Working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities

NETWORK WEST INNOVATIONS FORUM WORKSHOP

Kerrie Godbold, Community Development Officer 16 November, 2017

Acknowledgement

• f Country

We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Custodians of the lands on which Australia was founded. We acknowledge the Wadawurrung, Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay respect to the wisdom and diversity

• f past and present Elders.

Aboriginal communities in Melbourne’s west

Wyndham City is home to the largest population of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the Melbourne Metropolitan Region. Aboriginal people move to the western suburbs of Melbourne from all over Australia

A diverse community

• Peoples of Kulin Nation
• Displaced Victorian Aboriginal families
• Stolen Generation members
• People identifying through family association

Diverse organisations

• Traditional Owner organisations

– cultural heritage management and education

• Aboriginal Community organisations

– health, education, employments, sport, family support

Getting to know local Aboriginal people

• Victorian Aboriginal population: a snapshot
• Department of Health video at https://youtu.be/AayR_C6_CKM
• Profile.id (Census data)

http://profile.id.com.au/wyndham/indigenous-keystatistics

• Council Community profiles

https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/about-council/wyndham- community/community-profiles

• Culture Victoria (https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/aboriginal-

culture/our-story/vacl-language-map-of-victoria/)

Wyndham Aboriginal community age groups

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 0-4 5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-59 60-64 65+ Age groups Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Wyndham

Involving Aboriginal people in governance The Victorian Constitution (Section 1a, 2004) acknowledges that

this state was established “without proper consultation, recognition or involvement of the Aboriginal people of Victoria.

Create a welcoming space! Learn from the past

Making Two Worlds Work

Online resources

• A 'Working with Aboriginal clients and community' audit tool for agency

planning and review

• Signage for services to welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people to their agency

• Information guide that includes local knowledge about culture and history,

frequently asked questions, key Aboriginal organisations and contacts. http://www.whealth.com.au/mtww/resource_kit.html

Involving Aboriginal people in programs

Reconciliation Australia suggests three principles:

• Build RELATIONSHIPS
• Show RESPECT
• Increase OPPORTUNITIES with Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people