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This report was published by the former Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
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Functional and resilient families and communities

Fundamental to functional and resilient families is the right of all Australians to be safe from violence and abuse. An Intergovernmental Summit on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities, involving ministers from the Australian Government and all states and territories, was held on 26 June 2006. A $130 million package over four years included 17 initiatives that resulted in renewed efforts towards a comprehensive national response, with a particular focus on establishing law and order in Indigenous communities.

 Personal safety in local communities and respect for law and order builds trust between individual members. It is the interrelationships between people in a local community that help foster a commitment to change their circumstances and work with all governments to achieve outcomes for each other. Initiatives are improving health and community safety, supporting victims of crime, promoting law reform and legal education.

Established health services and Medicare arrangements have increased funding to address areas of greatest need in communities. Additional health professionals and administrative staff have been sent to remote regions. Alternative arrangements for the delivery of pharmaceutical benefits, mental health, primary health and aged care are in place.

A strong and vibrant culture is essential for the wellbeing of Indigenous people. Funding has supported the maintenance of Indigenous languages and records that help locals identify with their community and reinforce the importance of their language to Indigenous youth. Sport and recreation funding helps community-based projects and Indigenous cultural programmes are broadcast on satellite television to a wide and diverse audience.

Outcomes

Key programmes

S100 supply arrangements for remote area Aboriginal Health Services

Special supply arrangements were introduced in 1999 to improve Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) access by clients of remote area Aboriginal health services. These are available to community controlled and state and territory operated Aboriginal health services. This programme links to Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2005 by contributing to the alternative arrangements for the delivery of pharmaceutical benefits.

Since the programme started, expenditure on PBS medicines has increased significantly in remote Aboriginal health services. A review presented to the department in 2004 found that the programme had met its aim of improving access to PBS medicines to clients of remote Aboriginal health services and should be continued. Work is ongoing to address the recommendations of that review.

Expenditure 2006–07: $26.8 million.

Outputs 2006–07:

Health services in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

The Australian Government committed over $287 million to fund 238 organisations to provide primary health care and substance use services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during 2006–07.

Indigenous-specific health service delivery

The Australian Government worked to improve access to comprehensive primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a focus on rural and remote areas.

New funding through the Improved Primary Health Care Initiative provided additional health professionals and administrative staff to remote sites. The government also provided funding for the expansion of 10 multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals and the development of infrastructure to support services in rural and remote areas.

The government increased access to primary health care services through these and other programmes, resulting in over 160 additional health workers, including:

Over 32 new capital works projects were completed, including 14 health staff houses and 18 projects to establish new, or enhance existing, health facilities in remote areas.

Expenditure 2006–07: $371.5 million.

Outputs 2006–07: 

Social health programmes

The Australian Government continued a range of programmes to reconnect families and provide social and emotional wellbeing and mental health services to Indigenous Australians. These included the provision of Bringing Them Home counsellors, mental health services, social and emotional wellbeing regional centres and the Link Up programme.

Expenditure 2006–07: $24.1 million.

Outputs in 2006–07:

  • 22 new counsellors.

    • Access to Medicare

    In March 2007 the Department of Health and Ageing ran a series of workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services with an exemption under section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 enabling them to bill Medicare. The workshops provided information on Medicare and the major health programmes of the department with the aim of improving their use. The workshops were well attended and positively received.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $18.7 million.

    Outputs 2006–07: 

    National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Programme

    The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Programme provides culturally appropriate care to address the aged care needs of older Indigenous people within their community. The service is provided mainly in rural and remote areas. The 2006–07 Budget provided an additional 150 places over three years, which will bring the total number to 750. This programme is in addition to aged care provided under the Aged Care Act 1997 which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples also access.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $17.6 million.

    Outputs in 2006–07:

    Legal Aid for Indigenous Australians Programme

    This programme funds a national network of nine service providers to deliver high quality, culturally appropriate legal services at 78 service sites accessible to Indigenous Australians. These services include information, initial legal advice, minor assistance and referral, duty lawyer assistance and legal casework services for criminal, civil and family law matters.

    The Australian Government also provided funding of $1.1 million for a pilot Expensive Indigenous Criminal Case Fund to 30 June 2007. The scheme addressed the exceptional resource demands placed on Indigenous legal aid service providers when managing expensive cases. In addition, one-off grants totalling $1.847 million were provided to fund capital improvements such as building maintenance and the purchase of information technology equipment.

    The Legal Aid for Indigenous Australians programme also includes funding for Indigenous test cases that promote the review of laws and administrative practices that have the effect of discriminating against Indigenous Australians. Of particular note was the case brought by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre against the Natural History Museum in London, England. This matter was subsequently resolved through mediation, resulting in the return of the remains of 17 Indigenous Australians held by the museum.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $51.725 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Indigenous legal aid services provided the following services to clients:

    Indigenous Affairs Litigation Programme

    The Indigenous Litigation Fund covers the Australian Government's costs of defending certain litigation relating to Indigenous affairs. It enables proper defence of the government's interests in Indigenous affairs litigation and pays for legal costs relating to litigation and some anticipated litigation matters which fall within the scope of the appropriation. This is an enabling fund for extraordinary litigation expenses and is not called upon except in rare circumstances.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $74,000.

    Indigenous Family Liaison Officers Programme

    The Family Court of Australia has employed Indigenous family liaison officers since 1996. The role of these officers is to assist Indigenous families to access the services provided by the court and to assist court staff, including family consultants and judicial officers in their dealings with these clients. Currently Indigenous family liaison officers are located in the Adelaide, Alice Springs, Cairns and Darwin registries. They provide services to both the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court.

    During 2006–07 a major part of the officers' work has been to provide ongoing assistance and support to the recently established Family Relationships Centres. The officers have been able to share with staff at these centres their experience of working within the family law system and the needs of Indigenous people in relation to this system.

    Prevention, Diversion, Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Programme

    The Prevention, Diversion, Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Programme diverts Indigenous Australians away from adverse contact with the legal system. It also facilitates projects that will rehabilitate and support Indigenous Australians who have been incarcerated or are in custody. The programme provides youth diversion activities, community patrols and restorative justice initiatives.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $8.48 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Approximately 120 projects have been funded across Australia and in 2006–07 the Attorney-General's Department funded the following programmes:

    Aboriginal Hostels Limited

    Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) is funded by the Australian Government to provide safe, affordable, temporary accommodation and meals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly where there are no other suitable accommodation options.

    AHL provides more than 3,000 beds through a national network of 49 company operated hostels and another 72 community operated hostels. These beds are available every night to meet the diverse needs of Indigenous people who may be in need of assistance because they are homeless, transient or in need of aged care. The hostels also provide beds to students in secondary education, tertiary education and training as well as apprentices through the Indigenous Youth Mobility Programme. The hostels provide a bed for medical care such as renal dialysis or substance use rehabilitation. Care is also offered for prison release and diversion programmes.

    In addition, AHL is one of the largest employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $49.8 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Sturt Street Supported Tenancy Accommodation

    The Family Violence Partnership Programme, in partnership with the South Australian Government, supports the Sturt Street Supported Tenancy Accommodation project, which provides intensive intervention and assistance to Indigenous women caught in a cycle of violence and homelessness.

    The project assists Indigenous women and children frequently using emergency accommodation services interspersed with frequent periods of homelessness caused by violence in their lives. Women and children assisted in the programme develop new skills while their lives are being supported and stabilised. This enables them to establish and sustain independent tenancies and for their children to commence regular school attendance and after school activities. Improving the wellbeing of these families includes providing the means for avoiding exposure to violence and those that perpetrate violence against them.

    Reports received by FaCSIA indicate that since September 2006 more than 90% of clients have moved to stable tenancies, including 13 families caring for more than 30 children.

    The significance of this achievement, ‘from crisis to capacity', is more considerable, given the sensitive and difficult environment. The operational principles and methods are effective and are being recognised as a model in other regions.

    Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme

    The Supported Accommodation Assistance Programme (SAAP) is a joint programme between the Australian, state and territory governments providing crisis accommodation and support to people who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

    SAAP funds non-government, community or local government agencies ranging from small stand alone agencies with single outlets to auspices with multiple outlets. These agencies provide accommodation and support services to a range of groups including families, single men, single women, young people and women and children escaping domestic violence. SAAP is a mainstream service. In 2005-06 17% of SAAP clients were Indigenous.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $182.457 million.

    Outputs 2006–07: 

    Family Violence Partnership Programme

    The Family Violence Partnership Programme (FVPP) is an essential part of the Australian Government's commitment to tackling family violence and child abuse. The funding, in partnership with state and territory governments, supports projects aimed at achieving a sustainable reduction in Indigenous family violence and child abuse. The funding is supporting a range of project activities including safe houses, night patrols, counselling, support workers, perpetrator programmes and education programmes.

    FVPP aims to:

    Expenditure 2006–07: $11.422 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    The Family Violence Regional Activities Programme

    The Family Violence Regional Activities Programme (FVRAP) is an ongoing initiative that provides practical and flexible support for grassroots projects identified by Indigenous communities as a local priority to address family violence and child abuse.

    FVRAP provides support to communities across Australia and assists local communities to implement family violence strategies and responses. During 2006–07, the Minister noted the programme would move to provide three-year funding for successful funding recipients, which will help build the capacity of organisations to better respond to the needs of their communities on a sustainable basis.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $4.483 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Family Violence Prevention Legal Services

    The Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) programme provides assistance to Indigenous Australians experiencing family violence, including sexual assault. FVPLS units provide legal assistance, court support, counselling, community education and referral services to Indigenous Australians in remote and rural areas. Services focus on all victims of family violence: women, men, children and young people.

    In 2006–07 the government created a new programme, the Early Intervention and Prevention Programme. This programme is aimed at reducing the causes of family violence and associated community problems by empowering individuals through changing their behaviours and attitudes towards family violence.

    The Attorney-General's Department is implementing a community legal education initiative to which the Council of Australian Governments agreed in July 2006 following the Summit on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities in June 2006. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has been engaged to develop a community legal education programme and associated training resources. The programme will help combat misunderstandings about the effect of customary law and cultural practice on legal and human rights, to ensure that Indigenous Australians are informed about their legal rights and are encouraged to report incidents of violence and abuse. The Australian Government expects this four-year, $4.23 million programme to be rolled out in 15 communities across Australia by early 2008.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $12.512 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Arwarbukarl Cultural Resources Association

    The Arwarbukarl Cultural Resources Association in New South Wales has received funding since 2003 through the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records programme administered by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

    In 2006–07, Arwarbukarl received funding of $235,700 to continue the development of a language database used by communities and language workers for the revitalisation of Indigenous languages. This activity has received wide ranging support and recognition, fostered strong partnerships with education and business, and provides an excellent interactive tool for communities wishing to maintain their traditional language.

    Arwarbukarl has been noted for its innovative work using information communication technology (ICT) in reclaiming the language of the Awabakal people of the Newcastle region. In early 2007 Arwarbukarl organised the Puliima National Indigenous Languages ICT Forum to address the ways in which new technology, particularly ICT, can assist the work of those engaged in maintaining and reclaiming Indigenous languages in Australia. Arwarbukarl has received interest from other Indigenous language centres and corporate partners.

    Indigenous languages and culture

    The Indigenous Culture Support (ICS) programme and the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records (MILR) programme support the maintenance of Indigenous culture and languages. ICS supports participation by members of Indigenous communities in cultural activities and the transmission of knowledge and skills across generations to build sustainable communities. MILR supports the revival and maintenance of unique Australian Indigenous languages. Funding provides support for a national peak body, a network of regional languages centres and assists community -based language activities to increase awareness and appreciation of languages.

    The experience from activities supported by both programmes is that involvement in cultural activities and language maintenance contributes to the mental and physical wellbeing of Indigenous Australians and has a positive impact on their communities by assisting to address broader social policy objectives (e.g. increased school attendance, decreased criminal activity and improved health outcomes).

    Expenditure 2006–07: $15.6 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

  • 140 cultural activities funded
  • 79 language activities funded.

    • Indigenous Sport and Recreation Programme

    The Indigenous Sport and Recreation Programme aims to increase active participation of Indigenous Australians in sport and physical recreation activities. These activities are supported and encouraged because they improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. They also play a diversionary role, with the potential to contribute, either directly or indirectly, to broader social goals by reducing substance abuse, increasing school attendance and creating social cohesion. The funding supports community -based sport and recreation projects, including camps, carnivals and local projects, and helps develop skills to manage sport and recreation facilities.

    The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts also contributed to a number of multi-agency agreements (shared responsibility agreements and regional partnership agreements) with Indigenous communities, under which funding was provided to address identified community needs, including for sport and recreation opportunities, in exchange for commitments from the communities to meet specified obligations. In addition, in May 2007 a three-year memorandum of understanding was signed with the Australian Sports Commission for the delivery of the Indigenous Sport Programme, including funding for Indigenous sport development officers.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $11.8 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:


    Indigenous Broadcasting Programme

    The Indigenous Broadcasting Programme (IBP) provides funding to support Indigenous community broadcasting in urban, regional and remote areas of Australia. Indigenous broadcasting helps promote language maintenance, cultural development and training in Indigenous communities. It also provides entertainment and helps disseminate health, education and other information to Indigenous communities.

    In 2006–07 the IBP supported community broadcasting stations, the production of news and other content, training and media organisations and peak bodies that support and represent the sector. While the programme focuses on radio, support was also provided to the Imparja commercial Indigenous television station. A report on a review of the programme was released in May 2007 and issues for improved administration of the programme are being addressed in further consultation with the sector.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $13.5 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:

    Backing Indigenous Ability

    The Backing Indigenous Ability (BIA) telecommunications programme supports telephones, internet access, video conferencing, training and online content development for Indigenous people, primarily in remote areas.

    The BIA National Indigenous Television (NITV) initiative will deliver a branded, satellite-delivered, dedicated Indigenous television service targeting the needs of Indigenous people across Australia, as well as appealing to non-Indigenous Australians. During 2006–07, NITV Ltd was established and preparation was made to launch the NITV service, initially on Imparja's narrowcast channel and subsequently on other broadcasting platforms such as community television and pay television.

    Expenditure 2006–07: $3.6 million.

    Outputs 2006–07:


    Indigenous Heritage Programme

    The Indigenous Heritage Programme's (IHP) support for the identification, conservation and promotion of Indigenous heritage places enhances social cohesion, builds intergenerational links, and raises self-esteem in Indigenous communities through their involvement in meaningful heritage related activities. The programme also provides opportunities for Indigenous economic development, particularly through funding activities which contribute to heritage tourism.

    The Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation in the Northern Territory is an organisation that has been awarded funding under the IHP for the past few years. The association has noted that community participation in heritage projects resulted in positive changes for the community, such as a reduction in the consumption of alcohol and pride in their culture and history.

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    Effective environmental health systems

    Substance use and misuse