Acknowledgement of Country I recognise Australia s First Peoples and value their cultural knowledge, strength and resilience I pay my respect to the Darug and Guringai People and their Elders past and present I am committed to the empowerment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
MANA ALLAWAH - GET TOGETHER CONTEXT The Northern Sydney District (NSD) Aboriginal Community is statistically identified as having the smallest Aboriginal community in NSW and is often referred to as the "hidden" community by the local Aboriginal community members. There are a wide range of issues around not identifying as Aboriginal but most revolve around distrust, stigma and survival. Isolation tends to be a key driver for Aboriginal community members quickly escalating from self sustaining and managed supports to crisis and dependence on a multi use welfare structured service model. MANA ALLAWAH meaning GET TOGETHER As a result of a Community Yarn Up as facilitated by FACS NSD December 2013, The Northern Sydney District has now established: 1) The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategic Plan 2014-2016 The 6 Point Plan acts as the voice of community and provides direction, delegates responsibility and tracks timely outcomes. Historically Aboriginal Community Plans have be modelled from deficit and are a top down, push. The Mana Allawah Plan is empowerment based using strength based principles The current plan focuses on 1. Health 2 Employment 3. Housing 4. Empowerment 5. Child youth Family and 6. Partnerships 2) The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Project Management Group to drive, implement and deliver Aboriginal specific communications, information, projects and service delivery. Primarily, members are local Aboriginal First Nations people bring a diversity of knowledge, skill, economic development, employment, education, child and youth, disability, and health. 3) The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Advisory Board to provide good governance over the groups key result areas The objectives of the Advisory Board will provide ongoing advice directly to the FACS Northern Sydney Executive on current policy, service development and implementation issues as related to the NSD Aboriginal Community. The groups meet on alternate months giving each action and owner time to deliver on their individual outcome and provide a report on workflow, any applicable changes to be considered and corrective action.
What we currently know is that 1. The largest localised groups for identifying as Aboriginal are 1. Warringah 2. Hornsby 3. Ryde and represent approximately 1/2 of the total population of the 11 LGA's of Northern Sydney 2. Our largest age related cohorts are 1. 10-14 years 2. 15-19 years closely followed by 3. 5-9 years 4. 20-24 years and 5. 0-4 years 3. Our smallest age related cohorts are in our seniors seeing the numbers dramatically decline from the age of 50 years. This may indicate a). Aboriginal people may "return to Country" in their senior years b). Distrust to identify is more prevalent in these age groupings c). We simply have not addressed the principle factors of Closing the Gap" Community Matters
Local Decision Making Through the Aboriginal Affairs Plan OCHRE, Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility,Empowerment, the NSW Government has developed a Local Decision Making model that gives Aboriginal people a greater role ensuring the design and delivery of services can be shaped by a genuine understanding of local communities and their aspirations for the future. Current areas of focus for the Northern Sydney District (NSD) 1. Improving access to Health Services for Aboriginal people across Northern Sydney across the Northern Sydney District (NSD). 2. Create greater employment opportunities and stability for Aboriginal people across Northern Sydney in all departments, agencies and regions in all roles at various levels. Provide NSD Aboriginal Leadership and Development Support Program, facilitate internships, cadetships, student placements, provide mentoring and create opportunities for networking. 3. Reducing housing pressure and homelessness rates for Aboriginal people across Northern Sydney. Developing a NSD Affordable Housing Initiative and sustainable housing for Aboriginal people. 4. An empowered Aboriginal community setting meaningful goals. Establishment of a NSD community based Aboriginal organisation representing the Aboriginal community and families of the NSD, including local Elders. Having an identified "Place", the NSD Aboriginal Community, Recognising the NSD Aboriginal Community and developing accurate statistical information to aid in planning 5. Strengthen community pride and identity: Implementing the NSD Stronger, Prouder and Deadlier Program for Aboriginal students across secondary schools, children and youth, in Kinship care and mainstream care programs for connections to country and culture. 6. Building long term trusted relationships, partnerships and collaboration to lead and support key Aboriginal initiatives for whole of government (local, state and federal) and Non Government Sector
Better outcomes is everyone's business We will put Aboriginal people at the forefront of: Our thinking, Our Policy, Program and service design, Meaningful partnership and engagement, Practical actions to break the cycle of disadvantage Aboriginal voices will be heard Aboriginal workforce reform Sector Readiness Economic development and employment Innovative and flexible Choice and control FACS Aboriginal Cultural Inclusion Framework 2015-2018 NSW Public Sector Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2014-2017
ACIF Overview NSD Mana Allawah Aboriginal Summit held in July 2014 with key stakeholders and Aboriginal community representatives. A series of Yarn Ups were held with stakeholders and the Aboriginal community. The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategy 2014 2016 was launched in October 2014 by the FACS NSD Executive team. The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategy has six (6) key result areas and acts as the voice of community. The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategy reflects the commitments of the OCHRE NSW Aboriginal Affairs Plan and FACS Aboriginal Strategy: Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities. The Mana Allawah Project Management Group was established in December 2014: The Mana Allawah Project Management Group (PMG) take responsibility for implementing the strategic actions of the FACS ACIF and Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategy to improve outcomes for the Aboriginal community in the NSD. The Mana Allawah PMG have meet on six (6) occasions since its inception and the membership has reach 22 representatives from across local, state, federal government agencies and community organisations. Sub working groups have been established to progress specific pieces of work and report back to the larger group
ACIF Overview NSD The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Advisory Board was established in February 2015 made up of key members in the Aboriginal community across NSD: The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Advisory Board have meet on three (3) occasions with the FACS Executive to monitor the implementation of the Mana Allawah Aboriginal Strategy and PMG. The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Advisory Board Terms of Reference were developed in February 2015 and have been updated following advice from members. The Mana Allawah Aboriginal Board are in the process of nominating a Chair and Deputy Chairperson which will be voted on at the next meeting. A Mana Allawah Get Together was held in early August 2015 at Hornsby ADHC bring together key stakeholders to support and lead specific projects for the Aboriginal community in NSD.
2016 MANA ALLAWAH IMPORTANT DATES JANUARY FEBRUARY ABORIGINAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETINGS ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS S M T W T F S S M T W T F S Wednesday 6 April 1:30-4:30 Tuesday 26 January - YABUN / SURVIVAL DAY 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wednesday 29 June 1:30-4:30 Saturday 13 February - ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLOGY 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Thursday 22 September 1:30-4:30 Saturday 26 May - NATIONAL CLOSE THE GAP DAY 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Wednesday 14 December 1:30-4:30 Thursday 26 May - NATIONAL SORRY DAY 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Friday 27 May - ANNIVERSARY OF 1967 REFERENDUM 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 POJECT MANAGEMENT GROUP MEETINGS Friday 27 May- 3 June - RECONCILIATION WEEK 31 Wednesday 17 February 11:30-1:00 Friday 3 June - MABO DAY Wednesday 27 April 11:30-1:00 Monday 4 July- Tuesday 12 July - NAIDOC WEEK MARCH APRIL Wednesday 8 June 11:30-1:00 Thursday 4 August - NATIONAL ABORIGINAL CHILDRENS DAY S M T W T F S S M T W T F S Wednesday 17 August 11:30-1:00 Tuesday 9 August - INTERNATIONAL DAY WORLDS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 Wednesday 12 October 11:30-1:00 Saturday 3 September - INDIGENOUS LITERACY DAY 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wednesday 7 December 11:30-1:00 Tuesday 13 September - UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOP 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 COMMUNITY YARN UPS 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Monday 18 January 10:00-4:00 Wednesday 16 March 10:00-4:00 Wednesday 25 May 10:00-4.00 MAY JUNE Wednesday 7 September 10:00-4.00 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S Wednesday 23 November 10:00-4.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ABORIGINAL STAFF NETWORK MEETINGS 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Wednesday 9 March 11:00-2:00 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Wednesday 6 July 11:00-2:00 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30 Wednesday 30 November 11:00-2:00 JULY AUGUST S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 31 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Family & Community Services 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Northern Sydney District 30 31 12 Help Street, Level 6 Chatswood, NSW 2067 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 02 8424 2500 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31