30 Dec 2008 (non-gov)	28 Jul 2008		21 May 2008						Jan-April 08 Community forums and needs analysis for Core of life Pregnancy/birth /breastfeedinginformation faciilator training	24/04/08;24/04/08;21/5/08;30/05/08;2/5/08;9/5/08;10/6/08;13/6/08				Aug - Oct 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	3 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008				02 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	07 Jan 2008	18 Sep 2007	11 Oct 2007			113 Mar 2008 23 Apr 2008 Complaints clinic, 9 Jul 2008
Wallace Rockhole	1 Oct 2007	9 Nov 2007	19 Nov 2007	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Wallace Rockhole Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License	23 Jul 2007	26 Oct 2007	02 Jul 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	12 Nov 2007															Jul - Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	11 Jun 2008	28 Sep 2007	17 Apr 2008	21 Mar 2008	23 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	11 Mar 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Aug 2007		3 Oct 2007	14 Apr 2008		15 Nov 2007 19 Dec 2007
Warruwi	10 Mar 2008	28 Apr 2008	29 Apr 2008	29 Apr 2008	28 Oct 2008	Ajurumu Store	Licensed - ALPA Management Consultancy	8 Oct 2007		Not Assigned	3	22 Feb 2008	22 Feb 2008		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008											24/04/08;24/04/08;24/04/08;1/5/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;10/6/08;				Sep 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	1 Jun 2008	29 Apr 2008	04 Jun 2008			04 Jun 2008	30 Jul 2008	30 Jul 2008	18 Feb 2008	07 Feb 2008	22 Jan 2008 11 Mar 2008	07 Feb 2008		27 Jun 2008
Weemol	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007				Food security provided from Bulman (Gulin Gulin) Community Store	10 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	28 Oct 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008											9/05/08				Oct - Nov 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	27 Jun 2008	11 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	01 Jul 2008	01 Jul 2008	24 Sep 2007	12 Dec 2007	4 Dec 2007	04 Dec 2007		01 Jul 2008
Willowra	17 Mar 2008	25 Apr 2008	28 Apr 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Airliyajarrayi Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	22 Oct 2007		05 Sep 2007	3	18 Jul 2008	18 Jul 2008	Complete 9 Jul 2008	18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	28 Apr 2008	30 Sep 2008	To be scheduled	21 Jul 2008	May 2008							2/5/08;4/04/08				Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	28 May 2008	28 Dec 2007	13 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	19 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008	28 Jul 2007		31 Jan 2008 18 Mar 2008	7 Nov 2007 5-6 Dec 2007 31 Jan 2008 14-15 Apr 2008
Wilora (Wiriliyatarrayi)	4 Feb 2008	4 Apr 2008	7 Apr 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari (PAK) Aboriginal Coporation via IGA - Alice Springs) - commenced 7 Apr under PAK only model and transitions on 28 July to current model	10 Sep 2007		07 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008															May - Jun 2008	17 Feb 2008	5	23 May 2008	21 Dec 2007	12 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	19 Feb 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007	24 Jun 2008	19 Mar 2008 24 Jun 2008			16 Jun 2008
Wutunugurra (Epenarra)	10 Mar 2008		Not scheduled at this time	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Epenara Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	29 Oct 2007		12 Mar 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Planned, yet to be established	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008		19 May 2008		May 2008							30/05/08;6/6/08			May, June 08	Feb - Mar 2008	18 Aug 2007	5	5 Jun 2008	11 Feb 2008	30 Apr 2008			27 Jun 2008	16 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008	29 Oct 2007
Yarralin	31 Mar 2008	1 Jul 2008	2 Jul 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Yarralin Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	24 Sep 2007		06 May 2008	3	26 Nov 2007	26 Nov 2007		18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008					Women & Children	4 Jul 2008	Complete, not operational								Nov 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	16 May 2008	11 Apr 2008	16 Jun 2008			30 Jun 2008	22 Apr 2008	30 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007	04 Dec 2007	11 Jan 2008
Yirrkala	28 Apr 2008	6 Jun 2008	10 Jun 2008	10 Jun 2008	9 Dec 2008	Yirrkala Community Store	Licensed	1 Sep 2008		24 Jan 2008					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	1 Jul 2008	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		07 Apr 2008	21 Jul 2008	May 2008									Macrh 2008	May, June 08	Sep - Oct 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	12 Jul 2008	21 Mar 2008	16 Jun 2008			14 Feb 2008	30 Jun 2008	30 Jun 2008	18 Sep 2007	24 Aug 2007	22 Apr 2008	07 Sep 2007
Yuelamu (Mt Allan)	17 Mar 2008	25 Apr 2008	28 Apr 2008	28 Apr 2008	27 Jul 2008	Alpirankina Store	Under review for license extension	15 Oct 2007		04 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	26 May 2008	30 Sep 2008	To be scheduled		May 2008							28/03/2008;20/3/08				Aug 2007	17 Feb 2008	5	12 Jun 2008	17 Dec 2007	22 Apr 2008			27 Jun 2008	01 Apr 2008	27 Jun 2008	25 Feb 2008		18 Mar 2008
Yuendumu	28 Apr 2008	25 Jul 2008	28 Jul 2008	1 Jul 2008	30 Jun 2009	Nguru – Walalja Community Store - Outback Stores	Corporate License - Outback Stores	15 Oct 2007		04 Sep 2007					18 Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	Pre NTER	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008		To be scheduled	21 Jul 2008		Men & Youth Women - Funding for existing Safe House	21 Apr 2008	Complete, not operational	Approved by Minister as LSP site on 16-6-08				1 full time - worker identified			Aug 2007	18 Aug 2007	5	2 Jun 2008	21 Dec 2007	06 Jun 2008			27 Jun 2008	17 Jan 2008	27 Jun 2008	28 Jul 2007	14 Sep 2007 30 Oct 2007	18 Mar 08 29 Apr 2008	14 Sep 2007 8-9 Apr 2008
This information has been submitted by relevant agencies and is current as of 25 July - 19 August 2008.	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	DEEWR	DEEWR/ FaHCSIA	DEEWR	NT Police	NT Police	NT Police	NT Police	NTER	NTER	FaHCSIA			DEEWR	DEEWR	DEEWR	DEEWR	DEEWR	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	DoHA	DoHA	DoHA	AG	AG	AG	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	FaHCSIA	Ombudsman
	Not applicable to NTER
											(5), (6) & (7) Shading in policing data indicates it was not one of the communities identified under the NTER policing measures; however, note there may be existing policing measures in place, or an increase in personnel or infrastructure through initiatives not under the NTER.
	(1) Where a community began IM implementation then delayed, both sets of dates for implementation have been included.								(4) Blank cells in CDEP Transition indicates that the CDEP had not been transitioned prior to the policy being reviewed by the new Government.	(20) "Not Assigned" indicates it has not been allocated to a CEBs area. These communities receive servicing from DEEWR regional service staff. Please note, there is not a CEB at every site, they may reside in one community and service surrounding communities. Funding was received for 31 CEBs. DEEWR contract regional staff are servicing the communities which have not been assigned to CEBs. Similarily when a CEB is on leave regional staff are used to cover the communities.	(5) The number of additional police as of 28 July 2008.		(6) Additional police may have serviced the communities from a permanent police station prior to a Themis station becoming operational. There is also a Themis station at Alparra which was operational on 11 July 2007 and has 3 additional police postions which commenced on 11 July 2008. This has not been included in the above data set as it is not on a prescribed community. Police in Themis stations also service surroundings communities.	(7) Completion dates refer to the date the infrastructure was complete. This does not include the connection of power and water. Also, the upgrades to the Themis station at Arlparra are yet to commence.				(34) No data possible in matrix format - text only	(21) Activities not relevant in matrix context		(22) In government schools, construction for additional classrooms has commenced (a single classroom is under construction in each community and 2 classrooms are being built in Gapuwiyak). Elliot Primary school has also received one classroom but has not been listed in your information, however as it relates to the Elliot Town Camps they are in scope of the NTER. 4 classrooms in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are yet to commence construction, but are expected to be completed by the end of December. The dates provided in the spreadsheet reflect the expected finishing date for the classrooms.	(23) All 45 schools have been contacted and the dates listed indicate commencement of on-site training visits. Some schools are still being scheduled according to school timetabling. Regionally based specialist teams have now been established. There are three teams for the government sector, with two teams based in Darwin (servicing 15 schools) and one team in Central Australia (servicing 20 schools). There is one additional non-government team servicing 10 non-government schools. Government schools that are also included in the AL but not listed in the attached, include Booroloola, Jabiru, Newcastle Waters, Elliott and Bonya. Similarly, Independent schools that are participating in the AL include Yipirinya School (Alice Springs) and Wollaning Homeland Christian College (Litchfield). Students that attend Nyangatjatjara College are drawn from three towns (Mutijulu, Imanpa, and Docker River).	(24) The additional teacher information relates only to the 19 teachers in government schools. At this stage reporting on the non-government teacher placements is not available. The next round of recruitment for additional teachers has commenced. This cohort will receive intensive pre-placement training in 2008 for deployment in 2009.	(25) The QTP is a professional development framework focused on up skilling local Indigenous staff who are more likely to stay long term in communities. It is managed collaboratively with the AL and is targeted at the same 35 government and 5 NT CEO schools. As the QTP does not have specific site visits, the first round of principal consultations occurred on the dates listed in NT CEO schools. NT DEET has provided the month that schools became aware of the QTP initiative. The QTP has also been introduced as of May in Borroloola, Jabiru Area School, Newcastle Waters, Elliot and Bonya	(12) A number of safe houses are not operational because they are houses in containers, which are subject to testing and remediation along with GBM accommodation. A site has been identified for a Women & Children's safe house in Alyangula. In Ti Tree a Women & Children's safe house was completed on 23 May 2008, and has 1 part time RAFCW position assigned. It is not operational. Shading in safe houses indicates it was not one of the communities identified under the NTER policing measures; however, note there may be existing measures in place through initiatives not under the NTER.			(26) The Playgroups component of the NTER is the implementation of two Intensive Support Playgroups (ISPs), one each in Tennant Creek and Katherine and three Locational Supported Playgroups (LSP), one each in Milingimbi, Numbulwar and Yuendumu. The Minister approved these three sites on 16 June 2008 and work is currently underway to select service providers for these playgroups. Funding Agreements were signed with service providers for the Katherine and Tennant Creek ISPs in June 2008. Playgroup delivery in Katherine commenced in July 2008 and in Tennant Creek in August 2008.	(27) Indigenous Children Programme (ICP) – The Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services Inc (CAAPS) is providing services in Darwin under the NTER. Funding Agreement signed with CAAPS in January 2008. 21 children and 15 parents/caregivers assisted by the program to 30 June 2008.	(28) Invest to Grow - Core of Life project delivered facilitator training in Groote Eylandt 2-3 April 08	(29) The above was/is a large variety of activities including Sport, Entertainment, Workshops and Facility Upgrades etc. The dates provided are an approximate commencement date of the activity and the shaded dates are the dates the funds where released to the funded organisation which may not necessarily be the community. Blanks indicates the community received no YDA funding. Activities also took place in Arltarlpitta, Humpty Doo, Ikintji, Mamadawarrie O/Station, Nyinyikay, Timber Creek, Tiwi Islands, Urapuntja and Utopia.	(13) All RAFCW's marked as "recruited" commenced training on 30 June 2008, the remaining three have not received training. The RAFCW at Nturiya (Ti Tree Station) is responsible for the surrounding area also, including Pmara Jutunta (Ti Tree 6 Mile) and Willowra and surrounding communities.	(30) AOD services have also been provided to Town Camps and Outstations not listed under the Communities heading. AOD services were delivered through a regional, not a community specific model, using mobile outreach sexual assault counselling services.	(31) Additional Child Special Services activity occurred in four other communities - Borroloola, Nhulunbuy, Gann Gann and Katherine between April and June 2008. These services were provided in response to identified need.	(14) Data provided by DOHA on 30 July 2008				(17) The Make Safe Works & Minor Vital Repair - Flying Squads were commissioned as part of IBA's contractual arrangements, these covered 10 communities only Eight communities were completed as part of the NT Government's Fixing Homes for Better Health, these were Nguiu, Galiwinku, Myrippi, Minyerri, Wadeye, Milyakburra, Angurungu & Umbakumba Shading in Make Safe Works, may refer to the contract with IBA, which identified only certain communities for the flying squad, similarly some communities had already had work completed through local and Territory initiatives.
Town Camps
Adelaide River Town Camps	29 Oct 2007	25 Feb 2008	25 Feb 2008				Food security provided from Batchelor and Darwin. There is 1 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisation for food provision in Batchelor and there are 5 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Darwin; and access to Coles and Woolworths store cards from Centrelink.	No RAE	16 Nov 2007	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	^	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Feb 2008								Nil	Nil						Dec 2007											18 Sep 2007
Alice Springs Town Camps	29 Oct 2007	13 Dec 2007	07 Jan 2008				Food security provided from Alice Springs. There are 10 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Alice Springs; and access to Coles and Woolworths store cards from Centrelink.	No RAE	16 Nov 2007	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	1 Jul 2008*	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008								Nil	Nil		16/05/2008; 18/06/08;13/6/08				Mar - May 2008	Proposed	40/40									19 Oct 2007	17 Apr 2008	6 Dec 2008 30 Jan 2008 20 Mar 2008 17-18 Apr 2008	30 Jan 2008 14-14 Apr 2008
Borroloola Town Camps	12 May 2008	20 Jun 2008	23 Jun 2008				Food security provided from Borrolola. There are 3 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Borroloola.	No RAE	Not transitioned	06 May 2008					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	Planned, yet to be established ~	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008								Nil	Nil		24/04/08	30 June 2008 1 full time - recruited		April and June 2008.	Nov 2007 - Feb 2008													21-22 Apr 2008 22 May 2008
Darwin Town Camps	29 Oct 2007	25 Feb 2008	25 Feb 2008	26 May 2008	30 Jun 2009	Bagot Community Store	Corporate License - Outback Stores. Food security provided from Darwin. There are 5 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Darwin; and access to Coles and Woolworths store cards from Centrelink.	No RAE	16 Nov 2007	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	^	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	25 Feb 2008								Nil	Nil		26/04/08				Underway											04 Mar 2008		25 Oct 2007 29 Oct 2007 22-23 Jan 2008
Elliott Town Camps	10 Mar 2008	18 Apr 2008	21 Apr 2008				Food security provided from Bush Food Orders program (Service Delivery Provider Papulu Aparr-Kari Aboriginal Coporation - Tennant Creek - commenced 21 April 2008) and Midlands Caravan Park. Both are Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Elliott.	29 Oct 2007	Not transitioned	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	1 Jul 2008*	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008								Nil	Nil			30 June 2008 1 part time - recruited			Nov - Dec 2007											25 Feb 2008	13 Sep 2007	24 Apr 2008 5 Jun 2008 12 Jun 2008 16 Jun 2008	13 Sep 2007
Jabiru Town Camps	10 Mar 2008	18 Apr 2008	21 Apr 2008				Food security provided from Jabiru. There are 3 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Jabiru.	12 Nov 2007	Not transitioned	01 Jan 2008					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	^	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Apr 2008								Nil	Nil		24/04/08;24/04/08;2/5/08;2/5/08;8/5/08;9/5/08;9/5/08;21/5/08;15/6/08				Mar 2008											10 Sep 2007		10 Mar 2008	10 Mar 2008
Katherine Town Camps	22 Oct 2007	11 Dec 2007	12 Dec 2007				Food security provided from Katherine. There are 6 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Katherine and access and access to Woolworths store cards from Centrelink.	No RAE	9 Nov 2007	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	1 Jul 2008*	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	30 Jan 2008								Intensive Support Playgroup	Nil		28/03/08			April and June 2008.	Jan – Mar 2008											12 Nov 2007	12 Mar 2008 8-9 Apr 2008	25 Jan 2008 7-8 Mar 2008 7-8 Apr 2008	10 Mar 2008 12 Mar 2008 8 Apr 2008
Mataranka Town Camps	26 May 2008	4 Jul 2008	07 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Mataranka. There is 1 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Mataranka - Mataranka Supermarket.	No RAE	Not transitioned	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	Planned, yet to be established ~	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008								Nil	Nil						Jan – Mar 2008
Pine Creek Compound Town Camps	10 Jun 2008	18 Jul 2008	21 Jul 2008				Food security provided from Pine Creek and Katherine. There is 1 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisation for food provision in Pine Creek - AH Toys. There are 6 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Katherine and access and access to Woolworths store cards from Centrelink.	14 Sep 2007	9 Nov 2007	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	Planned, yet to be established ~	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	21 Jul 2008								Nil	Nil						Dec 2007											18 Sep 2007		13 May 2008
Tennant Creek Town Camps	25 Feb 2008	4 Apr 2008	07 Apr 2008				Food security provided from Tennant Creek. There are 2 Centrelink contracted Third Party Organisations for food provision in Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek Food Barn and Barkly Quality Butchers.	No RAE	Not transitioned	Not Assigned					12 Sep 2007	12 Sep 2007	1 Jul 2008*	No data possible in matrix format - text only	Activities not relevant in matrix context	14 Apr 2008								Intensive Support Playgroup	Nil						Jun 2008	Proposed - Information not in public domain	20/20/20									18 Feb 2008		11-15 Feb 2008 24 Mar 2008
This information has been submitted by relevant agencies and is current as of 25-30 July 2008.
	Not applicable to NTER
				(2) Shading in community stores cells: – Indicates “no store”, in which case an alternative means of food security has been provided in the status column.						(20) DEEWR contract regional staff are servicing the communities which have not been assigned to CEBs. Similarily when a CEB is on leave regional staff are used to cover the communities.					(8) Two of Alice Springs Town Camps, Irrerlantye (White Gate) and Namatijira, became prescribed areas on 23 October 2007 as a result of the NTER (Town Camps) Declaration 2007 (No. 2)	(9) Two of Alice Springs Town Camps, Irrerlantye (White Gate) and Namatijira, became prescribed areas on 23 October 2007 as a result of the NTER (Town Camps) Declaration 2007 (No. 2)	(10) *Alice Springs, Elliott, Tennant Creek & Katherine Town Camps were not part of the initial NTER and therefore a Night Patrol service was not funded as part of the Attorney-Generals Department (AGD) NTER budget measure during 2007-08. Funding during this period was from the AGD PDRR program in Alice Springs, Elliott & Tennant Creek. Minister Debus has approved the use of NTER funds in 2008-09 to fund night patrols in town camps and communities directly affected by NTER measures. As of 1 July 2008 the following have been funded by NTER for the provision of Night Patrol services: (1) In Alice Springs, Tangentyere Council. The Night Patrol service has remained operational; (2) In Elliott, the service was transitioned to The Barkly Shire Council. The night patrol service remained operational during the transition period; (3) In Tennant Creek, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation. The Night Patrol service has remained operational; and (4) In Katherine, Kalano Community Association Incorporated. The Night Patrol service has remained operational.
																	(10) ^Under the NTER, the Attorney-Generals Department (AGD) does not fund a Night Patrol service in Darwin, Adelaide River & Jabiru. The Northern Territory Government recently funded Larrakia Nation for the provision of a night patrol service in the Darwin area, which includes services to the Darwin Town Camps. This Night Patrol service is operational.
																	(10) ~The following Night Patrols are yet to become operational: (1-2) A variation to the Program Funding Agreement (PFA) held between Attorney-Generals Department (AGD) and the Roper Gulf Shire was approved on 30/4/08 to include a night patrol service at Borroloola & Mataranka; and (3) A Night Patrol is being established at Kybrook Farm, awaiting vehicle delivery and building approval. The Victoria Daly Shire will assess the need for a Night Patrol service via community consultations.

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