Volume 1 No 3 Registered for Post
April 2013 A compilation of Congress news, stories and events
Welcome!
Here you’ll find a wrap up of the news we regularly email to our members. Download extra copies from our website: nationalcongress.com.au
Meet our mob
Congress Elections: Have your say During June and July, every member can vote for who leads Congress for the next two years.
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ominations for our male and female Co-Chairs open from 3–10 June, then voting is from 21 June to 5 July. Protecting our rights needs strong leaders and unity among our Peoples. Congress representatives are chosen by our members, not appointed by Government. Open membership and elections are at the heart of our independence. So to make your voice heard, vote in the Congress elections. Congress will publish statements and CVs of candidates in a special CongressMob News and on our website to help you choose who to vote for. We want to know what you want to ask candidates, and
News review
Around the nations
give candidates the chance to answer your questions. Email your questions to us at: membership@nationalcongress.com.au Only members can stand or vote and our membership remains free and open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and organisations. To make sure you have a say on who leads Congress, become a member and ensure your details are up to date.
Delegates Our first round of Delegate applications for individual members closed in April. We look forward to organisational member nominations and voting throughout May. Go to nationalcongress.com.au for more information.
Congress said it
congressmob nationalcongress.com.au updates, member news, opportunities
News review n Congress wants more for our communities
Congress has asked for sweeping changes to the way the Federal Government works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver better programs and services on the ground.
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he proposals, outlined in our 2013–14 Budget submission, specifically target health, education and language maintenance funding and place priority on strengthening governance in our community-controlled organisations. Congress Co-Chair, Jody Broun said that achieving the best outcomes was not simply about the amount of funding but better ways of working, for example: identifying and overcoming obstacles like duplication of services, complexity of grant administration and poor accountability by the states and territories. Our proposals also focus on Justice Reinvestment to address the over-representation of our Peoples in the criminal justice system. We also raised these issues with the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit with specific proposals on ways of doing business differently with our Peoples. For more details go to nationalcongress.com.au/policyandadvocacy
Policy Updates: Health The Congress submission to the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan outlined our members’ views on supporting our Peoples’ health. Congress hosted consultations on specific health areas including: drug and alcohol, traditional and cultural approaches and mental health.
Justice The National Justice Policy is now finalised after member input and consultation. A key part of the policy is Justice Reinvestment and Congress has called for it to be trialled and implemented in targeted communities.
Education Our draft education policy is being finalised and we are also involved in developing ways to measure success in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education programs.
Native Title Congress continues to advocate for a reversal of the onus of proof for native title claims in relation to proposed changes to Native Title laws.
More info online See details of this and more info on Congress policy work at nationalcongress.com.au/ policyandadvocacy
Nick Freeburn
MaryAnn Bin-Sallik
n New Faces in the Congress Ethics Council
Congress welcomes Emeritus Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik and Mr Nick Freeburn as our two new Ethics Council members.
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ongress has a clear commitment to principles of ethics such as integrity, honesty, transparency and openness. Our Ethics Council advises us on how to best live up to these commitments and is another feature that sets us at the cutting edge of Australian best practice in the area of corporate ethical conduct. Thanks to Mary Graham and Wesley Enoch for their valuable contributions to the Ethics Council over their three-year terms and we look forward to having them back as members of the Congressmob!
2 | CongressMob News April 2013
National Congress Report The NC12 Report is now available on the website at nationalcongress.com.au
Around the nations All Stars Weekend: Everyone’s a winner
A crowd of 5000 rugby league fans from all over Australia cheered on the Murri and Koori teams battling it out in the knockout as part of the NRL All Stars weekend in Brisbane in February. NRL legend David Peachey (pictured) worked the Congress stall along with youth committee members; Elise Wall and Jared Hutchison and Congress staff. Congratulations to the Argun Warriors from Badu Island on their win and to the one hundred new Congress members who signed up on the day!
Hard Yards on Constitutional Reform begin
The Act of Recognition is now law but the real journey to Constitutional reform is just beginning. The Journey of Recognition, inspired and led by AFL legend Michael Long, will begin after Dreamtime at the G in Melbourne on 26 May. Supporters will walk, cycle and drive from Melbourne to North East Arnhem Land raising awareness and spreading the word about recognising our Peoples in the Constitution. Congress is supporting the Journey of Recognition, which is being organised by the Recognise campaign. To find out how you can get involved or help out at any point on the journey contact: info@recognise.org.au. The full story on the journey is at: recognise.org.au
NRL Legend David Peachey and his mother, Congress Legend Irene, at the All Stars Weekend – Brisbane.
Congress wins on International Women’s Day
Co-Chair Jody Broun with Education Working Group member Kara Keys and Delegate Darcel Russell.
Photo: Fairfax Media
Fundamental to the way Congress does business is the equal representation of our women throughout the organisation – on the Board, the Ethics Council and among our Delegates. This year the Australian Centre for Leadership for Women awarded Congress the Sustaining Women’s Empowerment in Communities and Organisations Gold Award for the advancement of women in workplaces and in the community. Co-Chair Jody Broun, said, “We listened to our people when gender equity was established as a founding – and now an operating – principle of Congress. “The women working within Congress now are part of the long, proud history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have fought for our Peoples and we honour the achievements and the significant contributions those women have made”, she said.
NSW Women’s Reconciliation Network gathered at Redfern Community Centre to talk Constitutionial Reform.
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Tiwi members: Tiffany Parker, Jason DeSantis and Peta Brogan.
New members get amongst it at the Congress Stall in Perth.
Youth Lobbying Committee Member Nayuka Gorrie with her grandfather John Gorrie in Melbourne.
Nepo Banu giving out Congress visors on a sunny day in Canberra.
Rebekah McDonald signs up at Yabun on January 26.
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Congress Mob News April 2013
Member ‘Kanga’ dropped in at Yabun.
Agnes and Dimple Bani at the Congress Kai Kai on Thursday Island.
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Congress member Laurence Hinett with his cup at Mount Druitt.
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The Jordan Family of Budgendore.
Our keen member Fred Peters at Tagai College on Thursday Island.
Amala Groom with Ghazali Ohorella, Chair of the Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the World Conference for Indigenous Peoples.
Woppaburra Mob dropped in to visit the Congress office.
Congress news Directors Venessa Curnow, Daphne Yarram, Brian Butler and Rod Little with Tagai College Principal Lyn-Anne Chandler visiting the campus cultural centre with Uncle Dimple and Nancy Sailor.
Margaret Gabey and Gibra Sambo sign up on TI. Welcome To Country by Chairman of the Kaurareg Association Milton Savage.
Member Bua Mabo.
Locals feast at the Kai Kai.
n Congress Board on Thursday Island
Congress Directors know the importance of speaking to people face to face. In March they travelled to the Torres Strait for their Board meeting. While there, Directors visited the on-campus cultural centre and a bilingual language class at Tagai State College.
Director Dennis Eggington dancing up at the Kai Kai on Thursday Island.
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anguages and culture is a very important area so it was important to see how the traditional languages are going here,” said Co-Chair Les Malezer. “We must see extra Budget funds dedicated to critical areas where language services are essential like in translation services in health and justice, as well as in language education,” he said. Local elder and Kaurareg Aboriginal Corporation Chair, Milton Savage welcomed all to country at our community event at the Tamwoy Hall where locals gathered for a Friday evening Kai Kai (feast). They also spoke with Directors and staff, joined up as members and enjoyed performances by the Mer Island dance troupe. “It’s really valuable for us to be talking to community members. These sorts of exchanges between people who sit on the National Board and people who are in the community wondering what is happening about their affairs are vital”, said Co-Chair Les Malezer.
The Congress Youth Lobbying Committee met in Sydney. (front, L-R) Elise Wall, Nayuka Gorrie, Sorrell Ashby, Co-Chair Jody Broun, NCIE’s Youth Council Chair Peter Dawson, Ben Gertz. (back, L-R) Jared Hutchison, Joel Omeenyo, Todd Fernando, Gus Fitzgerald.
Richard Matthews teaches traditional language Kalaw Lagaw Ya – in class at Tagai State College, Thursday Island.
Delegate Abigail Harry attended the Kai Kai.
Chamber 3 Delegates in Adelaide.
n Youth Voices in Congress n Delegates meet
Congress Youth Lobbying Committee (CYLC) is focussed on growing youth membership and involvement in Congress work.
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he ten-person voluntary committee, formed out of the Congress Youth Program last year, is a direct response to the need to increase youth representation and views in Congress. Co-convenors, Nayuka Gorrie (VIC) and Todd Fernando (NSW) said, “The Congress Youth Lobby Committee looks forward to working with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to establish a stronger and empowered voice in Congress.” The committee is now actively working on increasing youth membership and providing a youth perspective on Congress business. Other committee members are: Sorrell Ashby (NSW), Kimberley Benjamin (WA), Gus Fitzgerald (NT), Emma Garlett (WA), Benjamin Gertz (QLD), Jared Hutchison (QLD), Joel Omeenyo (NT) and Elise Wall (QLD).
6 | CongressMob News April 2013
How our Delegates can better guide and continue the work of Congress was the main focus of a recent meeting in Adelaide.
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he meeting, co-chaired by Directors Brian Butler and Tammy Solonec, was opened by Kaurna elder and Congress member, Aunty Josie Agius, who welcomed us to country. The 30 Delegates worked through a range of issues including policy direction and the UN Declaration; promotion and representation of Congress; and delegate roles and responsibilities. The meeting was a recommendation from the NC12 Meeting in Alice Springs in September last year.
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Congress said it… Congress stands for unity and working together to improve the lives of our Peoples.–26 March
Congress will work to better inform our Peoples about these proposed Constitutional Recognition reforms. –13 February
This year’s election is the time for all parties to demonstrate how they will close the gap in health, education and justice by 2030.–6 February
Co-Chair Les Malezer with brothers; Michael, Thomas, Earl and Claude Conway on Palm Island to talk about the Alcohol Management Plan.
Continued investment is essential if we are to build on this excellent work and be the generation to end the national disgrace that sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples die more than 10 years younger than the broader Australian community –21 March Displacement, loss of land, low rates of birth registration, limited access to culturally appropriate education and health services, low enrolment and literacy rates, conflict and a lack of access to justice, all create conditions that affect human rights, development, human security and, ultimately survival. –20 March
Meriam Dance Troupe.
Police Liaison Officers Mary Kenyi, Shane Plummer, Rhonda Reid and Debbie DeBree at the NRL All Stars Festival in Brisbane.
New member Rodney Knight at Mount Druitt.
Directors Tammy Solonec and Brian Butler speak at the Delegates Meeting in Adelaide.
We listened to our people when gender equity was established as a founding – and now operating – principle of Congress and we urge other Australian companies to do the same. –7 March 8 | CongressMob News April 2013
Overrepresentation of our Peoples in the criminal justice system is both cause and effect for the poor state of health, education and employment of so many of our families and communities. –15 March
The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples is a national voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Email: info@nationalcongress.com.au Freecall: 1800 266 477 Read our e-newsletters online: nationalcongress.com.au/e-news-newsletters