Item 12.2 - Attachment 1

Minutes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee Minutes 26th August 2008

 

MINUTES OF THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN ROOM 1, GROUND FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PARRAMATTA ON TUESDAY 26th AUGUST 2008  AT 6.05 PM.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

PRESENT

Gilson Saunders (Chairman), Linda McDonald, June Magrath, Doug Desjardines, Kerrie Kenton, Phillip Bradley, Marcia Donovan, Annie Nielsen, Phil Russo, Lyn Leerson

 

IN ATTENDANCE

 

Maggie Kyle – Community Capacity Building Officer and Elise Mawhood – Minute taker, Joanne McNeil - Community Capacity Building Officer, Shanene Hogg – Aboriginal Project Officer

 

MINUTES

 

1    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS THE DHARUG PEOPLE

 

Gilson Saunders did an Acknowledgment of Country recognising that the land upon which the meeting was being held is Dharug and paying respect to Elders past and present.

 

2    WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

 

Gilson Saunders welcomed members and Council staff to the meeting.

 

3    CHAIRPERSON’S REMINDER REGARDING MEETING PROTOCOLS

 

The Chairperson reminded members of the meeting protocol.

 

4    APOLOGIES

 

Apologies were received and accepted for the absence of Bruce Gale, John Robertson, Anne Castles and Alan Merriman.

 

5    CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

 

No conflicts of interest noted.

 

6    CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

A copy of the minutes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee Meeting held on 22 July 2008 had previously been forwarded to each member.

 

RECOMMENDATION                     (Neilson/Magrath)

The minutes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee Meeting held on 22 July 2008 be taken as a true record of the meeting.

 

7    BUSINESS ARISING

 

Minute 8.3 of 22 July 2008 meeting:   Linda McDonald did not attend the Ball.  Annie Neilson advised that the NAIDOC ball was a great event and awards, under various categories were given. Lyn Leerson received an award. The ATSI Advisory Committee congratulated her on her achievement.  Linda McDonald is hoping to become a member of the Committee as the ATSI Advisory Committee representative.

 

RECOMMENDATION:                   (Desjardines/Russo) 

That Linda McDonald be the nominated representative for the Western Sydney Aboriginal NAIDOC Ball committee on behalf of the ATSI Advisory Committee.

 

Minute 10.6 took 70 copies of the flyer to the NAIDOC Ball, was a successful event in raising the funds needed to support the carer to go to the Special Olympics.

 

 

8    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS TO THE ATSI COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK

 

Maggie Kyle thanked the ATSI Advisory Committee members for their commitments over the past four years and in particular the past year.

 

Annie Neilson advised the ATSI Advisory Committee that she is running as an independent candidate in the 2008 Local Government Elections.

 

9    ATSI Community Project Officer’s Report (Shanene Hogg)

 

Aboriginal Employment Strategy

Attended, with and one of Council’s Human Resources staff the Grow Indig. Job Market at MT Druitt.

 

Meetings with Parrasip

Parramatta School Industry regarding a Koori Information session for High School students to enable Human Resources to identify the areas of employment that school leavers are moving towards.

 

Welcome to Country protocol

A draft of the protocol has been submitted to Management and a project proposal is currently being discussed to have a facilitated workshop for ATSI Advisory Committee members to have input into the protocol. Two half day workshops have been suggested and the final program will be discussed with the CCB Team Manager.

 

Community projects

Social enterprise: attended meetings with Jo McNeil, Community Capacity Building Officer Social Enterprise and two prospective Aboriginal clients.

Discussions are being held with one organisation regarding the set up of a resource library/ cultural keeping place for Parramatta.

 

Foundation Day

Involvement in Foundation Day has been discussed with Council’s Heritage Officer Michelle Desailly.

 

Cultural Awareness Training for PCC Staff

Discussions regarding how to implement the CAT across Council have been held and strategies have been researched.

Involvement in different Council projects have enabled more understanding and will assist in implementing Cultural Awareness Training across Council.

 

Aboriginal Prisoners

Contact with Regional Justice Coordinator has been made and a meeting date will be setup to discuss case management for ATSI clients leaving prison.

 

Shanene Hogg went on to congratulate the committee on a successful NAIDOC 2008 event.

 

10  ATSI Social Enterprise Information Forum

 

Jo McNeil, Community Capacity Building Officer Social Enterprise provided information:

In the June 2008 meeting the Committee recommended that Council host an information forum which will be open to community on Aboriginal social enterprise.  At this stage it is being planned for October 2008.

 

Council’s Community Grants Program- including Social Enterprise Grants, opens on Monday 1st September 2008 and will close at the beginning of December. Social Enterprise Grants can assist with business planning and next steps.

 

A Social Enterprise is a business which puts profit back into community. Social Enterprises provide employment opportunities to disadvant6aged/ excluded members of community. Child care services is a good example of social enterprise

 

Committee Members should advise community members about the Social Enterprise program in particular, that support is available to people should they have an idea about a social enterprise project.  For further information please contact Joanne McNeill 02 9806 5102.

 

Doug Desjardines raised the need for accommodation facility for ex-prisoners and stated that some businesses were interested in funding. Doug Desjardines will contact Joanne McNeil to discuss further.

 

June Magrath raised need for Parramatta to have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural centre (including arts and crafts).  Joanne McNeill reported this is being looked at and if it progresses it will be important that other people get involved. 

It was noted that Blacktown Council have funding for a Cultural Centre and is progressing it.

 

Phil Russo noted that future Council’s business development should set aside some area for Aboriginal heritage.

 

Kerrie Kenton will forward to the committee members the plan she drafted on housing/training for Aboriginal ex-offenders.

 

11  GENERAL BUSINESS AND INFORMATION SHARING

 

Maggie Kyle informed the committee that the Recommendation made by the Committee to place a plaque at Lake Parramatta acknowledging the work of Phil Russo in Council apologising to the Stolen Generation has been approved.

 

Maggie Kyle also informed the committee that Bruce Gale has been communicating with Council’s Heritage Centre regarding the photo of Aunty Mavis.

 

Doug Desjardines noted that the Department of Corrective Services are going out on strike again and prisoners are treated badly when this happens.

 

At the Executive Meeting it was decided to draft a letter to Australian Human Rights Commission and the NSW Department of Corrective Services on prisoners’ (lack of) human rights.

 

RECOMMENDATION:                   (DESJARDINE/BRADLEY)

That Council note that the Committee views with grave concerns the lock down situation at Long Bay Correctional Centre and the potential for this lock down to spread to both Parramatta and Silverwater Correctional Centres.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Local Government Area are concerned for their relatives and are affected by the lock downs.

 

RECOMMENDATION:                   (DESJARDINE/BRADLEY)

That a delegation from this Committee meet with the Local Federal Member, Julie Owens and discuss their concerns regarding the impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander  families and children if their welfare payments are withdrawn because children are not enrolled in school.

 

RECOMMENDATION:                   (RUSSO/KENTON)

That the ATSI Advisory Committee writes to the Parramatta Park Trust to be invited them to attend a future ATSI Advisory Committee meeting.

 

Lyn Leerson updated the committee on the work of Western Sydney Reconciliation: They have communicated with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs regarding the issues at Long Bay Correctional Facility when staff go out on strike. They have referred the matter to the Minister for his attention.  

 

The Oakville College grant which covers 20 lunch hours focusing on Aboriginal history and culture. At the end of the 20 weeks, students will build a statue as a tribute to the Darug people.

 

Western Sydney Reconciliation have written to the Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd; the Honourable Jenny Macklin and the Honourable Ms Julie Owens regarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and requesting compensation for the Stolen Generations.

 

Maggie Kyle was asked to find out if the library is participating in the Indigenous Literacy Day.  Phil Bradley will identify any bookstores in the LGA are participating.

 

June Magrath informed the Committee of the upcoming Kids Fun Day which will promote Child Protection Week. It will be held at Dawson Mall Mt Druitt  on Thursday 11th September  2008.

 

June Magrath distributed surveys to Committee members from Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre and the NSW Attorney General’s Department and asked the members to complete them.

 

 

Next Meetings

ATSI Advisory Executive Meeting

Room 1, Ground Floor Council Chambers, Parramatta

TBC

 

 

ATSI Advisory Committee Meeting

Room 1, Ground Floor Council Chambers, Parramatta

TBC

 

 

The Meeting concluded at 8.05pm