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This report was published by the former Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
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Programmes across all strategic areas

Learning where we can do better and finding new and innovative ways of delivering government programmes and services is a fundamental role of the Secretaires' Group on Indigenous Affairs.

The Council of Australian Governments' synopsis evaluation published in January 2007 was the first in a number of whole-of-government evaluations that are providing a mechanism for learning what is working and where government needs to focus attention. Findings were that:

Key programmes

Shared Responsibility Implementation Assistance Programme

The Shared Responsibility Implementation Assistance Programme enables Indigenous families and communities to work directly with governments in an innovative way under the principle of ‘shared responsibility' for achieving agreed outcomes. Ground-breaking solutions to locally identified problems are brokered through the network of Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICC) using a range of funding sources, including mainstream programmes, in whole-of-government arrangements.

To increase responsiveness to identified priorities, delegations have been devolved to the local level, allowing $100,000 to be approved by individual ICC managers and up to $500,000 by state and territory managers.

Expenditure 2006–07: $34.3 million.

Outputs 2006–07:

Flexible Funding Pool

Announced in the 2006–07 Budget, the Flexible Funding Pool (FFP) is part of a cross-agency pool of $75 million over four years (2006–07 to 2009–10) that aims to reduce Indigenous disadvantage through shared responsibility agreements, regional partnership agreements, joint interventions and agreements with the state and territory governments and other priority interventions.

FaCSIA is required to spend $17.5 million over four years, with a minimum target of $4.38 million annually. Funding is sourced from mainstream and Indigenous-specific programmes.

In 2006–07, the FFP exceeded the expenditure benchmark by 196%, with funding for a diverse range of activities totalling over $8.5 million. In 2007–08, the FFP will help meet the latent demand for services and support in Indigenous communities and assist mainstream programmes extend their reach into remote areas.

Expenditure 2006–07: $8.591 million.

Outputs 2006–07:

Family Community Network Initiative

The Family Community Network Initiative (FCNI) aims to provide Indigenous families and communities with strategies, skills and support to address circumstances leading to relationship breakdown, conflict, anti-social behaviour and substance abuse in their communities.

In 2006–07 FCNI also contributed to projects supported under the Flexible Funding Pool.

Expenditure 2006–07: $2.264 million.

Outputs 2006–07:

  • 15 projects funded.

    • National Indigenous Money Management Agenda

    FaCSIA provided funding of $440,000 to Reconciliation Australia to develop a National Indigenous Money Management Agenda (NIMMA). The project brought together representatives of the major banks, the Australian Bankers' Association, Indigenous credit unions, Abacus (the industry body for Australian credit unions and mutual building societies), Indigenous communities, community organisations and government agencies, to develop options for delivering appropriate financial services and financial literacy education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    The NIMMA report will be finalised in 2007–08. It will outline challenges faced by service providers in developing and delivering their services to Indigenous people and contains actions to address these issues in the short-term. A forum of stakeholders will continue working together to implement the actions identified in the NIMMA and develop further options for the longer-term.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $440,000.

    Indigenous money management

    Two different approaches are being used to help Indigenous people improve the way they manage their finances. In eight Cape York communities, Family Income Management (FIM) aims to develop the capacity of individuals and families to effectively manage income to achieve improved living standards. The programme operates as a partnership between FaCSIA and Cape York Partnerships and the Westpac Bank.

    In six communities across the Northern Territory and Western Australia, Money Business aims to help Indigenous individuals and families make better informed decisions about managing their money. The programme operates as a partnership between FaCSIA and the ANZ Bank. Administered funding of $1.1 million was provided by FaCSIA during 2006–07.

    FIM and Money Business align with Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2005. The key performance indicators are to increase net assets for families and individuals, reduce debt and improve access to financial information and services. During 2006–07 a new FIM site at Cooktown was opened.

    Expenditure 2006–07: administered funding of $1.322 million was provided by FaCSIA for FIM during the year.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Northern Territory Indigenous Interpreter Services

    Northern Territory Indigenous Interpreter Services funding maintains a programme that improves access to government services.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $5.1 million.

    Cape York Institute welfare reform project

    This project includes $3 million to undertake research into ways that Indigenous communities interact with the welfare system and to design incentives to encourage employment and education. Another $750,000 will help maintain operation of the Cape York digital network which provides telecommunication services for many remote Indigenous communities in Cape York.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $3.75 million.

    Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programmes)

    The Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programmes) (OEA) was established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to provide objective advice to the Australian Government about the management and performance of its programmes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 2006–07 OEA finalised one evaluation and nine performance audits. They were:

    The evaluation was published and a summary of its key findings and the performance audits are contained in the report of operations of OEA found in the Department of Finance and Administration's annual report. At 30 June 2007, there were four evaluations and six performance audits in progress. OEA reports to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, who provides the reports to the relevant minister and the minister responsible for Indigenous affairs.

    Overseas Repatriation Programme

    In 2006–07 the Overseas Repatriation Programme facilitated the return of 38 Indigenous Australian human remains held in United Kingdom collections. The remains were returned to Queensland (three), South Australia (one), Tasmania (19), Torres Strait Islands (six), Victoria (one), Western Australia (two) and a further six were un-provenanced. FaCSIA, as lead agency, achieved these successful results with the support and cooperation of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Attorney-General's Department.

    Community leadership training for women

    The Department of Transport and Regional Services has worked with communities to give young people and women in the East Kimberley region of Balgo, Ringer Soak and Mulan opportunities to participate in activities that allow them to build leadership skills and confidence. A three-day community leadership training course for 22 women provided a capacity building opportunity to emerging leaders who often carry significant responsibility for the wellbeing of their communities but are under-represented in formal leadership positions.

    Individual Indigenous success stories

    The programmes listed in this annual report are more than just an historic record of government expenditure in Indigenous affairs. The funding provided by all governments makes a difference every day to the 517,200 people and families who define themselves as Indigenous Australians.

    The success and aspirations of these two individuals are an inspiration to us all and highlight that significant progress can be achieved through targeted assistance and the knowledge learned during the past three years.

    Alan Parsons

    I've been a client of Australian Hearing since the mid-1970s. I have osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) which is a genetic disorder affecting bone strength. There are three bones in the ear, so in time hearing deteriorates and I started losing my hearing early in life. The National Acoustic Laboratories had an office in Brisbane and an assessment was done and I got a body aid. It was an antiquated, pre-historic hearing aid consisting of a box, which you put in your pocket or attached to your clothing, with a long cord to an earpiece.

    My current hearing aid is fantastic. My aids now are fully digital with a graphic equaliser. They're tuned to your hearing loss, which is wonderful because it's tailored to your needs. My audiologist has been able to set up my hearing aid really well. Hearing aids are not just about making sound louder. My hearing aid has a noisy-room switch which narrows the pick-up area by utilising a second microphone to reduce the background noise. Brilliant! Conversation in a crowded room is not a problem. Wearing my hearing aid is like wearing shoes. I put it on and forget about it.

    I do not want to be restricted in what I do in life. I paint contemporary Indigenous art using fluorescent and metallic colours. One of my paintings was hung at the entrance to the Caboolture Police Station. I've sold quite a few but I'm not famous yet. My philosophy is to be part of the solution not part of the problem and keep your sense of humour-focus on the positive. Be supportive, not judgmental, celebrate successes and create opportunities.

    Roeina Edmund

    Roeina Edmund was the first Indigenous woman to graduate as an aircraft mechanic. As a single mother of five she is an inspiration to young Indigenous women who would like to pursue a career in a similar field.

    The training she received has opened many doors and is providing Roeina with unlimited options in the industry. Roeina has enjoyed the hands-on tasks involved in achieving her Certificate IV in Aeroskills.

    ‘Even though the aviation and aerospace industry is highly regulated and everything has to be done by the book, the book doesn't teach you the feel and sound of an engine when it is running smoothly or more importantly when it is not running properly,' Roeina said. ‘That can only come from the experience I am getting with my on-the-job training.'

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    Appendix: Australian Government Indigenous Expenditure 2006–07

    Economic participation and development