August 2008
ACOSS's submission to the NTER Review evaluates the progress of the NTER in enhancing the protection of children in Indigenous communities. In providing this submission, ACOSS seeks to ensure that actions taken to respond to the complex issues around child sexual abuse are evidence-based, appropriate and effective and respect the human rights of Indigenous people. The submission provides an overview of the NTER measures, highlights intended and unintended impacts, and identifies priorities for a longer term community development strategy.
August 2007
The following proposals to protect children in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities have been developed by the Combined Aboriginal Organisations (representing Aboriginal organisations in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine) and community sector organisations from across the country.
August 2007
This submission addresses the NTER measures including the proposed system of income management. It also addresses the proposed system of child protection and school attendence income management trials across Australia.
December 2006
In November 2006 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations released a discussion paper entitled Indigenous Potential Meets Economic Opportunity, on the future role of the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) and various Indigenous and mainstream employment assistance programs in assisting Indigenous people in major urban and regional centres to obtain employment.
May 2006
A joint and open letter to the government conveying concern at conditions within some Indigenous communities in Australia. While it is imperative that children be protected from harm, solutions to the alarming levels of abuse in Indigenous communities cannot be addressed by the legal system or the child protection system alone. In moving forward, ACOSS and its members encourage the Government to invest in addressing the causes, as well as the symptoms, of these problems in Indigenous communities.
April 2005
The abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) announced on 15 April 2004 by the Prime Minister has meant considerable change to the
funding and service delivery of many of the Government's Indigenous programs. Under the measure Indigenous Australians - Better Service Delivery, total funding of $109.4 million and program responsibility has been removed from ATSIC and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS). This decision is of particular concern for the future of Indigenous governance and the potential effectiveness of service delivery across Indigenous communities Australia wide.
ACOSS Info paper 370. Includes: Unemployment. Employment programs for indigenous people. Shared Responsibility Agreements. Indigenous employment. Work for the Dole. Community development.
October 2004
Any changes to ATSIC need to be determined in consultation and negotiation with Indigenous peoples. An inclusive and transparent process should be developed to establish a sustainable, independent national representative Indigenous body. This process must recognise the diversity and traditional authority structures of Indigenous groups and communities, and allow the time required to achieve this.
September 2004
ACOSS Info paper 363. Includes: Indigenous representation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). Indigenous services. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Comission Amendment Bill 2004.
