Contents
- Part 1 Executive Summary
- Part 2 Performance reporting
- Part 3 Corporate governance and accountability
- Part 4 Appendices
- Part 5 Financial Management
Annual Report 2008–2009
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Annual Report 2008–2009
Annual Report 2008–2009 » Chapter 6: Outcome 1 » Output Group 1.2
Output Group 1.2 contributes to Outcome 1 by providing services to Indigenous Australians that offer practical support and promote greater self-reliance and shared responsibility.
By partnering with government, communities, non-government organisations and the private sector, FaHCSIA develops and implements agreements with communities that meet local needs. We provide services and assistance to help build functional and resilient Indigenous individuals, families and communities and develop Indigenous leadership. This includes providing sustainable housing, services and support to address the needs of vulnerable communities and to protect individuals and families against violence and substance abuse.
Funding is also provided for research to support and develop evidence-based policy, the improvement of land tenure arrangements, and the repatriation of Indigenous remains.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account is a Special Account (for the purposes of the FMA Act) established for making payments to the Indigenous Land Corporation.
The Department administers the Land Account in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005.
The Land Account is a self-sustaining capital fund. It provides a secure and ongoing source of funds to the Indigenous Land Corporation to provide economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by assisting in the acquisition and management of an Indigenous land base.
The Aboriginals Benefit Account is a Special Account (for the purposes of the FMA Act) established for the receipt of statutory royalty equivalent moneys generated from mining on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory, and the distribution of these moneys.
The Department administers the account in accordance with the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
The funds are used to meet the operational costs of the Land Councils in the Northern Territory. Thirty per cent of royalty equivalent receipts are paid for the benefit of traditional Aboriginal owners of areas affected by mining. Under subsection 64(4) of the ALRA, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs can direct that amounts be paid for, or applied to or for, the benefit of Aboriginals living in the Northern Territory.
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The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program provides participation opportunities for Indigenous people through activities that develop skills and improve employability of participants in order to assist them to move into employment outside the program.
| Percentage of CDEP participants that move into non-CDEP employment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 12% | The variance is –2.4%. The result is a slight variance from the target and is likely to be related to reduced employment opportunities. |
| Actual | 9.6% | |
| Percentage of Indigenous participants | ||
| Estimate | 99% | No variance. This result is consistent with the 2007–08 result and confirms non-Indigenous participation in this program is negligible. |
| Actual | 99% | |
The Australian Remote Indigenous Accommodation (ARIA) program replaced the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) from 1 July 2008. The ARIA program provided funding for the Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory Government. The program also funded the extension of the Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Agreements with the states and the Australian Capital Territory for the period 1 July 2008 to 1 December 2008. This allowed funding to jurisdictions to continue while negotiations on reforming the delivery of housing were completed.
On 29 November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to reforms of the financial arrangements and roles and responsibilities between governments for the provision of housing across Australia.
Under the new arrangements, the National Partnership Agreement for Remote Indigenous Housing, a 10-year strategy of reform for remote Indigenous housing, was agreed between the Commonwealth, state and Northern Territory governments with total funding of $5.5 billion over the agreement’s 10-year period. The agreement aims to address severe overcrowding, homelessness and the severe housing shortage in remote communities. Following the implementation of appropriate land tenure arrangements, it will enable:
The National Partnership Agreement for Remote Indigenous Housing is part of the National Affordable Housing Agreement, also agreed through COAG.
Figures in the table below represent CHIP/ARIA and Aboriginal Rental Housing Program funding. Data may be incomplete due to new funding and reporting arrangements as agreed at COAG.| Number of new houses constructed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | Approximately 350 | The variance is +19. Figures include house purchases and completed constructions. |
| Actual | 369 | |
| Number of houses upgraded | ||
| Estimate | Approximately 1,200 | The variance is +169. Figures reflect completed upgrades. |
| Actual | 1,369 | |
| Number of repair and maintenance episodes | ||
| Estimate | Approximately 2,000 | The variance is +3,096. Figures reflect completed work, noting that not all jurisdictions are able to report against this measure. |
| Actual | 5,096 | |
| Number of beds provided by the Indigenous Mothers’ Accommodation Fund to be managed by a proven service provider | ||
| Estimate | 12 | No variance. A contract has been signed with Mookai Rosie to provide 24 beds in Cairns replacing the current 12-bed facility. Construction is to be completed by the end of 2010, which is the capital target for this project. |
| Actual | 12 additional beds by the end of 2010 | |
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Improving policing in remote communities was part of the July 2006 COAG Package on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities. Funding was provided to state and territory governments for the construction of new police facilities in remote communities ($40 million over four years) and for two sniffer dog teams ($1.9 million over four years).
Planning or construction has begun on a number of new police facilities across Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Two sniffer dog teams are operational, one based in Darwin and the second based at the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk in Alice Springs.
| Number of remote communities with police facilities under construction or completed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 13 | No variance. |
| Actual | 13 | |
| Number of sniffer dog teams operational | ||
| Estimate | 2 | No variance. |
| Actual | 2 | |
This initiative provides capital funding to build or expand accommodation for Indigenous students who need to travel from their remote home communities to access quality secondary education. Commitment from at least one partner organisation, including but not limited to public or private education providers, is required in order for a proposed facility to be considered for funding.
| Number of sites identified for provision of new facilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 1 | No variance. |
| Actual | 1 | |
| Number of sites identified for expansion of existing facilities | ||
| Estimate | 1 | No variance. |
| Actual | 1 | |
| Percentage of projects meeting milestones agreed with FaHCSIA | ||
| Estimate | 100% | No variance. |
| Actual | 100% | |
| Number of beds to be managed by a proven service provider | ||
| Estimate | 50 | The variance is +110. The variance reflects the 40-bed expansion of the existing Wiltja facility in South Australia and a new 120-bed facility in Weipa, Queensland. The Wiltja facility will be completed and ready for use for school year 2010. The Weipa hostel is expected to be completed for school year 2011. |
| Actual | 160 | |
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Indigenous Communities Strategic Investment (ICSI) builds sustainable improvements for Indigenous people through a range of flexible funding and strategic initiatives in Indigenous communities that build on a clear commitment between the community, government and other partners.
| Percentage of ICSI projects that meet the agreed objectives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 90% | The variance is +8.42%. The actual result is similar to the estimate. |
| Actual | 98.42% | |
| Percentage of ICSI projects that incorporate a partnership with Indigenous communities | ||
| Estimate | 90% | The variance is +8.11%. The actual result is similar to the estimate. |
| Actual | 98.11% | |
| Percentage of ICSI projects that include a partnership agreement, where the recipient has delivered all agreed milestones within the ICSI guidelines | ||
| Estimate | 90% | The variance is –26.28%. The variance is due to a high number of projects commencing part way through the year whose milestones have not yet been fully measured. In addition, not all projects incorporating a partnership were the subject of a formal shared responsibility agreement or regional partnership agreement. |
| Actual | 63.72% | |
This initiative develops the individual capacity of Indigenous Australians through leadership development. The initiative comprises two components: Indigenous leadership development and the Indigenous Women’s Program.
Indigenous leadership development uses innovative and collaborative approaches to strengthen and develop the leadership capacity of Indigenous women, men and youth.
The Indigenous Women’s Program aims to enhance Indigenous women’s leadership, representation, safety, wellbeing and economic status through the provision of specific grants.
The Government has also invested in research into effective mechanisms for developing Indigenous leadership capacity as well as community engagement and its impact on communities.
| Percentage of national course participants demonstrating increased leadership knowledge and skills by undertaking a practical leadership component | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 60% | The variance is +8%. The variance reflects continual improvement in program delivery as well as an increase in the number of program participants. This comes from the level of perceived satisfaction with the program by the participant group, who have promoted the program to their broader networks. |
| Actual | 68% | |
| Percentage of national course participants who are satisfied that the leadership course was appropriate for their needs and background | ||
| Estimate | 80% | The variance is +4%. The program continues to meet its stated satisfaction target. |
| Actual | 84% | |
| Number of Indigenous people attending a leadership course | ||
| Estimate | 800 | The variance is +233. The variance is due to a combination of changing to a registration rather than a submission process for the national program and increased requests for workshops to support Regional Partnership Agreements and targeted workshops. |
| Actual | 1,033 | |
| Number of funding agreements with Indigenous women’s organisations and leadership auspice organisations | ||
| Estimate | 80 | The variance is +19. The variance is due to large number of activities (70 of the 99) receiving grants less than $50,000. |
| Actual | 99 | |
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This administered item supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to exercise their legal rights in relation to land and sea ownership and usage under the Native Title Act 1993. The program provides access to professional services for native title clients through Native Title Representative Bodies and other native title service providers.
| Number of Native Title claims concluded | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | No target set. Varies from year to year and is not under FaHCSIA’s control |
This measure is demand driven and not estimable. |
| Actual | 30 | |
| Percentage of Native Title Representative Bodies’ operational plans assessed as meeting quality standards | ||
| Estimate | 80% | The variance is +20%. Direct input of operational plans, with associated controls, has led to a significant improvement in quality and therefore resulted in more plans meeting quality standards. |
| Actual | 100% | |
| Number of Native Title claims progressed during the year | ||
| Estimate | No target set. Varies from year to year and is not under FaHCSIA’s control | This measure is demand driven and not estimable. This figure is not expected to vary significantly from year to year in the short term because determined and struck-out claims are replaced by claims from the Native Title Representative Body priority schedule. |
| Actual | 354 | |
The Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) is a whole-of-government initiative aimed at closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory. FaHCSIA is responsible for the coordination of measures across government as the lead agency for the response.
| Income management and community stores | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | Income management is operating effectively in all communities with licensed stores Stores report increased sales of food Access to a range of quality food within communities increased—measured through surveys |
On 30 June 2009, there were 86 licensed stores across 61 communities in the Northern Territory. Support has been, and will continue to be, provided to store operators to ensure that they are appropriately managing people’s Income Management allocations. Customer shopping habits have changed significantly in most stores, with 68.2% of store operators reporting an increase in the amount of healthy food purchased. This includes items such as fruit and vegetables, as well as dairy foods and meat. Many stores reported an increase in turnover (63.6%) with a consequent capacity to stock a wider range of goods, including fresh fruit and vegetables. |
| Actual | 86 stores licensed to participate in Income Management 68.2% of store operators report increased sales of healthy foods 63.6% of store operators report increase in store turnover |
|
| Promoting law and order: More police in remote communities | ||
| Estimate | Retention of additional police | The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has committed up to 66 positions on a rotational basis. The number of police deployed fluctuates due to operational arrangements. As of 30 June 2009, 63 AFP members were deployed. AFP members have been deployed commensurate with remote stations being opened. The majority of members have been deployed directly in NTER communities. The Northern Territory Government has also deployed an additional 18 police officers into NTER communities as part of the emergency response. |
| Actual | 63 | |
| Family support package | ||
| Estimate | 2 mobile child protection teams operational Safe Houses operational in 18 communities |
The variance is –1. The original estimate was in error and should have read as one mobile child protection team since funding was only provided for one team. The number of operational Safe Houses is the same as the estimate. |
| Actual | 1 mobile child protection team operational 18 Safe Houses operational |
|
| Youth alcohol diversion | ||
| Estimate | Increased number of continuing youth alcohol diversion activities | Forty-four projects were funded in the northern region of the Northern Territory (approximately $2.3 million), including the continuation of the Youth Development Network in the Victoria/Daly and West Arnhem Shires (provision of 33 locally driven initiatives in 13 Indigenous communities coordinated by the Australian Red Cross). Fourteen large-scale diversion and infrastructure projects were funded in Central Australia in the Northern Territory (approximately $6.5 million), including school holiday and after-school programs, sporting initiatives, music education, refurbishment of office facilities, and local employment and training initiatives for Aboriginal people. |
| Actual | 58 | |
| Housing and land reform: Land compensation | ||
| Estimate | Process for evaluating compensation applications established | The determination of rent has commenced. Negotiations on compensation will begin after the determination and payment of rent. |
| Actual | Ongoing | |
| Housing and land reform: Five-year lease program | ||
| Estimate | Increased number of prescribed communities with registered leases in place | The Commonwealth interest in all 64 five-year leased communities has been noted on the Register of Administrative Interests in lieu of registration. |
| Leadership and coordination: NTER Taskforce (including the Operations Centre) | ||
| Estimate | Timely and effective implementation of NTER measures controlled by the Operations Centre | The NTER Operations Centre continued to implement those NTER measures for which it retained responsibility from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, namely the Licensing of Community Stores; the rollout and continuation of income management in prescribed communities; monitoring and reporting on the implementation of NTER measures across government; and media and communication tasks related to the NTER. |
| Actual | Not applicable | |
| Government Business Managers | ||
| Estimate | Stable numbers of Government Business Managers established and servicing all prescribed communities | Across the Northern Territory at 30 June 2009, there were 57 Government Business Managers servicing 73 communities and 14 other smaller town camps near major regional centres. |
| Actual | 57 | |
| Accommodation for government personnel in remote communities | ||
| Estimate | Additional temporary accommodation upgraded in at least 13 communities | The variance is +10. Additional government staff accommodation requirements were identified and the scope of works was expanded to include 23 temporary accommodation upgrades in total. |
| Actual | Additional temporary accommodation provided to 23 communities | |
| Community engagement | ||
| Estimate | Number of interpreting sessions delivered by trained interpreters Appropriate training materials developed as required Number of Indigenous Engagement Officers (IEOs) employed: 20 IEOs |
Variances for ‘number of interpreting sessions’ and ‘appropriate training materials’ have not been provided as an estimate was not set in the 2008–09 Portfolio Budget Statements. The variance is +1 IEO. A total of 21 IEOs were employed as at 1 June 2009. The increase was due to a greater interest in the role than anticipated and an availability of funds. |
| Actual | 9,364 interpreting sessions were delivered by trained interpreters 5 training modules were developed 21 IEOs were employed |
|
| Report on the implementation and impact to date of the NTER based on the independent one-year review of the NTER to be completed by the end of 2008 | ||
| Estimate | Review publicly released by the end of 2008 | The report of the Review Board was released on 13 October 2008. |
| Actual | Review released in October 2008 | |
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Funding of $0.8 million for Indigenous research was committed over four years in the 2007–08 Budget. This administered item enables the Department to develop sound evidence-based policy across a broad realm of social and economic areas. In 2008–09 funds for the Closing the Gap—Closing the Evidence Gap budget measure were transferred to this administered item.
| Range of research is relevant and useful to policy priorities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | Research is relevant to COAG Closing the Gap targets and useful to policy development | One research project completed and 5 others commenced. The projects involved a wide range of research areas, including informing development of whole-of-government evaluations, Indigenous community population study, and analysis of Indigenous statistical data. |
| Actual | 6 projects | |
| Quality of research methodology and outputs | ||
| Estimate | High standard of methodology and output for all projects as assessed through quality review by selected research specialists in other agencies | The completed work was reviewed by an external agency and found to be of a high standard. The output of this work informed development of whole-of-government evaluations. Five research projects are currently under way and cannot yet be assessed. |
| Actual | 1 review | |
The Public Awareness program has two elements: public awareness, which funds selected activities capable of reaching a significant audience of non-Indigenous people; and the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC), which funds the annual Indigenous community celebrations during NAIDOC Week (first full week in July).
The objective of the Public Awareness program is to encourage in the wider community an understanding of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; develop positive attitudes towards Indigenous Australians; and inform the wider community about contemporary issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.
In 2008–09, 350 organisations were funded to conduct approximately 1,180 events, the majority of which related to local NAIDOC celebrations. Many organisations managed multiple NAIDOC activities under a single grant. Twenty of the organisations conducted Public Awareness activities unrelated to NAIDOC.
| Review of Public Awareness program to be undertaken prior to 30 June 2009 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | Results of review | The final report of the review was received on 30 June 2009 and will be considered early in 2009–10. |
| Actual | Results of review | |
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The Ranger Agreement, completed under the former section 44 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, was made between the Government and the Northern Land Council in November 1978 to provide for various payments in respect of mining on the Ranger Project Area, which is on Aboriginal land. Under this agreement, the Government agreed to pay $0.2 million annually to the Northern Land Council as a form of rental.
The International Repatriation Program funds activities related to the return of Indigenous ancestral remains held in overseas institutions to their communities of origin.
This includes:
A total of 101 remains were returned from overseas during 2008–09. Of these, six remains were returned to country in South Australia from the United Kingdom during the year. A further 19 remains, the originating communities of which are not known or need to be confirmed, were returned from the United Kingdom and the United States to the National Museum of Australia and the Museum of Victoria for ongoing research to identify their communities of origin. Nine of the 19 remains were from private collections.
The 2008–09 returns also included a major repatriation from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington of the remains of 76 individuals. These remains have been successfully returned to two communities in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
During the year, five new agreements were reached with institutions in the United Kingdom and Germany.
| Percentage of repatriation services delivered within quality standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 80% | The variance is +20%. Performance is assessed through feedback from communities where remains were returned to country. |
| Actual | 100% | |
| Number of agreements reached with institutions to repatriate remains | ||
| Estimate | 5 | No variance. In 2008–09 agreements were reached with 3 institutions and 1 private collection in the United Kingdom, and 1 institution in Germany. |
| Actual | 5 | |
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