The Western Australian State Government has signed a 'Statement of Commitment to a new and just relationship between the Government of WA and Aboriginal Western Australians'. This pledges to work together to improve the lives of Indigenous Western Australians.
The following information from WA government departments gives some details about how the Government works to fulfil this commitment. Visit department websites for more information.
AGWA has one of Australia's most significant collections of Indigenous art and a selection of works is always on display, providing visitors with a unique insight into the heritage and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Gallery works closely with the Indigenous community to support and promote Indigenous artists and regularly develops special exhibitions, which showcase Indigenous artists and their work.
AGWA's commitment to schools programs, Indigenous events such as NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee), and its involvement in Indigenous workshops have enabled strong relationships to be developed with the Indigenous community.
AGWA website: www.artgallery.wa.gov.au
Department of Culture and the Arts
The Ministry of Culture and the Arts (MCA) comprises the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA), including ArtsWA and the State Records Office, and five statutory authorities: the Art Gallery of WA, ScreenWest, the State Library of WA, the WA Museum and the Perth Theatre Trust.
The DCA recognises the fundamental importance of preserving traditional Indigenous art and culture and fostering the development of Indigenous art and culture as an integral part of WA heritage and contemporary cultural life. The DCA is coordinating the development of a Culture and Arts Portfolio Indigenous Policy and Action Plan scheduled for release early in 2004.
The arts provide a wide platform for perspectives, stories and histories to be shared and revealed. Through the agencies of ArtsWA and ScreenWest, Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners and Indigenous communities are supported to develop and promote Indigenous culture across all art forms. In addition, support is provided to organizations such as to Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre; Magabala Books and Goolari Media.
The Western Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of Western Australia play an important role through research, collection, interpretation and exhibition of the contribution Indigenous Western Australians make to the natural and cultural life of the State. Both organisations maintain major exhibition galleries on Indigenous culture and life in WA.
Access to important records, photographs and archives relating to native title and family histories is facilitated through the State Records Office and the Battye Library as part of the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA). The SLWA also provides public library services to Indigenous communities.
In addition, there are a number of community-based Indigenous cultural centres and keeping places for Indigenous culture such as Warburton, Balgo Hills and Karajini.
DCA website: www.dca.wa.gov.au
Department for Community Development (DCD)
The DCD strengthens communities by giving individuals and families the help and resources they need to improve their lives; gives crisis support to families and individuals; provides safe care for children unable to live at home; and works towards reducing all forms of abuse.
The DCD has five units which carry out the work: Families and Communities, Family and Domestic Violence Unit, Office for Children and Youth; Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering; and Office for Women's Policy.
The DCD Indigenous Policy Directorate ensures issues for Indigenous people are included in policy development. The directorate provides advice, analysis and information for Indigenous services.
DCD services for Indigenous people include:
- child protection workers-Gordon Inquiry recommendation
- family tracing through the Family Information Records Bureau
- foster care services
- funding for school holiday programs
- NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week funding
- parenting publications and videos including the Growing up kids series and Shaken Baby Syndrome campaign
- providing funding to help WA youth in country areas, including Indigenous youth, access the Kids Help Line
- the Aboriginal Student Accommodation Service – for Indigenous youth from the country who want to study at high school in Perth.
DCD website: www.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au
Department of Environment (DoE)
The DoE consults Indigenous people and the Department of Indigenous Affairs in many of its activities, such as river restoration, water quality monitoring, developing foreshore and water allocation management plans, constructions related to water licensing (e.g. drilling bores, building dams) and in its waterway management and planning decision-making processes. Departmental practices also ensure that the requirements of the Native Title Act 1993 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 are met. The DoE is reviewing and improving its involvement with Indigenous groups in response to the Commonwealth of Australia Government's direction to advance Reconciliation, the National Best Practice Framework and Guidelines for Advancing Reconciliation (2003), and the State Government's Statement of Commitment to a New and Just Relationship (2001).
DoE website: www.environment.wa.gov.au
The Department of Health (DoH)
The DoH provides health services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of WA through both the statewide services of the government health system and through contracting Aboriginal community-controlled services around the State.
DoH recognises the substantial health deficit of Indigenous people and works in partnership with other government agencies and the community to address the social determinants of health. DoH's Office of Aboriginal Health coordinates these efforts and manages the development of policy and programs to improve health and the contracting of services.
DoH's Aboriginal health website: www.aboriginal.health.wa.gov.au
Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA)
The DIA works in partnership with government agencies and the community to promote social and economic equity for Indigenous people, respect for the land, and an appreciation of the State's unique heritage and culture.
Its key objective is to improve the quality of life of the State's 53,000 Indigenous citizens – up to one-third of whom live in the most isolated and harsh physical environment in the country.
Understanding how to do business with Indigenous communities is an important ingredient in establishing these partnerships and is a major contribution made by the DIA.
The DIA's three core areas of business are:
- the management and protection of Aboriginal heritage and culture;
- the management and transfer of Indigenous land; and
- the coordination of a whole-of-government approach to Indigenous issues.
These core functions are provided through regional offices strategically located throughout the State.
DIA website: www.dia.wa.gov.au
Department of Justice (DoJ)
The DoJ works in partnership with Aboriginal communities, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and other government agencies to reduce the number of Indigenous people in negative contact with the justice system.
The Department's Aboriginal Policy and Services directorate is dedicated to ensuring policies and practices of the DoJ are responsive to the needs of Indigenous people. This involves close consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during the planning, provision and monitoring of justice-related services.
The DoJ has numerous innovative programs and services that take into account the unique needs, values and geographical considerations of Indigenous communities, which help individuals maintain links with their cultural heritage while they are in contact with the justice system.
DoJ website: www.justice.wa.gov.au
Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI)
The DPI acknowledges the significance of land tenure as a means of Aboriginal advancement.
The department progresses applications from Indigenous people seeking to set up small communities in rural, pastoral and remote areas of the State to re-establish traditional connections with the land and to carry out cultural, community and commercial activities.
DPI website: www.dpi.wa.gov.au/las/native_title
Disability Services Commission (DSC)
Indigenous people with disabilities, especially those living in rural and remote areas, are under-represented in their use of disability services. To address this, the DSC is developing culturally appropriate supports and service delivery models that are responsive to Indigenous communities. These include:
- Partnerships with key agencies in the central desert lands to provide appropriate supports and services
- New models of family support, respite and therapy services specifically for Indigenous communities
- Research to investigate the incidence of intellectual disability among Indigenous people to better inform planning for appropriate services
- Recruitment of Indigenous staff across the disability sector, including the appointment of an Indigenous senior policy officer.
For more, see disAbility update articles on the website: Indigenous consultation to cover the State, pp29–30 (Issue 15, December 2002); and Indigenous planners hit the road pp22–24 (Issue 18, September 2003).
DSC website: www.dsc.wa.gov.au
Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC)
The EOC has two major roles. It encourages recognition and understanding of the principles of equal opportunity. Laws alone do not end intolerance, prejudice and discrimination in the community, so education is a vital part of the Commission's function. It also provides a means of redress to individuals who experience unlawful discrimination.
The Equal Opportunity Act says that discrimination is against the law. This is when you are treated unfairly because you are:
- Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or another race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity or national origin or descent*)
- Male or female
- Married, single, widowed, separated or de facto
- Pregnant
- Impaired – disability*
- Too old (or too young)
- A person with family responsibilities or because of who you may be related to (in work or education)
- A person with or without certain political or religious beliefs
- Heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian or bisexual (sexual orientation)
- A person who has had their gender reassigned (as certified under the Gender Reassignment Act 2000)
- Racially harassed – including offensive or insulting comments or other behaviour about a person's colour, ethnic background or origin (in work, education or accommodation)
- Sexually harassed (in work, education or accommodation) or
- You are a person with a spent conviction (in work only).
*The law may also apply to a relative or a person who has a close relationship to a person affected by these grounds.
If you have been treated unfairly on the basis of the above, you are encouraged to contact the Equal Opportunity Commission. If you prefer, Aboriginal staff Stephen Goodall and Zeta Binge are available at the Commission.
EOC website: www.equalopportunity.wa.gov.au
Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA (FESA)
FESA is perhaps best known for its work in responding to emergencies such as fires, floods and cyclones but much of its behind-the-scenes work in prevention and preparation is also important. This is particularly true for Indigenous people living in remote communities.
FESA has initiated many projects including Safe Country, which highlighted work being done within Indigenous communities to minimise the effects of cyclones and floods. This was backed up by the Mary G TV and radio campaigns. The focus is to make emergency risk management more relevant to Indigenous people.
FESA is also trying to encourage more Indigenous people to join the organisation with its diversity in recruitment program and its Indigenous traineeship scheme.
FESA website: www.fesa.wa.gov.au
Forest Products Commission (FPC)
The FPC liaises closely with Indigenous groups before harvesting forest products from State-owned and managed plantations and from WA's native forests and woodlands.
Indigenous contract teams account for a quarter of the sandalwood harvest contracts of greater than 100 tonnes annually, and communities at Warburton and Wiluna have won two smaller contracts.
Firewood contracts of sale have been awarded to Indigenous groups in the South-West at York, Collie and Bunbury, while another for craft-wood is in place for a Narrogin-based group.
Jarrah forest thinning projects have been conducted through the Bunbury-based Noongar Employment and Enterprise Development Aboriginal Corporation (NEEDAC), providing valuable work experience while contributing to a sustainable forest industry.
FPC website: www.fpc.wa.gov.au
Heritage Council of WA (HCWA)
The HCWA is the State Government's advisory body on built heritage matters. Heritage is not limited to buildings but covers a range of places considered to have cultural heritage significance, including bridges, streetscapes, gardens, relics, cemeteries and archaeological sites.
Many places are important to us because they tell us about who we are and about the past that has formed our community and environment. Heritage is that which is inherited and that which we pass on to future generations.
While the State's Indigenous heritage is recognised and protected by the Department of Indigenous Affairs, the HCWA gives consideration to Indigenous heritage values when assessing places for entry in the State Register of Heritage Places. The importance to Indigenous communities of sites such as the Chinatown Conservation Area in Broome or the Old Swan Brewery in Crawley is recognised as part of a place's significance to the State.
HCWA website: www.heritage.wa.gov.au
Office of Energy (OoE)
The OoE works with a number of agencies to develop and implement policy and projects that will improve the quality of life in regional and remote Aboriginal communities by improving essential services.
The Aboriginal and Remote Communities Power Supply Project (ARCPSP) was established with the OoE, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS) and Western Power to introduce regularised power supply arrangements and the uniform tariff in selected large, permanent Aboriginal communities. The communities participating in Phase 1 are Ardyaloon, Beagle Bay, Lombadina – Djarindjin, Bidyadanga and Warmun.
In another interagency collaboration, the OoE and the Office of Water Regulation has been developing an Energy, Water and Wastewater Efficiency Education Package. This is being offered to schools and communities where there will be a change in the delivery of energy and water through two Commonwealth/State Government Programs: the ARCPSP and the Town Reserves Regularisation Program.
The OoE is also represented on a number of Steering Committees including:
- the Town Reserves Regularisation Program Steering Committee which is overseeing a program to 'regularise' the delivery of power, water, and municipal services to Indigenous Town Reserves near regional towns.
- the Aboriginal Communities Essential Services Steering Committee which oversees key aspects of the delivery of essential services (power, water and wastewater) to 78 remote Indigenous communities.
- the Indigenous Action Plan Steering Committee which is developing a national strategy to address the power supply requirements of Indigenous communities.
OoE website: www.energy.wa.gov.au
Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI)
One of the OMI's key objectives is to work towards the elimination of racism in all its forms.
An Anti-Racism Steering Committee, chaired by the Premier to oversee the formulation of Anti-Racism strategies, has drafted the WA Charter of Multiculturalism which is being prepared for submission to State Cabinet.
The draft Charter affirms the shared rights and responsibilities of all Western Australians, while recognising our differences. It promotes a multicultural or differentiated citizenship that is based on the principles of democratic pluralism, which strive to safeguard and protect the rights of all Western Australians to participate as full and equal members of society.
Importantly, the draft Charter acknowledges Indigenous people as the First Australians and builds upon the government's new approach to Aboriginal Western Australians, which was reflected in the signing of the Statement of Commitment for a new and just relationship between the Government of Western Australia and Aboriginal Western Australians in October 2001.
Not-for-profit Indigenous community groups can also be part of the Online WA Multicultural Communities (OWAMC) Project, an initiative of the Office of Multicultural Interests and the Ethnic Communities Council of WA. The initiative, which is particularly beneficial for community groups in regional and remote areas, provides websites and a range of communications facilities at minimal cost.
OMI website: www.omi.wa.gov.au
Public Library Services (PLS)
The PLS program provides library resources and services to Aboriginal communities at Ngaanyatjarra (Warburton), Kupungarri (Mount Barnet) and to the Wirrumanu Adult Education Centre at Balgo Hills. The Ngaanyatjarra library was developed after considerable consultation with the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and the Aboriginal community.
PLS is now exploring alternative methods of service delivery to regional and remote WA Aboriginal communities based on the resources and experiences at the current Aboriginal community libraries in WA.
An information gateway was developed on library services and resources for Indigenous people. This is available from the State Library website. In addition, the PLS team promotes celebrations of significance to Indigenous people, such as NAIDOC Week, to public librarians throughout the State via the Public Librarians Online website.
The J S Battye Library of Western Australian History has published Katitjin: a Guide to Indigenous records in the Battye Library . The guide, which identifies original records, including private papers, oral histories, film and videos and pictorial material relating to WA's Indigenous people, is an invaluable resource for researchers, genealogists and Aboriginal family historians.
Over 500 photographs relevant to Indigenous people have been digitised and made available throughout WA via the State Library online database.
PLS website: www.liswa.wa.gov.au
Rottnest Island Authority (RIA)
The first records of Aboriginal occupation of Rottnest Island are from more than 6,500 years ago when the island was still attached to the mainland.
Artefacts have been found at a number of sites on Rottnest Island pre-dating 6,500 years ago and are possibly tens of thousands of years old. The most recent find (in 2003) is believed to be more than 50,000 years old.
Known to local Aboriginal people as Wadjemup, the island is believed to be a place of spirits and is of significance to Aboriginal communities. There are 17 sites on Rottnest Island listed under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972–1980 .
For almost a century, except for a short period of closure between 1849 and 1855, the island served as a prison for Aboriginal people. About 3,700 Aboriginal men and boys from around WA were imprisoned.
During this time the Aboriginal prisoners built many buildings and other structures including the seawall, lighthouses and other heritage. Most of the development took place in Thomson Bay, and of particular significance is the Quod that was the prison accommodation for the Aboriginal men. The Quod is now part of the Rottnest Lodge.
An Aboriginal cemetery for the 369 Aboriginal prisoners who died on the island between 1838 and 1931 is located within the Thomson Bay Settlement.
Closure of the Aboriginal prison was recommended in 1902 and the attention of the public and the government turned to Rottnest Island's possibilities as a recreation destination.
Today the RIA consults with and advises Aboriginal people connected to Rottnest Island on any relevant projects under discussion.
RIA website: www.rottnest.wa.gov.au
ScreenWest
ScreenWest is the State Government's agency for film and television. Our vision is to lead the screen industry to a level of creative and commercial success which is a source of pride and opportunity for all Western Australians.
ScreenWest has a strong focus on developing and supporting WA's Indigenous film-makers.
The formation of an Indigenous Filmmakers Advisory Group has put the following developments and initiatives in place:
- The establishment of an Indigenous Project Officer's position at ScreenWest (2004).
- The appointment of Indigenous producer, Dot West, from Goolari Media in Broome, to the ScreenWest Board of Management.
- A new $160,000 production initiative, Deadly Yarns, to showcase the work of Indigenous writers, directors and producers through eight short story or documentary films of up to five minutes in duration. The project is a partnership between ScreenWest, ABC Television and the Film and Television Institute (FTI). Contact FTI on (08) 9431 6700 or visit www.fti.asn.au for more information.
- A short 10-minute drama film called Index (Indigenous Filmex) is to be developed with ScreenWest and the Australian Film Commission with a budget of $65,000. Contact ScreenWest on (08) 9224 7340 for more information.
ScreenWest website: www.screenwest.com.au
The Western Australian Museum (WAM)
The WAM provides services to Aboriginal communities throughout the State, providing assistance to established cultural centres and through its involvement in planning new cultural centres in Broome, Carnarvon and Roebourne.
The Museum supplies images and information to communities about artefacts from specific regions and has an ongoing program of repatriation of culturally significant material to Aboriginal Elders and communities, involving stakeholder consultation.
Additionally, the Museum provides Indigenous people with a venue to showcase their work, for example, an exhibition was held of paintings by children of the Punmu Aboriginal community of the Pilbara, showcasing this remote community and helping to develop networks.
In mid-2004, the new Katta Djinoong Aboriginal Gallery will be opened at the Perth site.
WAM website: www.museum.wa.gov.au
Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC)
The WAPC works to improve the lives of Indigenous people through the Town Planning for Aboriginal Communities Project.
The project aims to improve living conditions in communities, through the development of Community Layout Plans (CLPs).
CLPs are developed in consultation with communities, and set out how the community should grow, considering issues such as:
- community aspirations for the future
- separation of incompatible land uses, such as power stations and residential areas
- protection of drinking water sources
- protection from flooding
- provision of areas for new housing and community buildings.
WAPC website: www.wapc.wa.gov.au
Tourism Western Australia
Indigenous Tourism is a niche area identified within the WATC under the Industry Development and Visitor Servicing Division, Sustainable Tourism Development. The WATC helps Indigenous people who wish to enter the tourism industry or expand existing businesses. WATC also supports the WAITOC Association (formerly the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Committee) which promotes Indigenous tourism on a state, national and international level. Contact the WAITOC Indigenous Tourism Product Coordinator at WATC on (08) 9220 1746.
WATC website: www.westernaustralia.com
WAITOC website: www.waitoc.com
