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Appendix 2

Overview of Family Violence and Child Abuse Initiatives by all Australian governments

• Part 1: The Council for Australian Governments' framework for responding to Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse
• Part 2:Other Australian Government Initiatives to address Indigenous Family Violence and Abuse
• Part 3:State and Territory government Responses to Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse

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To develop a nationwide picture of existing government initiatives that address family violence, the Social Justice Commissioner sent correspondence to all State, Territory and relevant Australian government departments^[1] requesting information on their policies and programs during the period 2006-2007.

The materials reproduced here are primarily drawn from information provided by each government or department,^[2] as well as some background information on major reports, inquiries or events that have shaped family violence and child abuse policy.

Part 1 of the appendix sets out the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) framework for intervention in family violence and child abuse, as well as Australian government responses reporting against the commitments arising from the 2006 Inter-governmental Summit on Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse.

Part 2 of the appendix provides supplementary information on other policies and programs that address family violence and abuse in Indigenous communities at the federal level.

Part 3 of the appendix provides an overview for each State and Territory under the following four headings:

1. policy frameworks;
2. joint State/ Territory and Australian government initiatives;
3. monitoring and evaluation processes; and
4. programs

It also includes information about major relevant reports in each state and territory.

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Part 1: The Council of Australian Governments’ framework for responding to Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse

Family violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities are issues that require cooperative action between the state and territory and federal levels of government. Many of the crucial services, such as policing, justice and child protection are the responsibility of the states and territories although there is still considerable scope for enhanced funding and supplementary support from the Australian government to address family violence and child abuse.

Most of the significant collaborative action taken on Indigenous family violence and child abuse has been negotiated through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).^[3]

Following the Prime Minister’s national roundtable with Indigenous leaders on family violence in 2003, a working group was formed to develop a draft family violence strategy to be endorsed by COAG.^[4]

COAG agreed to a National Framework for Preventing Family Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities^[5] (the National Framework) on 25 June 2004. The National Framework establishes prevention of child abuse and family violence as a national priority and includes a process for taking action through bilateral agreements. It also states that family violence prevention will be based on the principles of:

• Safety: Everyone has the right to be safe from family violence and abuse.
• Partnerships: Preventing family violence and child abuse in Indigenous families is best achieved by families, communities, community organisations and different levels of government working together as partners.
• Support: Preventing family violence and child abuse in Indigenous families relies on strong leadership from governments and Indigenous community leaders and sustainable resourcing.
• Strong, resilient families: Successful strategies to prevent family violence and child abuse in Indigenous families enable Indigenous people to take control of their lives, regain responsibility for their families and communities and to enhance individual and family wellbeing.
• Local solutions: Successful strategies to prevent family violence and child abuse in Indigenous families are flexible, work across jurisdictional and administrative boundaries, enable communities and governments to work together in new and innovative ways and enable local Indigenous communities to set priorities and work with governments to develop and solution to implement them.
• Addressing the cause: Successful strategies to prevent family violence and child abuse in Indigenous families to address the underlying causes of violence and abuse, including alcohol and drug abuse, generational disadvantage, poverty and unemployment.^[6]

On 26 June 2006, the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, convened the Intergovernmental Summit on Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse, attended by all State and Territory Governments. All parties reconfirmed their commitment to the National Framework and developed the National strategy for action to overcome violence and child abuse in Indigenous Communities (the action strategy).^[7]

The action strategy includes the following commitments:

• Customary law and bail: All governments agree that customary law in no way justifies violence against women and children. The Australian Government indicated its intention to amend 16A of the Crimes Act 1914 to delete any reference to:

  any mandatory consideration of cultural background for all offences against Commonwealth law and to exclude from sentencing discretion... claims that criminal behaviour was justified, authorized or required under customary law or cultural practice.^[8]

• Law Enforcement: Unanimous support for the establishment of a National Intelligence Unit to improve policing of violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.
• Senior Indigenous Network: Additional $4 million in Australian government funding to support leadership development in Indigenous communities, to be negotiated bilaterally with the States and Territories.
• Protection for Victims: All governments recognise the importance of additional safe places and increased legal support for victims of violence and abuse.
• Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services: Up to $50 million Australian government funding to jointly fund additional drug and alcohol services, provided on a basis of need.
• Health and Well-being of Children: Extension of the Australian government’s Indigenous Child Health Check scheme.
• Corporate Governance: Australian government funding guidelines to be amended to ensure that government funding only goes to ‘organisations managed by fit and proper persons’.
• Compulsory School Attendance: All governments recognise the importance of school attendance but are unsure about how to ensure all Indigenous children are enrolled and attend school. The issue will be referred to the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA).

Following the Summit, implementation of the action strategy was discussed at the COAG meeting on 14 July 2006. It was further announced that the Australian Government would commit $130 million over four years to assist with bilateral, joint funded initiatives around Indigenous family violence and child abuse.^[9]

COAG agreed to the following measures:

• to provide more resources for policing in very remote areas;
• to improve the effectiveness of bail provisions;
• to establish a National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force to support existing intelligence and investigatory capacity;
• to establish Joint Strike Teams on a bilateral basis, where necessary, to work in remote Indigenous communities where there was evidence of endemic child abuse or violence;
• to invest in community legal education to ensure Indigenous Australians are informed about their legal rights, know how to access assistance and are encouraged to report incidents of violence and abuse;
• to amend or monitor State and Territory legislation, where necessary, to remove customary law or cultural practice excuses;
• States and Territories magistrates being encouraged to make attendance at drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes mandatory as part of bail conditions or sentencing;
• additional resourcing for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services in regional and remote areas;
• support for networks of Indigenous women and men in local communities so that they can better help people who report incidents of violence and abuse;
• an accelerated roll-out of the Indigenous child health check in high-need regions, with locations to be agreed on a bilateral basis; and
• collect and share data on enrolments and attendance with a newly established National Student Attendance Unit to monitor, analyse and report on this data.

In addition to these specific measures to address Indigenous family violence and child abuse, COAG has utilised other processes for joint action. The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage process was established in April 2003 when COAG commissioned the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision to produce a regular report against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage. The reports are designed to measure whether government services are achieving outcomes and guide where further work is needed. Reports were released in 2003, ^[10] 2005^[11] and 2007.^[12]

The National Framework of Principles for Delivering Services to Indigenous Australians was agreed on by COAG on 25 June 2004. It sets out service delivery based on the principles of: sharing responsibility; harnessing the mainstream; streamlining service delivery; establishing transparency and accountability; developing a learning framework; and focussing on priority areas.^[13]

Other measures include:

• the COAG Reconciliation Framework;^[14]
• COAG Trials; ^[15] and
• bilateral agreements between Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments.^[16]

Implementation of the Intergovernmental Summit on Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse and COAG Action Strategy

In August 2006 the Prime Minister wrote to all Australian government Ministers with portfolio responsibility for the 17 initiatives included in the $130m package. The Minister for Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs was charged with overall responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the package and for leading bilateral negotiations with the states and territories.^[17] The initiatives undertaken by Australian Government departments are reported below.^[18]

1. Customary law (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

The Australian Government enacted the Crimes Amendment (Bail and Sentencing) Act 2006 (Cth) on 7 December 2006 to give effect to COAG's decision on customary law. The Act amends the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) to:

• make clear that in the assessment of bail and sentencing decisions under Commonwealth law, the seriousness of criminal behaviour cannot be lessened or aggravated because of customary law or cultural practice.

The Act also provides additional protection to victims and witnesses by requiring courts to consider the potential impact of granting bail, on victims and witnesses — particularly those in remote communities.

The Australian Government has, as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, enacted The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (Cth) (NT NER Act), assented to on 17 August 2007. The legislation brings bail and sentencing discretion in the Northern Territory in line with the Commonwealth's Crimes Act amendments and, therefore, also with the COAG decision. The amendments could be repealed if the Northern Territory enacts sufficiently complementary provisions.

While no direct funding was provided for the legislative amendments, the Australian Government has committed funding to two complementary programs:

• judicial cultural awareness training; and
• community legal education.

2. Bail determinations and enforcement (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

The Australian Government enacted the Crimes Amendment (Bail and Sentencing) Act 2006 (Cth) on 7 December 2006, to give effect to COAG's decision. The Crimes Act amendments require a bail authority to take into consideration:

• the potential impact of granting bail on alleged victims and witnesses, and
• the fact that an alleged victim or witness is located in a remote community.

The NT NER Act brings bail and sentencing discretion in the Northern Territory in line with the Crimes Act amendments. The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has made legislative changes that go some way toward matching the Australian Government's amendments, through the Bail Amendment Bill 2007 introduced on 23 August 2007.

The amendments will reverse the presumption of bail for persons charged with certain offences, including serious sexual offences, and will also consider the interests of the community when determining a bail application.

Each jurisdiction is independently evaluating the need for legislative amendments. The legislative amendments ensure that bail authorities take into account the safety of victims and witnesses when making a decision to grant bail. This will prevent perpetrators from returning to communities, where this would put the safety and wellbeing of community members at risk.

COAG asked the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) to report on the extent to which bail provisions and enforcement take particular account of potential impacts of victims and witnesses in remote communities, and to recommend any changes required.

In March 2007, SCAG Ministers approved an out of session paper. All jurisdictions agreed to the following non-legislative recommendations:

1. Where appropriate to individual jurisdictions, Indigenous community representatives should be involved as one means of helping inform bail decision makers in relation to bail decisions concerning members of their communities.
2. Existing drug and alcohol diversion programs that are available for accused on bail should be considered for continuation and expansion, particularly to increase their availability to Aboriginal accused.
3. SCAG should:
   1. continue its work on sharing information about the operation and evaluation of best practice Indigenous justice programs (through the Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse Project); and
   2. request the Clearinghouse to prioritise a Research Brief on effective bail support programs.
4. Best practice bail support programs should be identified and implemented in a manner appropriately adapted to local conditions.

3. Legal services support for victims and witnesses (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

Utilising existing funds, the Attorney General’s Department will continue to fund the Indigenous Legal Aid program and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services program.

4. Community legal education (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

Indigenous specific community legal education (CLE) programs will be implemented in 15 rural and remote communities across Australia. The programs will:

• inform Indigenous Australians about their legal and human rights and responsibilities, including any misunderstandings about customary law and issues that have arisen from recent changes to the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth); and
• provide information about how to access a range of services and encourage Indigenous Australians to report incidences of violence and abuse.

The initiative is funded at $4.23 million over four years beginning in 2007-08. Funding is also allocated for an independent review of the community legal education project 2009-2010.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is developing the community legal education (CLE) program and associated training resources, in consultation with the Attorney General’s Department. This initiative is being implemented in consultation with State and Territory governments, HREOC and the Indigenous community. The Department has asked State and Territory justice departments to provide input into locations for the program. State and Territory governments have also been encouraged to provide funding or in-kind contributions that will ensure a comprehensive rollout of the program to Indigenous communities around Australia.

The CLE program will be managed by local leaders and run by community legal education officers drawn from the local community. The program will help to develop stronger partnerships between service providers and communities providing the information, resources and ongoing training necessary to help address violence and child abuse in local communities.

5. Judicial cultural awareness training (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

COAG agreed to provide appropriate information to the judiciary, through the National Judicial College of Australia (NJCA) on Indigenous culture, customary law and bail legislation. The NJCA has established a system of committees of judges across Australia to develop and deliver the Indigenous cultural awareness programs. The curriculum will be finalised in late 2007. $500,000 has been allocated over four years from 2007-08 to 2010-2011 and it will be evaluated at the end of this period.

6. National Intelligence Taskforce (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

The National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force (the Task Force) was announced in July 2006 and commenced in September 2006. The Task Force was established with funding of $4.921 million in 2006-07 and an additional $11.489 million over four years.

The objectives of the Task Force are to:

• improve national coordination in the collection and sharing of relevantinformation and intelligence;
• enhance national understanding about the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities provide related intelligence and other advice, including on organised criminal involvement in drugs, alcohol, pornography and fraud; and
• conduct research on intelligence and information coordination and identification of good practice in the prevention, detection and responses to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.

7. Joint Strike Teams (lead agency: Attorney General’s Department)

The Australian Federal Police are coordinating Joint Strike Teams on a bilaterally negotiated basis. The first strike team involves Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia with a tri-state intelligence desk based in Alice Springs. This has been successful in reducing trafficking petrol, alcohol and drugs in the Central desert region. $1.7 million has been allocated to this initiative.

8. Assessment of Adequacy of Policing in Remote Areas (lead agency: Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, FaCSIA)

In order to assess the adequacy of police numbers and facilities in remote communities, the Australian Government commissioned an independent assessment of the policing requirements in specific remote areas of Australia in relation to violence, abuse and child protection issues, at a cost of $200,000. Mr John Valentin ARM, former Deputy Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police completed The Valentin Report (the report).^[19]

Data was collected across Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. The outcomes of this assessment have been used to:

• assist in defining policing requirements in specific remote areas;
• inform the ongoing development and implementation of effective and appropriate policy measures on those issues; and
• assist the Government in its allocation of funding for additional police facilities.

9. Improved Policing in Remote Areas (lead agency: Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, FaCSIA)

The Australian Government will provide capital assistance for necessary infrastructure to assist States and Territories to provide adequate policing in very remote communities. Guided by The Valentin Report, this initiative specifically addressed the provision of capital assistance for police stations, housing and other infrastructure in remote areas of Australia. Relevant jurisdictions are contributing sworn police officers at each facility funded by the Australian Government.

Whilst the initiative was allocated $40m over four years (subsequently increased to $47.1m), the majority of funding will be granted to States and Territories in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years. Construction in each case is to be managed by the States and Territories, with the resulting assets owned and maintained by them. Memoranda of Understanding have now been signed with Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory to undertake significant expansion of policing infrastructure in those jurisdictions.

Sites have now been approved for construction of police stations and/ or officer accommodation in Amata (South Australia); Ernabella (South Australia); Galiwin’ku (Northern Territory); Woorabinda (Queensland); Hope Vale (Queensland); Lockhart River (Queensland); Poomperaw (Queensland); Aurukun (Queensland); Bidyadanga (Western Australia); Burringurrah (Western Australia); Looma (Western Australia); and Wingellina (Western Australia).

10. Two Additional Sniffer Dog Teams (lead Agency: Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, FaCSIA)

The establishment of two mobile detector dog units to the Central Desert Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk will assist in reducing the trafficking and distribution of illicit substances throughout central and northern Australia. $1.95 million has been allocated in the 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 budgets.

11. Safe Places and Support Groups (lead agency: FaCSIA)

$6 million of the Family Violence Partnership Program (FVPP) allocation was committed to funding safe places and communities as well as support groups for victims under the Safe Places Initiative. This covers a two-year period up to and including 2008-09.

All States and Territories were invited to suggest proposals, including matched funding. Table 1 shows projects approved for Commonwealth funding (with total budget subsequently increased to $8.2m).

Table 1: Commonwealth funding of Safe Places Initiatives

 

12. Additional Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (lead agency: Department of Health and Ageing)

An additional $46.168 million of funding will be provided over four years and then approximately $14 million in recurrent funding per year to improve access to drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services for Indigenous Australians in remote and regional areas.

This will enhance the capacity of existing drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services and provide capital and recurrent funding for new treatment and rehabilitation services. Activities and services have been agreed collaboratively between the Australian Government, and State and Territory Governments and are supported by joint investment. The Measure is being developed and implemented in consultation with relevant stakeholder organisations including Aboriginal Medical Services and drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services and state and territory governments.

13. Alcohol Management Plans (lead agency: Department of Health and Ageing)

As part of the measure to address violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities announced by the COAG in 2006, all States and Territories were encouraged to consider the applicability of alcohol management plans and to work with communities to introduce plans where appropriate. Alcohol management plans are implemented at the state/ territory, local government or community level. A number of jurisdictions have alcohol management plans in place for specific communities. There was no funding attached to this component of the announcement.

14. Restrict Kava Import Licences (lead agency: Department of Health and Ageing)

The Australian Government has recently enforced the existing import regulations on kava. The tightened restrictions took effect on 25 June 2007 and have resulted in restrictions on the importation of kava for medical or scientific purposes only. Individuals returning from Pacific Island countries are allowed to carry 2kgs of kava on their person.

15. Improving Health and Wellbeing of Indigenous Children in Remote Areas (lead agency: Department of Health and Ageing)

COAG will provide $3.8 million over two years for an accelerated rollout of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Check (Item 708) in up to ten remote regions across Australia.

The MBS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Check for Indigenous children aged 0-14 years was introduced in May 2006 to increase access to preventive primary health care for Indigenous children.

This measure will establish dedicated Health Check Teams who will augment the capacity of local primary health care services to provide comprehensive child health checks to all children aged 0-14 years within the remote regions. It is expected that 2,000 health checks will be conducted through the measure.

A follow-up team will also be available to work with the local primary health care services to ensure that all health conditions identified through the health check are responded to appropriately.

16. Fit and Proper Persons (lead agency: Department of Finance and Administration)

The Australian Government has determined that it will only fund non-government organisations that are led and managed by Fit and Proper Persons (FPP). The Department of Finance and Administration (Finance) has released the Policy Statement, Fit and Proper Person Requirements, which sets out the requirements for this policy implementation.

The Attorney-General's Department (AGD) and the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) will trial the FPP requirements over the period 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008.

During the trial period, the FPP requirements will be implemented by selected FaCSIA and AGD program areas where funding exceeds $80,000. Programs participating in the trial will ensure that standardised wording relating to FPP requirements is included in relevant documentation. Documentation (including Application Guidelines, Program Guidelines, Advertisements and Funding Agreements) has been prepared to assist organisations and individuals which will become part of the trial from 1 October 2007.

17. National School Attendance Unit (Lead agency: Department of Education, Science and Training)

All jurisdictions will collect and share truancy data on enrolments and attendance. The National Student Attendance Unit (NSAU) was established in late 2006 and has received preliminary data from all state and territory education jurisdictions. $4.6 million has been allocated for this initiative.

The NSAU has conducted preliminary analysis of data, which suggests that the school attendance rate across states and territories is generally between 91-93 percent, with the rate for Indigenous children at least 7-10 percentage points less.

The NSAU’s work involves:

• liaising with state and territory education jurisdictions to collect attendance data;
• undertaking research on attendance and enrolment issues; and
• developing strategies to improve school attendance and enrolment nationally.

$670,000 of departmental funds has been spent on the establishment and maintenance for the National Student Attendance Unit, much of which has been formally rephrased to the year 2007-08 due to extended consultations with the states and territories.

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Part 2: Other Australian Government Initiatives to address Indigenous Family Violence and Abuse

Indigenous family violence and child abuse has been addressed by the Australian Government through a number of specific budgetary measures. In the lead-up to the June 2004 COAG meeting, the Australian Government introduced further initiatives relevant to Indigenous family violence and abuse through its 2004-05 Budget, including:

• $22.7m (over 4 years) to double the number of Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (from 13 to 26);
• $37.3m (over 4 years) to establish the Family Violence Partnership Program; and
• $16.5m over four years for Indigenous women's development programs, targeting the development of women's leadership capacity.

The Australian Government has also been investing in related initiatives including more than $60m to counter substance misuse and petrol sniffing in Central Australia and other regions- ($8m over 4 years in 2005-06 and $55.2m over 4 years in the 2006-07 Budget).

Subsequent significant budget allocations in 2005-06 and 2006-07 were:

2005-06 Budget

• $8m (over 4 years) for additional Indigenous drug and alcohol initiatives; and
• $11.2m for comprehensive child health checks in Indigenous communities.

2006-07 Budget

• $23.6m (over 4 years) to expand the number of Family Violence Prevention Legal Services and to enable them to develop a prevention component;
• $55.2m (over 4 years) to address substance abuse, petrol sniffing and governance training (a commitment of $28m in 2006-07); and
• $23m over four years for Indigenous leadership development, targeting Indigenous women, youth and men.

Indigenous family violence and child abuse prevention has also been addressed in a number of different portfolio areas. Information is provided below from the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, Attorney General’s Department, Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. ^[20]

Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination

In 2004 new arrangements for the administration of Indigenous affairs were introduced with the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS). Responsibility for programs was transferred to mainstream agencies. The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) was established to coordinate policy nationally, and Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) were established in each of the former ATSIC regions to deliver a whole of government approach to programs on a regional basis and to negotiate with Indigenous communities at the local level.

This framework places ICCs in an integral role to deliver services and programs to address family violence and child abuse through mechanisms such as Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRAs) and Regional Partnership Agreements (RPAs). Examples of ICC led family violence related initiatives are outlined below.^[21] In most cases these initiatives are delivered through a mix of SRA, RPA and program-supplemented funding.

South Australia

• Metro-Adelaide ‘Nunga Mi:Minar’ SRA: Signed in June 2007 to improve education, health and well being for Indigenous women experiencing family violence by assisting women at the Nungar Mi:Minar Women’s shelter. An Aboriginal health worker has been employed to promote a healthy lifestyle program focusing on good nutrition; maternal and child health; and life management skills. The SRA brings together the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing; Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs; the SA Government Departments of Education and Children’s Services; and the metropolitan Indigenous women’s shelter, Nungar Mi:Minar.
• RPA for Community Family Wellbeing: Negotiated for the West Coast of South Australia to incorporate services for family violence, community safety, housing, youth issues, education, outreach programs to youth at risk and women’s leadership development.

Victoria

• Hope Opportunity Purpose Education and Employment (HOPE) SRA: Negotiated in Mildura to reduce anti-social behaviour among Indigenous youth through increased school attendance and educational performance. The SRA uses sporting activities to engage youth and families in the education process.

New South Wales

• Dubbo East West Strategy SRA: Targets family violence and child sexual abuse through a focus on prevention, capacity building and early intervention. The SRA uses performing arts to engage children, youth, staff and families to build capacity, understanding and resilience in dealing with family violence.
• Bowraville Comprehensive SRA: Developed in response to violence and grief in the community. Key partners include the NSW Departments of Aboriginal Affairs, Environment and Water, Workplace Relations and Employment, and the Australian Government Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The SRA addresses law and order; health; education; employment; and families and young people.
• Family Court SRA: Works across the communities of Kempsey, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour and Grafton establishing an Indigenous community based contact service to provide information on accessing the Family Court services and processes.
• Miimi Mothers SRA: Covers the purchase of a building to create an Indigenous community centre. Miimi Mothers have recently also received funding through the FaCSIA Local Answers program to provide services for young people to build capacity, voluntary services and support for Indigenous women at risk of family violence and abuse.
• Inner City Aboriginal Women’s Consultative Group (ICAWCG) SRA: ICAWCG is a group of highly respected women from the Redfern Waterloo area who formed the Redfern Waterloo Indigenous Women's Consultative Group. This group formed in order to engage with government to improve outcomes for women and their families in the Redfern Waterloo area. The SRA is a community and whole-of-government response to identified priority issues, and includes support for the ‘Blackout Violence Project’^[22] program which addresses violence prevention and child abuse in Indigenous communities. The SRA is linked to the Redfern Waterloo Authority's Human Service Plan that aims to reduce family violence

Northern Territory^[23]

• Palmerston Indigenous Village (PIV): Darwin ICC has developed a community development project in partnership with residents and the Palmerston City Council. The Palmerston City Council employs 2 people at PIV. One position acts as a community development officer and the other specifically targets young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system (funded by Attorney-General's Department through the ICC).
  
  Strategies to reduce family and community safety include: identification of ‘dry houses’; improving relationships with local police; and working with service providers to improve access to program for local people. As a result of these strategies, school attendance of primary age students is now close to 100%.

• Maningrida Youth Centre Project: Developed by Darwin ICC and drawing on a range of partners including the Northern Territory Government, this project has a focus on reducing youth violence and self-harm by developing youth leadership and self reliance skills. The youth centre serves as a hub for programs and services and makes links across the local school, community organisations and Indigenous leadership forums.
• Nhulunbuy: Nhulunbuy ICC employs an Indigenous officer who participates in the local Child Protection Committee, convened by the NT Family and Children’s Services Office. Nhulunbuy ICC also funds a local Indigenous language radio project, Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS), for the production of educational material in Yolgnu Matha, to address aspects of family violence in a culturally appropriate manner.

Queensland

• Positive Families - Men’s Leadership and Support SRA: Focuses on providing support for families through the establishment of a Bowen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men's Support Group. Activities include provision of governance and leadership training, mentoring, a Men's Support Group and cultural camps for young males at risk. One of the group's first initiatives has been the development of an Adopted Uncle mentoring program to support young people and help them to develop life skills.
• Rowoarr Community Justice Rehabilitation Centre SRA: Establishment of an alcohol rehabilitation facility to provide accommodation for 15 people in a safe, healthy and supportive family environment. The facility is accessible to residents of both Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama and provides a way of keeping families together during rehabilitation.

Western Australia

• Djugarargyn Aboriginal Community SRA: Enables implementation of a three-part strategy to promote functional and resilient families using and building on facilities at Djugarargyn.

The first component comprises the Diversionary/ Lifeskills Program, a series of short courses focusing on diversionary activities underpinned by cultural awareness. Courses have been successfully run in partnership with the Djarindjin/ Lombadina School.

The second component is the Youth Camp/ Leadership Development Program which is a more formal program aimed at providing young people with essential skills in dealing with conflict, avoidance of drugs and awareness of support services. This program links participants with role models who may include elders, teachers and local police.

The final component, the Emergency Accommodation Support Program provides short-term crisis accommodation for youth, particularly girls and young women, who are at risk of self-harm, domestic violence and drug use.

• Strengthening Families SRA: Provides a day centre for West Kimberley men who are disadvantaged, unemployed, homeless, alcoholic, welfare dependant or who have been involved in family violence.

The Men's Service supports and enables Indigenous men by:

• working to develop better relations and understanding between the local Shire, Western Australian Police Department and the Western Australian Justice Department;
• assisting men to access support services such as the Western Australian Department of Community Development (Welfare services);
• encouraging men to work positively with Jayida Burru (family violence prevention);
• promoting the men's centre locally as a place to rebuild a sense of identity and responsibility as an Indigenous man strong in language, lore and culture; and
• promoting opportunities for Indigenous men to regain respect in their community and rebuild family unity.
• Martu Elders Patrol SRA: The Parnpajinya Community on the outskirts of the Newman township is exposed to high levels of drunkenness, disorderly conduct and domestic disputes, resulting in a large cohort of youth disengaging from education and engaging in substance use and criminal behaviour.

The SRA addresses these issues through:

• the Elders Patrol which locates truant children and works with the child and parent/ carer to identify the issues that stop the child attending school;
• a breakfast program;
• patrols of known drinking areas to locate those people who are at risk of harming themselves or harming others as a result of excessive alcohol consumption;
• cultural bush trips; and
• capacity building of parents.
• Mullewa Women’s Indigenous Group SRA: Enabling the renovation of the Indigenous Women’s Centre to provide a range of activities which address feuding, family violence and relationship breakdown.
• Geraldton Comprehensive Youth Program SRA: Strengthens youth at risk services and family support networks through:
  • provision of a Youth Night Outreach Program;
  • establishment of culturally appropriate diversionary activities that enable youth to reconnect with families; address substance misuse and offending; and re-engage with education or employment;
  • family counselling program; and
  • renovation of the Alice Nannup Youth Art Centre.

Attorney General’s Department

• Indigenous Legal Aid Program: Funds organisations to deliver high quality, culturally inclusive legal aid services to Indigenous Australians. This network delivers services at 78 permanent sites, court circuits and outreach locations in urban, rural and remote areas throughout all States and Territories. These organisations provide a range of services including initial legal advice, minor assistance and referral, duty lawyer assistance and legal casework services in criminal, civil and family law matters.
  
  In addition, service providers have developed new initiatives for the increased representation of Indigenous women and children. These include:
  • the establishment of a Family Violence Team that comprises a female Aboriginal contact officer and a dedicated Aboriginal field officer, in three service areas in New South Wales (Dubbo (Western NSW), Grafton (North NSW) and Parramatta (Central-South-Eastern NSW)); and
  • the establishment of Family Law Units comprising eight family lawyers who cover four offices and provide Family Law Services including care and protection orders with offices in Dubbo, Lismore, Wagga Wagga and Sydney.
    
    

  The program has a three-year funding cycle, the current contracts end in June 2008. In 2006-07, $48.175 million was provided under service contracts and $169,000 for test case funding. In addition, $1.543 million was provided under the pilot Expensive Indigenous Criminal Case Fund, and $1.847 million was provided for capital and associated management costs. $50.796 million has been allocated for the program in 2007-08.

• Family Violence Prevention Legal Services: Funding for legal services to assist Indigenous adults and children who are victims of family violence, or who are at immediate risk of such violence, in remote and regional Australia. FVPLS are also funded under the Early Intervention Prevention Program to intervene in the cycle of family violence and sexual assault, to bring about changes in the behaviour and attitude of individuals and the community.
  
  FVPLS units run on one year contracts and provide a range of services to address and prevent family violence and sexual abuse. These include legal advice and casework assistance, counselling, child protection and support to assist in protecting victims from further violence and abuse. The units also provide information, support and referral services, and conduct community promotion and prevention initiatives to ensure communities are aware of their legal rights and how to seek assistance. In addition, referrals to mediation programs help prevent an escalation of conflict into physical violence. In the first three quarters of the 2006-07 financial year FVPLS units assisted 4, 908 clients

• Prevention Diversion Rehabilitation and Restorative Justice Program: Funding for community organisations to undertake projects to divert Indigenous Australians away from contact with the criminal justice system, and also facilitate activities to rehabilitate and support for people in custody. Projects include: night patrols; restorative justice initiatives around community and individual alternate dispute resolution activities; and programs for young people at risk.
  
  $8.522 million was spent on the program in 2006-07, with an additional $635,000 for Shared Responsibility Agreements. $13.252 million has been allocated in 2007-08, including new funding to convert over 117 CDEP positions into full jobs as night patrol workers. PDRR has also received $8.211 million in 2007-08 through the NTER Night Patrol NPP (Appropriation Bill August 2007).

• National Community Crime Prevention Program: Funding for grassroots projects designed to enhance community safety and crime prevention. Funding is administered through three streams:

1. Community Partnerships stream;
2. Indigenous Community Safety stream; and
3. the Community Safety stream.
   
   

   To date 311 projects totalling $56 million have been awarded under this program. Of these, 38 are Indigenous Community Safety stream projects totalling $5 million.

• Community Legal Services Program: Community legal centres (CLCs) are independent, community based, non-profit organisations, which provide assistance on legal and related matters to people on low incomes and those with special needs.
  
  CLC’s received $25.712 million in 2006-07, including $1,029,283 for Indigenous Women’s Programs (IWPs). IWPs provide community development, community legal education, and outreach services to rural and/ or urban fringe communities. They provide assistance across a range of legal issues family law, tenancy, domestic and sexual violence and consumer rights law.
  
  In 2007-08, $1,050,073 has been allocated to eight community legal centres for IWPs to provide services specifically for Indigenous women to assist in addressing their legal service needs. IWPs are located in Sydney (statewide), Brisbane (statewide), Townsville/ Cairns, Port Augusta, Geraldton, Kimberley, Pilbara region and Katherine.

• Indigenous Family Violence Liaison Officers at the Family Court of Western Australia: In the 2007-08 Budget, the Australian Government committed $700,000 over three years to an Indigenous liaison pilot program in the Family Court of Western Australia.
  
  Two Indigenous Family Liaison Officers will be employed to improve the delivery of family law services and access to justice for Indigenous families in Western Australia. The program will also improve access to counselling and mediation for Indigenous families in conflict, and improve access to family law services by Indigenous communities.

• Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Service: Interpreter service for Indigenous individuals with limited English language skills to better understand the legal process and better understand their legal rights. The initiative provides training for interpreters as well as financial assistance to the Indigenous legal aid services and FVPLS units in the Territory for the purchase of interpreting services.
  
  The Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) is jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory governments and received $1.107 million in 2006-07. A further $1.133 million has been allocated in 2007-08, with an additional $550,000 allocated as part of the NT NER. The Attorney-General’s Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Northern Territory Government covering funding for four years commencing 2005-06.

• Family Violence Law Strategy: Announced on 26 February 2006 by the Attorney-General, the strategy supports the reforms relating to family violence contained in the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006.
  
  From 1 July 2006 the Family Law Act 1975 requires courts to take prompt action in relation to allegations of child abuse or family violence, particularly that it receives adequate information so that appropriate orders can be made and protection provided. A new objective has also been inserted into the Act to make it clear that children need to be protected not only from direct harm, but also from harm that comes from being exposed to family violence against others.
  
  The Family Court of Australia has also implemented the Magellan Project, which operates nationally to deal with disputes involving serious allegations of child abuse and child sexual abuse. It involves an intensive case management approach combined with close stakeholder relations between the Court, legal aid, and State and Territory services such as child protection and Independent Children's Lawyers.

• Family Relationships Services Program: The Attorney General’s Department has joint responsibility with FaCSIA for the Family Relationships Services Program. This program funds a range of services to assist families experiencing relationship difficulties or who have separated. These include new Family Relationship Centres which provide information for families with relationship issues, as well as referral to other services that can assist.
  
  The first 15 of 65 Family Relationship Centres were established in July 2006 to provide information and referral to help strengthen family relationships, and dispute resolution to help parents reach agreement about their children after separation. Advisers for Indigenous communities were attached to offices in Darwin, Townsville, Lismore and Mildura. The Darwin Family Relationships Centre employs three Indigenous Advisers - two operate out of the Darwin office and one operates out of Alice Springs.

Department of Health and Ageing

• National Illicit Drug Strategy ‘Tough on Drugs’ Indigenous Communities Initiative: Worth $10.5 million over four years and part of a larger $20 million package of initiatives announced by the Prime Minister on 28 August 2003 to reduce the incidence of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by developing local solutions to issues that contribute to violence such as drug and alcohol abuse.
  
  The Department of Health and Ageing developed the Initiative in conjunction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. Projects funded under this Initiative address key areas for action identified in the National Drug Strategy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan 2003-2009 endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy.
  
  Current projects/programs funded under this Initiative during 2006-07 include:
  1. Alcohol and Other Drug component of the Indigenous HealthlnfoNet - $138,444.
  2. Implementation and Distribution Strategy for the Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians - $197,698.
  3. Pilot trial of the Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians and an evidence-based brief intervention tool in two Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services - $5,797.
  4. Satellite broadcast promoting the Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians - $205,200.
  5. Indigenous National Alcohol and other Drug Workforce Development program - $950,710.
  6. Strong Spirit Strong Mind Video Resources - $269,580.
  7. Pilbara Drug & Alcohol Program (SRA) - $465,000.
  8. Smoking Cessation Program - $63,435.
  9. Larapinta Learning Centre - $133,291.
  10. Mt Theo Substance Misuse Program - $ 109,091.
  11. Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) and Brief Intervention State-wide Implementation Project - $281,179.
  12. Substance Misuse Community Resilience Program - $31,578.
  13. Gender specific inhalant abuse flipcharts - $25,850.
  14. Inhalant Misuse: a review of interventions - $77,288.
  15. Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Strategic Intervention project With NT Indigenous Communities - $116,784.
  16. Booroloola Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program - $43,000.
  17. Doomagee Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program - $15,440.
  18. Indigenous Alcohol Intervention Program - $177,525.
• National Illicit Drug Strategy - Capacity Building in Indigenous Communities: In May 2005, the Australian Government provided funding of $8 million over four years. Funding under this Initiative is available for projects on a trial and/ or one-off basis and organisations that apply for funding must already have secured core funding, given that the funding under this Initiative is not designed for this purpose.
  
  Current projects funded under this Initiative during 2006-07 include:
  1. National Drug Research Institution Indigenous Alcohol Intervention Program, Stage 2 - $750,000.
  2. Mt. Theo Substance Misuse Program - $108,400.
  3. Supporting Young People and Families, Bathurst SRA program - $34,080.
  4. South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation - $127,640.
  5. Aboriginal Health council of SA - $15,774.
  6. National Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative: Indigenous programs are funded to prevent petrol sniffing and inhalant abuse. Youth Wellbeing Programs are run in Central and Top End Northern Territory by Central Australian Youth Link-up Services (auspiced by Tangentyere Council) and the Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Programs. Combined funding for the 2006-07 financial year was approximately $356,666.
  7. Healthy for Life: Introduced in 2005-06 to support primary health care services to improve child and maternal health and chronic disease care and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Over 80 primary health care services are participating in Healthy for Life in all States and Territories through 53 sites. Over 88% of primary health care services funded through Healthy for Life are located in regional and remote areas.

Healthy For Life is implemented in 2 phases by funded services. In phase 1, services undertake an assessment of current client population needs and an extensive 'stock-take' of existing model/s of care and systems of service delivery. In phase 2, services implement approved action plans and report twice annually on progress to achieving the specific program outcomes.

• Health@Home Plus: As announced in the 2007-08 Federal Budget the Australian Government will provide $37.4 million over four years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0-8 years in targeted remote and outer regional areas. Commencing in the prenatal period, health professionals will provide regular home visiting services to women pregnant with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child, continuing until the child is 2 years. Child and family support will be provided to high need children aged 2-8 years.
  
  40 new Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarships will also be offered through this initiative for child health related fields of study to support the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child health workforce.
  
  Health@Home Plus will aim to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families by providing home based social and parenting support, coordinating health care and assisting parents and children to access other support services.
  
  The program will be implemented from a small base (i.e. two trial sites in the first year), building up to 7 trial sites over four years.

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

• Working for Families (WfF) Initiative^[24]: An additional 1,000 CDEP participant places were provided to the CDEP programme per annum for four years from 2003-04 to 2006-07. WfF was introduced to address the family violence and substance misuse problems prevalent in many remote Aboriginal communities by supporting project activities including:
  • Night patrols;
  • Police aides;
  • Women's support programmes; and
  • Substance abuse programmes.
    

  In 2003, funding of $44.4 million over four years was provided. Operational costs of approximately $4m a year to cover the on-costs of organisations delivering the CDEP programme were to be absorbed within the CDEP programme budget. In 2007 the Australian Government committed $50.7 million to continue funding 1,000 CDEP places per annum over the next four years.
  
  In 2007 the Australian Government committed to the continuation of projects that are aimed at preventing and addressing family violence and substance misuse problems that affect many remote Indigenous communities. It is not clear how this will occur, i.e. whether CDEP positions will be converted to regular employment.

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Part 3: State and Territory Government Responses to Indigenous Family Violence and Child Abuse

1) New South Wales

Much of the recent policy focus on Indigenous child sexual assault and family violence in NSW is the result of the 2006 Breaking the Silence: Creating the Future^[25] report of the Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce (ACSAT).^[26]

The Aboriginal Child and Sexual Assault Taskforce was established in 2003 in response to the Roundtables on sexual violence in Aboriginal communities conducted by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 2001-02. It was also established due to the finding of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council’s 2002 report Speak Out, Speak Strong that approximately 70% of Aboriginal women in NSW prisons had been sexually assaulted as children.^[27]

ACSAT found that child sexual assault is an endemic problem in NSW Indigenous communities. Both boys and girls are victims, and perpetrators are often people close to the child. Child sexual assault is not well understood by the community and often goes unreported. The harm of child sexual assault is intergenerational and contributes to drug use, violence, criminal offending, and mental illness.

Although ACSAT found some good practice responding to child sexual assault, especially in Indigenous specific non-government organisations, there were significant barriers to accessing services and poor coordination between government agencies. Access to culturally appropriate counselling for victims was very limited, treatment for sex offenders was also limited, with treatment only available in correctional facilities and there was no state or commonwealth policy framework on child sexual assault. The report made 119 recommendations to eliminate service gaps and overcome barriers to accessing services. Overall the recommendations point to the need for effective, cooperative and community driven partnerships to tackle child sexual assault.

The report was published in June 2006 but the NSW government did not release its response until January 2007, despite sustained lobbying from the Indigenous community and other stakeholders. The Social Justice Commissioner also gave support to the ACSAT:

I am not so convinced that to date, the Taskforce’s report has been treated with the urgency and priority that it deserves, or that it has been progressed in a manner consistent with the commitments made by the NSW government. And that is also why I am here today – to lend my voice and support to the report and to the directions that it sets forth for government and community partnerships and action.^[28]

Much concern has also been expressed at the scale of the government’s response, which involves the re-badging of existing expenditure, with very few additional resources being allocated.

a) Policy Frameworks

NSW Interagency Action Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Assault in AboriginalCommunities 2006-2011^[29]

The NSW Government released its NSW Interagency Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities 2006-2011, in January 2007 in response to the Breaking the silence: creating the future report. The five-year plan contains 88 actions focused on four strategic directions: law enforcement; child protection; prevention and early intervention; and community leadership to be implemented at a total cost of $30 million. Several actions are being implemented statewide, while others are being implemented in specific locations.

NSW State Plan^[30]

The Government’s 10-year strategic plan contains priorities aimed at reducing family violence and abuse in Indigenous communities. These are:

• improved health, education and social outcomes for Aboriginal people;
• strengthening Aboriginal communities;
• embedding the principle of early intervention and prevention into government service delivery in NSW; and
• reducing the rates of child abuse and neglect.

The State Plan builds on and links commitments made under existing whole-of-government plans such as the Interagency Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities and Two Ways Together.

Two Ways Together^[31]

Two Ways Together (TWT), initiated in 2003, is the NSW Government’s 10-year plan to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people. In 2004, the Government approved $40 million in funding over 4 years for initiatives in 7 priority areas including health, education, economic development, justice, culture and heritage, housing and infrastructure, and families and young people.

TWT sets the direction for a whole-of-government approach in Aboriginal affairs by ensuring that existing and new programs are linked to clear outcomes.

Regional Action Plans have been developed for 8 regions to implement the TWT programs and initiatives. The plans contain actions which either directly address family violence and child sexual assault, or which address causal factors such as education, housing and employment.

In 2007, TWT was aligned with the NSW State Plan to ensure that goals and targets are complementary. The State Plan goal of Strengthening Aboriginal Communities encompasses priority objectives of safe families, education, environmental health, economic development and building community resilience, which will guide TWT activity.

NSW Aboriginal Family Health Strategy

This strategy began in 1998 and focused on the funding of Aboriginal Family Health Workers involved in locally based projects to address Aboriginal health. Under the current program, two Area Health Services and 13 non-government organisations receive funding for 18 Aboriginal Family Health Workers. Aboriginal Family Health Projects are located at Hamilton, Taree, Wyong, Kempsey, Wagga Wagga, Tobwabba, Walgett, Wellington, Yorana, Tweed Heads, Wallsend and Moree.

In 2007-08, the NSW Aboriginal Family Violence Strategy will replace the Aboriginal Family Health Strategy. The new Strategy will continue to involve Aboriginal Family Health Workers, and will address issues of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse in Aboriginal communities by providing a framework for dealing with these concerns in a culturally appropriate manner across Area Health Services.

The Family Violence Strategy will incorporate operational guidelines for Aboriginal Family Health Workers, including mandatory training, professional development, supervision, mentoring, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and information on the range of available domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse services, and guidelines for responses to family violence offending in Aboriginal communities.

Guidelines for Responses to Family Violence Offending in Aboriginal Communities

These Guidelines were developed in 2006-07 and describe the nature and variation of family violence in Aboriginal communities, and clarify NSW Health’s role in prevention, protection and intervention in relation to family violence offending. The Guidelines provide a brief description of jurisdictions’ services with associated referral pathways that support, and give context to, responses to family violence.

Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy

The Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy (AMIHS) provides antenatal and post-natal support for Aboriginal women through community midwives and Aboriginal health education officers.

The AMIHS involves midwives, Aboriginal health workers and education officers working in small teams to conduct activities such as prenatal checks, support during pregnancy, education and information, postnatal checks and transport assistance.

The 3-year evaluation^[32] of the initial sites for the Strategy reported that the perinatal mortality rate decreased from 18.6 per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 5.4 per 1,000 live births in 2004.

Department of Community Services Aboriginal Strategic Commitment andCommitment of Service to Aboriginal Communities

The Aboriginal Strategic Commitment developed in 2006-07^[33] explicitly recognises the impact of past government policies on Aboriginal people and communities and is underpinned by two key elements:

• in all programs, services and initiatives, DoCS is respectful and responsive to the diverse needs of Aboriginal people and communities; and
• Aboriginal children and young people are safe, nurtured and cared for in their families and communities.

Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy^[34]

This Strategy forms part of NSW’s Families First prevention and early intervention strategies aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, their families and communities. The Strategy has established 22 Aboriginal Family Workers across NSW, located in a number of Aboriginal and mainstream organisations. Programs include Aboriginal Supported Playgroups and support groups for grandparents caring for grandchildren.

NSW Police Force Aboriginal Strategic Direction 2007-2011^[35]

The Aboriginal Strategic Direction sets out clear objectives, strategies and actions as well as timeframes for achieving them. Major themes of the Plan include:

• communication and understanding between Police and Aboriginal people;
• community safety and fear of crime;
• Aboriginal cultural awareness within the NSW Police Force;
• numbers of Aboriginal officers and civilian staff in NSW Police;
• keeping Aboriginal youth away from criminal and anti-social behaviour;
• dealing effectively with family violence and sexual assault;
• Aboriginal substance abuse; and
• how to reduce offending and over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.

b) State and Australian Government Joint Initiatives

Overarching Agreement on Aboriginal Affairs between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales

The Overarching Agreement on Aboriginal Affairs between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales (also referred to as the Bilateral Agreement on Service Delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in New South Wales) was signed on 17 April 2006.

This five-year agreement aims to improve Indigenous access to services. It is part of the implementation of Two Ways Together: the NSW Aboriginal Affairs Plan 2003-2012. The two governments have agreed upon action regarding:

• wealth and employment;
• entrepreneurialism;
• living conditions;
• health and social outcomes in Indigenous communities; and
• better integration of government services to Indigenous communities.

Implementation of the agreement will be supervised by the Intergovernmental Aboriginal Affairs Group, which has been established for this purpose.

COAG Family Violence Action Strategy

The NSW Government is working with the Australian Government across a range of priorities under the National Strategy for action to overcome violence and child abuse in Indigenous Communities, ^[36] as set out below.

Law enforcement

NSW has seconded two Police officers to the National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Taskforce that is head quartered in Alice Springs.

Senior Indigenous Networks

At the Summit, the Australian Government announced funding of $4 million to support leadership development of Indigenous women and men in Indigenous communities. NSW has been advised that its application for three programs has been unsuccessful. The programs included a statewide multimedia campaign and a legal education program to be rolled out to the four focus communities in the Interagency Plan; an extension of the Targeted Aboriginal Student Strategy; and provision of cultural camps to three focus communities. NSW will implement these actions in the context of the Interagency Plan.

Protection for victims

In May 2007, the Australian Government announced funding of $2.23 million in 2007-08 and 2008-09 for four programs in NSW that address family violence:

• Weaving the Net Community Development Program – a community development and education program which works with community members, local and regional service providers, and appropriate Aboriginal leaders to build awareness of the dynamics of child sexual assault and to develop resources for addressing family violence and child abuse;
• Aboriginal Family Health Workers – funding will provide two Aboriginal Family Health Workers in Broken Hill;
• four Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers (ACLO) – ACLOs work in Police Local Area Commands and provide a range of community facilitator roles, supporting Aboriginal women to report family violence, assisting with resolving disputes, and implementing solutions to crime and violence; and
• the Orana Far West Safe Houses program.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services

NSW Health and the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) are currently in negotiations to jointly fund drug and alcohol rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people. The NSW Centre for Aboriginal Health provided funding for drug and alcohol programs, including residential programs, to 16 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in 2006-07. NSW already provides a range of drug and alcohol services, including programs delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

Health and Wellbeing of Children

NSW Health is working with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to implement the roll-out of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Health Check in Coonamble and Gulargambone. An additional site will be established at Nyngan or Warren in 2007-08.

Corporate governance

The Australian Government proposed at the Summit that funding guidelines be amended to ensure that government funding, from all levels of government, be restricted to organisations managed by fit and proper persons. NSW gave in-principle agreement to this proposal. NSW is committed to supporting and developing Aboriginal community leadership and governance. NSW supports mechanisms that ensure Aboriginal representation and involvement in decision-making that affects Indigenous well-being. This is being done through Community Working Parties at a local level, and through the Regional Engagement Groups which have been established to drive the implementation of Two Ways Together at the regional level. The Regional Engagement Groups include representation from Aboriginal communities and State and Federal Government agencies. In addition, NSW has recently amended the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 to improve the corporate governance of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council network.

Compulsory school attendance

NSW has made improvements to its collection of data in relation to school attendance by Aboriginal students. NSW government schools make a return of absences at the end of each semester. The data is disaggregated by school, term, year, region, school grade, school levels and gender. From Semester 1, 2006 the return now includes data on Aboriginal students.

c) Monitoring and Evaluation

Two Ways Together

TWT Regional Reports were released in November 2006. The Reports bring together data about Aboriginal people and the government services for each of the Regional Coordination Management Group (RCMG) regions of NSW.^[37]

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs prepares biennial indicator reports on the progress of TWT. The next report is due in early 2008.

State Plan

Lead Ministers and relevant CEOs will be required to report to the Government on their progress in delivering State Plan priorities. Performance data on the priorities will be published on the State Plan website as soon as it is available. A State Plan Annual Report will also be published providing an analysis of the progress to date and will identify emerging challenges and any new programs or strategies that have been introduced.

d) Programs

Healing approaches:

• Victims Services Approved Counsellors: This is a non-Indigenous specific service but Victims Services Approved Counsellors have been undertaking training in cultural competence developed by the Education Centre Against Violence to ensure that counsellors have the skills and knowledge to work with Aboriginal clients.

Community education and community development:

• Greater Taree Domestic Violence Community Development Project ($50,000 in 2006-07): Education resources aimed at raising awareness among GPs, community organisations and teachers, of referral points and appropriate ways of identifying and addressing domestic violence. The project also involves a series of 5-day camps for young Aboriginal women and girls aged between 12 and 24 years.
• Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV) ($595,660 in 2006-07): Weaving the Net program, outlined above. ECAV also has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Aboriginal Community Consultative Group to provide advice and support in the development and implementation of all-Aboriginal focused programs and resources.
• Our Kids: Stay Safe, Stay Strong 2007 Calendar and Activity Book: Calendar and activity book using children’s art work to denounce violence. The activity book is an interactive resource tool aimed at building the awareness, skills and safety networks of children to protect them from violence and abuse in their families and communities.
• Lismore City Council ‘Indigenous Girls Well-Being Camp’ ($16,200 in 2006-07): Camps include presentations on sexual health & wellbeing, understanding domestic violence, negotiating the legal system, healthy relationships, self-defence and self-esteem.
• Community Justice Centres ‘Conflict Management training’ ($263,000 over 3 years): Delivery of conflict awareness and conflict management training for Aboriginal community members. The program targets awareness of the indicators of family violence as well as larger community disputes that have the propensity to escalate into violent confrontations. The training has been conducted in 4 communities, with another 12 communities scheduled for 2008.

Culturally appropriate child protection services:

• Aboriginal Intensive Family-Based Services (IFBS)($3.688 million in 2006-07): Aimed at reducing the number of Aboriginal children and young people entering out-of-home care by providing three month intensive home-based program to families whose children are at risk of out-of-home care, predominantly arising from drug and alcohol abuse and family violence.
• Brighter Futures: Involves DoCS working with non-government and community partner organisations to provide early intervention services to vulnerable children aged 0-8 years and their families. The program has a strong focus on supporting Aboriginal families, and between 2007 and 2010 will invest $5 million in Aboriginal-specific programs and services.

Programs for Indigenous offenders who perpetrate violence or abuse (including juveniles):

• Circle Sentencing ($1.015 million per annum): Alternative sentencing court for adult Aboriginal offenders. It directly involves local Aboriginal people (including victims) in the process of sentencing offenders, with the aims of making it more meaningful and improving confidence in the criminal justice system. It also empowers Aboriginal people to address criminal behaviour within their local communities.
  
  Circle sentencing is used for offences that can be dealt with summarily. Serious offences such as malicious wounding, drug-related offences and sexual offences are excluded.
  
  The program operates at Local Courts in Nowra, Dubbo, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Lismore, Armidale and Kempsey, with the program to expand into Western Sydney (Mt Druitt).

• New Street Service for Adolescents ($500,000 in 2006-07): Non-Indigenous specific service in Western Sydney that provides therapeutic service for families that addresses abusive behaviours in young people aged between 10 and 17 years.
• Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment Program (MERIT): Diversionary program for offenders with alcohol and drug use problems. The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council are developing a best practice model to deliver the MERIT program to Aboriginal defendants. The referral rate for Aboriginal defendants is around the same as their representation in the local court population but their completion rate is lower than non-Aboriginal defendants.
• Walking Together ($299,000 in 2006-07): Group program targeted at Aboriginal male and female offenders, who are supervised by Community Offender Services at the Probation and Parole Service in Newtown and Redfern. The program provides a 16 session intervention for Aboriginal male perpetrators of family violence; a 16 session intervention for Aboriginal female perpetrators of family violence including strategies for reporting violence against children; and a 15 session intervention for Aboriginal male and female offenders to assist offenders to control alcohol consumption related to violent and non-violent offending.
• ‘Our Journey To Respect’ Program ($12,960 in 2006-07): Intergenerational violence prevention program targeting young Aboriginal males 14-18 years who have committed or are at risk of committing violent offences, run by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Mallee Family Care ‘Our Journey to Respect’ ($26,000 in 2006-07): Group program, conducted in South Western NSW that seeks to facilitate participants’ movement from relationships based on power and control towards relationships based on respect. It targets young Aboriginal males 12-17 years who have committed or are at risk of committing violent offences.

Community justice groups:

• Aboriginal Community Justice Groups ($1.2 million in 2006-07): Aboriginal Community Justice Groups look at offending behaviour in their community and develop local solutions to that behaviour. They also work with different parts of the criminal justice system and play a major role in the circle sentencing program. Groups are currently located in 17 communities. Lismore, Grafton, Maclean, Kempsey, Toronto, Redfern, Wollongong, Nowra, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Armidale and Moree.

Safe houses and services for women and children:

• Orana Far West Safe Houses Project: Partnership with the Australian Government to deliver an integrated family violence service delivery package building the capacity of five safe houses in Bourke, Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Wilcannia to address safety issues for women and children at risk of family violence.
• Staying Home Leaving Violence ($4.8 million over four years): Framework that helps women and children stay safely in their homes by removing the violent partner, funded through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. This is non-Indigenous specific service, currently running in Bega, Eastern Sydney and Western Sydney.

Crime prevention programs:

• Aboriginal Community Assistance Patrols ($1.06 million in 2006-07): Community Patrols operate within 14 locations across New South Wales in Armidale, Bourke, Brewarrina, Dareton, Dubbo, Kempsey, Mungindi, Nambucca, Newcastle, Nowra, La Perouse, Taree, Wilcannia and Ballina.
• Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers ($5.88 million in 2006-07): Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers operate in 50 communities across NSW and provide a key liaison point between Aboriginal communities and local police.

Men’s Groups:

• Acmena Juvenile Justice Centre: Provides support to Aboriginal young people in custody by reinforcing positive role models in the community and developing linkages and relationships that assist transition back into the community.
• Rekindling the Spirit^[38] ($464 000 in 2006-07): Program is targeted at Aboriginal male and female community-based offenders who have issues relating to family violence. Activities in the program include group-based intervention to address issues of family violence and substance abuse; father and son camps; mother and daughters camps; and victims programs to support the victims of perpetrators.

2) Queensland

The Queensland Government has commissioned a number of research reports and inquiries into Indigenous family violence and abuse over the years. The first major undertaking was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Task Force on Violence, formed in December 1998, in response to demands from women for urgent action to halt the unprecedented levels of violence in Indigenous communities across Queensland.

Chaired by Associate Professor Boni Robertson of Griffith University, the Task Force comprised 50 Indigenous women with relevant knowledge and personal experience from across the state. A smaller Working Group carried out the process of research and consultation, visiting Indigenous communities and interviews throughout Queensland during the first half of 1999. The report, containing 123 recommendations, was handed to the Minister in October 1999 and tabled in State Parliament on 2 December 1999.

The Task Force found a disturbing level of violence:

Violence is now overt; murders, bashings and rapes, including sexual violence against children, have reached epidemic proportions with both Indigenous and non- Indigenous people being perpetrators.^[39]

Alcohol was identified as a major factor, along with government inaction, the deterioration of traditional culture and identity and contemporary consequences of past injustices. The Taskforce attributed the rise of violence in Aboriginal communities to the failure of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous agencies to deliver critical services.

The Cape York Justice Study^[40] was announced in July 2001 to look at the problem of alcohol and substance misuse in Cape York Indigenous communities. Although focusing on alcohol, unsurprisingly, the study made a clear link between alcohol use, family violence and abuse. The Cape York Justice Study also documents the fact that there are few services in the Cape York communities that can address violence and substance abuse, provide programs for perpetrators, or provide trauma and grief counselling. Further, those services that are available are based on service models that are not accessible or relevant to Indigenous people in Cape York^[41].

The Cape York Institute launched From Hand Out to Hand Up: Welfare Reform Design Recommendations report that was released on 19 June 2007.^[42] The report is based on work with four Cape York communities – Coen, Aurukun, Hopevale and Mossman Gorge.

Recommendations in the report are in four areas:

• Restoring social norms by attaching reciprocity to welfare payments, so that for instance, parents will have to ensure 100% attendance of children at school to receive welfare payments.
• Addressing the ‘welfare pedestal’ through changing the incentives so that people are encouraged to come off welfare, or not enter welfare.
• Supporting individual engagement in the real economy through converting CDEP positions into real jobs, making communities more business friendly and introducing measures to support mobility for employment and education.
• Moving from welfare housing to home ownership.

The report also calls for the establishment of a Family Responsibility Commission in the Cape. This would be an administrative, statutory legal agency that would make rulings about whether obligations to children have been breached by carers and if necessary, enforce sanctions.

Although not specifically targeted at Indigenous children, the Crime and Misconduct Commission completed an extensive review, Protecting Children: an inquiry into abuse of children in foster care,^[43] in 2004. This identified issues around the need for appropriately resourced and supported Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies to provide appropriate support and placements for children in care^[44] and assist in connection to family and culture.

a) Policy Frameworks

Strong Indigenous Communities CEO Taskforce

The Queensland Government’s Strong Indigenous Communities CEO Taskforce is responsible for progressing major policy development areas including:

• reforming Indigenous social and economic policy;
• reforming Indigenous governance and land; and
• addressing Indigenous justice.

Meeting Challenges, Making Choices^[45]

In response to the Cape York Justice Study, the Queensland Government released Meeting Challenges, Making Choices: The Queensland Government response to the Cape York Justice Study in April 2002. This strategy identified a range of reforms to address the alcohol and violence issues afflicting Indigenous communities in Queensland, primarily in the eight key result areas of:

• alcohol, substance abuse and rehabilitation;
• governance;
• crime and justice;
• children, youth and families;
• health;
• education and training;
• economic development; and
• land and sustainable natural resource management.

Partnerships Queensland^[46]

In 2005, Partnerships Queensland was launched as the strategic policy framework that consolidates all State initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders against the following goal areas:

• strong families, strong cultures;
• safe places;
• healthy living; and
• skilled and prosperous people and communities.

Child Wellbeing Taskforce

A Child Wellbeing Taskforce is being established in Queensland to improve care, development and safety of children in 19 identified communities. The Taskforce will pilot a place-based approach focused on prevention and early intervention, and will utilise cross-agency commitment and resources to develop innovative models of service delivery designed to meet the needs of each community. It is proposed that the Taskforce, which comprises representatives from a range of child safety, community, education and health agencies, will initially focus on the Aboriginal community of Hope Vale.

Queensland Child Protection Strategy 2007-10

The Queensland Government continues to reform its child protection system. A whole-of-government action plan guides implementation of the strategy over the next four years. Special consideration is given to meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Lower Gulf Strategy (Probation and Parole)

In 2006-07, the Queensland Government provided funding of $57.5 million over five years to establish a new probation and parole service. The service was designed to provide a permanent presence of probation and parole staff in Indigenous communities in the Lower Gulf in order to:

• ensure adequate supervision of offenders on orders;
• assist offenders with rehabilitation; and
• assist offenders on parole with reintegration into the community.

To support the strategy the Queensland Government is seeking to engage trainee Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to work at each of the probation and parole offices.

Since the strategy’s commencement, there have been marked improvements in business practice and improved relationships with the Magistracy and community groups in the areas. Preliminary data indicates that the strategy is having a positive effect on diversion from custody, with greater incidence of parole or probation rather than custodial sentences.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Strategy

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Strategy (Indigenous Access Strategy) is designed to ensure that the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) services, policies, programs, and practices are:

• culturally competent;
• accessible; and
• effective in protecting and promoting the rights, interests, safety and well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Employment Screening Services Program (ESSP)

In Queensland, the CCYP conducts employment screening to determine whether applicants are able to work in categories of employment regulated by the Commission for Children and Young People and the Child Guardian Act 2000.

The Employment Screening Services Program (ESSP) includes an Indigenous access strategy that will establish partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to assist them to identify and manage risks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, including by conducting appropriate employment screening.

b) State and Australian Government Joint Initiatives

Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Delivery between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of Queensland

The Agreement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Delivery between The Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of Queensland (the Agreement) was signed in December 2005.

The Agreement is intended to establish arrangements to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland. The Agreement is based upon priorities that were agreed in the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Report and which have subsequently been refined by both governments.

The Australian Government's priority areas are:

• early childhood intervention, focusing on improved mental and physical health;
• safer communities (including issues of authority, law and order and good governance) and developing community capacity; and
• enhancing 'Indigenous wealth, employment and entrepreneurial culture'.

The Queensland Government's priority areas are:

• strengthened families and communities and strengthened cultures;
• safe places (including alcohol management and community-based law and justice issues);
• healthy living (including access to housing issues); and
• skilled and prosperous people and communities (including access to education and training issues).

The key mechanism for Indigenous consultation will be 'Negotiation Tables'. It is also envisaged that the resulting increase in engagement between communities and government will provide the basis for the negotiation of Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRAs).

Schedules to the Agreement identify locations in Queensland receiving particular attention under the Agreement. During 2005-2006, the Lockhart River community was to be part of a pilot program for streamlined bureaucratic processes and more flexible funding. Furthermore, joint government initiatives in Cape York and on Palm Island are brought under the Agreement. It is intended that other areas will be identified for specific and coordinated action and added to Schedule Two.

The Agreement will be monitored by biannual meetings of senior officials, by joint workshops between government and Indigenous Coordination Centre Managers and by biannual meetings convened by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Indigenous Coordination Centres.

Family Responsibility Commission

In mid 2006, the Cape York Institute launched its Welfare Reform Project. In accordance with the Cape York Agenda the From Hand Out to Hand Up Report contains a recommendation for a Family Responsibility Commission (FRC) to be funded by the Australian Government and commence in January 2008.

The FRC will make rulings about whether obligations to children have been breached by carers, and if necessary enforce a range of sanctions, including:

• (a) to issue a warning to an individual;
• (b) to direct individuals to attend support services on either a voluntary or compulsory basis;
• (c) to order all or part of welfare payments to conditional income management (such that the recipient has limited discretion over the expenditure of their welfare payments);
• (d) to determine that all or part of welfare payments be directed to an adult that is caring for that individual’s children.

The FRC’s Secretariat will be based in Cairns, but it will have panels of three people permanently based in each of the four communities vested with the power of decision-making. The panels would comprise three people: one legal officer and two Indigenous community members (one male and one female).

The FRC would be an administrative law tribunal and therefore any decision made by the body could be appealed. This would take place first by internal review; then if the appellant was dissatisfied with the result they could appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

COAG Trial in Cape York

Since late 2005 there has not been any activity specifically relating to the Cape York Trial, and many stakeholders have accordingly concluded that the Trial is over. However, there has been no formal end to the process. There is a need for a COAG or Australian Government decision on whether there is to be any further action on the Cape York Trial, and clear communication of this to all relevant parties.^[47]

c) Monitoring and Evaluation

Partnerships Queensland - Baseline Report 2006

The Partnerships Queensland Baseline Report 2006 is the first stage of Partnerships Queensland performance reporting. The report provides the baseline from which all future progress in improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland can be measured. This monitoring process will measure key indicators of wellbeing and will provide the basis for developing targeted and prioritised programs and interventions that will address disadvantage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The report has collated information from state government agencies, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships undertook the analysis and interpretation of the data in close consultation with relevant government agencies.

The Baseline Report is complemented by the initial Implementation Progress Report 2006. The progress report details the most recent achievements of the Queensland Government in addressing areas of Indigenous disadvantage. It also outlines future activities to be undertaken across government to strengthen policy, planning and service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Child Guardian Key Outcome Indicators

In 2006, the CCYP conducted extensive research and consultation to establish an outcome-based method of assessing the effectiveness of the child safety system. This resulted in the development of Child Guardian Key Outcomes and a series of proposed measures that will be used when gathering and reporting information about the child safety system.

One of these outcome indicators relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and includes various measures in relation to the safety and wellbeing of these children.

Indigenous Child Placement Principle Project

The Commission for Children and Young People monitors the Department of Child Safety’s compliance with the Indigenous Child Placement Principle set out in s.83 of the Child Protection Act 1999.

Systemic recommendations

In 2006-07, the Commission for Children and Young People finalised systemic recommendations related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. These recommendations targeted information management and decision support mechanisms in an effort to improve the available data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Murri Court Review

A review of the Murri Court was completed in 2006 and the majority of its recommendations have been implemented.^[48] The review confirmed that the Murri Court has been effective in providing practical access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders.

An independent evaluation is currently being undertaken by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), and the AIC is also working with Department of Justice and Attorney-General to implement an effective evaluation database.

Research into legislative instruments

The Queensland Government has commissioned research into:

• the appropriateness of Domestic Violence Orders and the other relevant legislative instruments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and recommendations for alternatives (this informed the evaluation of the 2003 amendments to the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 1989); and
• causal factors for family violence in Torres Strait Islander communities and recommended Torres Strait Islander-specific responses.

Narrative Inquiry

Narrative inquiry is a method of gathering and analysing information from community members through a ‘story telling.’ The Queensland Government has trialled a narrative inquiry training package with departmental staff and some funded non-government organisations that conduct prevention and early intervention pilot programs, including:

• Mununjali Housing and Development Company;
• Darumbal Community Youth Service; and
• Centacare, Mount Isa.

Narrative inquiry has been used effectively as an evaluation strategy by all three of these programs. The Darumbal Community Youth Service and Centacare have used the method to collect material for their Client Outcomes Projects, which were part of the suite of evaluation techniques used to evaluate the prevention and early intervention pilot programs.

d) Programs

Healing approaches:

• Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP) ($2.9 million over three years): A voluntary 20-week rehabilitation program for Indigenous defendants charged with certain offences that relate to their use of alcohol; and for Indigenous parents involved in the child protection system who also have an alcohol problem.
  
  The criminal justice stream of the QIADP will operate as a bail-based diversionary program. The goal of the program is to break the alcohol-crime cycle by involving eligible Indigenous defendants in treatment and case management programs designed to reduce alcohol-related harm to the individual and the community.
  
  The family intervention stream of the QIADP will offer Indigenous parents the option of accessing culturally appropriate treatment for alcohol misuse if their alcohol misuse impacts on their ability to protect their children from harm.
  
  The three-year pilot program commenced in July 2007 in Cairns (with outreach to Yarrabah) has 32 treatment places; Townsville (with outreach to Palm Island) has 40 treatment places; and Rockhampton (with outreach to Woorabinda) has 32 treatment places.

• Healing services ($1.5 million per annum): Six Indigenous healing services, which provide contemporary and traditional healing to people in Indigenous communities affected by violence. Healing services have been successfully established in Thursday Island, Pormpurraw, Injinoo, Rockhampton, Cunnamulla and the North West of Cape York.

Community Education and Community Development:

• Child Responsive Communities Project (Cherbourg): A multi-