Welfare Reform – Voices from the Community 2021 by Cape York Partnership

Welfare Reform VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY / 2021

Aurukun Coen

Hope Vale

Mossman Gorge HOPE VALE

HOPE VALE

Doomadgee COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

Hope Vale

In 2007, the Cape York Institute, the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Government of Australia committed to one of the most innovative reforms in Indigenous policy ever seen in Australia. The reforms involved the establishment of the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) and Opportunity Hubs (O-Hubs) in four Cape York communities, being Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge. The aim of these reforms was empowering communities to restore local Indigenous authority, re-establish social norms, build individual and collective capability, and provide them with access to real socioeconomic opportunities. Now in their twelfth year, the FRC and O-Hub models remain as stand out examples of Indigenous empowerment and capability building in Australia. This targeted model of income management provides clients with access to support services that help them take responsibility for their own lives well before government and community services intervene. At the heart of this model is a genuine and robust belief in the capacity of

people to improve their lives when provided with the right support. This is coupled with the steady guidance of their local elders, who assume the role of local FRC commissioners. It is now clear that the FRC and O-Hubs are changing lives in the four supported Cape York communities for the better. In the past six years, child protection investigations have plummeted 69% and notices for serious offences and tenancy breaches have also reduced by 23% and 32% respectively. This success can be attributed to the extraordinary efforts of the 29 local FRC commissioners who have held 95% of all FRC conferences in the past year. By applying innate skills of empathy and understanding, they have affected positive behavioural change in hundreds of people. Local commissioners and clients of the FRC, as well as partners of the O-Hubs, were interviewed to better understand their experiences. This booklet tells their personal stories and is essential reading for anyone interested in effecting positive behavioural and structural change in Indigenous communities.

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

If the O-Hub was ever taken away, we would have nowhere to go to seek help. The community would go back to square one. That’s how I see it.

Hope Vale

“

In order to have a great community, we

so many things, from getting my driver’s

need empowered people. Because the

licence changed, to communicating with

O-Hub ensures this, it is an essential

services, such as banks and the ATO. I

service to our community. We can go to

have used the [Student Education Trust]

the ladies there for any problem we need

product, offered through the O-Hub, to

help with, whatsoever. If anything arrives

support my daughter through boarding

in the mail that concerns us, we come

school. If the O-Hub was ever taken

here. We never walk away from the O-Hub

away, we would have nowhere to go to

feeling helpless. My coach-consultant

seek help. The community would go

has been so helpful in helping me with

back to square one. That’s how I see it.

SELINA KERR-BOWEN Hope Vale O-Hub partner

HOPE VALE

“

Some parents have been struggling, so I tell them that’s what FRC is there for. They are there to help you. They are there for you people to open your mouth

HOPE VALE

and tell them about your problems. They will listen and try to help you. My kids are going to school because of FRC.

“

FRC client

Hope Vale HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

At FRC, we don’t condemn or judge people, we are here to listen to them. After someone is referred to us, we ask them to tell their story. We then outline the issues as presented to them, maybe by a court, and ensure that they understand this. We then find out the support structures that already exist for them, and then provide them with additional information about programs that may act as appropriate intervention, if it is relevant to their case. We develop this plan in agreement with our clients, and in this way we ensure

they own this plan and are empowered by it. The FRC advocates for community members, and understands their issues from an Indigenous perspective. For example, we will understand if an issue is being caused by intergenerational traumas. Because people know that we are here to assist them, the FRC is now seeing clients who have referred themselves voluntarily. This process of engagement has been successful because of the FRC, and without the FRC I can’t see those successes continuing.

PRISCILA GIBSON Hope Vale FRC Commissioner

“ 6

I was charged with something, and was then referred by the courts to FRC. FRC asked me about the support that I thought I needed. Because they were concerned about my wellbeing and safety, they recommended anger management support with the local Wellbeing Centre. We started building

trust from there, and FRC assisted me with another issue relating to domestic violence. They reassured me that, even though I had a red flag with Child Safety, I wouldn’t lose my children if I found the right support mechanisms. This assured me that everything was okay, and I felt understood.

“

FRC client Hope Vale

The FRC advocates for community members, and understands their issues from an Indigenous perspective.

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

The referrals between the FRC and O-Hub are so important, because they are ensuring that money management has the flow-on effect of providing education opportunities for our children. Cutting

WILFRIED GORDON Hope Vale community leader

“

FRC made me aware of the financial products available at the O-Hub. I now have a [Student Education Trust] account to save for my daughter’s education needs, in which I deduct 40 dollars a fortnight for school-related costs, like uniforms and school shoes. This has also prepared us for her high schooling. She hasn’t missed a day of school this year, and is performing really well.

“ 8

FRC client Hope Vale

these programs out from that process is only going to create more gaps. The children are the most important people in our community, and without these programs, they will suffer.

The children are the most important people in our community, and without these programs, they will suffer.

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

My children were missing school because I had problems with alcohol. The FRC helped me to focus on my children’s education, and made sure that I saw that as a priority. It helped that the commissioners knew me, because they gave me the right advice and knew how to make me understand.

“

FRC client Hope Vale

These people connect best with us because they know and trust the staff here.

“

Since I’ve worked with MPower, I’ve seen many community members needing assistance with online banking services. These people connect best with us because they know and trust the staff here. It’s important that services like the O-Hub are run by local people who

Hope Vale

understand the needs of the community. My aunty is over 80 years old, but she knows how to use our computers when paying her bills, because of the skills learned at O-Hub. If the O-Hub was to go away, people wouldn’t know where to go.

JOANNE BOWEN Hope Vale O-Hub Coach-consultant

If more services go from the community, people would struggle.

Before O-Hub started, many people in community didn’t know how to do online or telephone banking. If we lost the O-Hub, people would still be knocking on our doors for help. I was referred to O-Hub by the FRC to participate in the [now defunct] parenting program, which helped my daughter

“

become enthusiastic for school again. It’s a shame that program is gone now, because so many new mums would benefit from it. If more services go from the community, people would struggle, especially those who have come to rely on them.

HOPE VALE

VANESSA ROSENDALE Hope Vale O-Hub Coach-consultant

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

It takes certain understanding to be able to give advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Since FRC started, we’ve seen a lot of good changes here in Coen.

Coen

“

the

family counselling. The FRC functions well

community, big time. It would affect rates

because it is led by Indigenous people. It

of rental [compliance], school attendance,

takes certain understanding to be able

Losing

the

FRC

would

affect

and alcohol and drug usage. Because little kids look up to their parents as role models in community, we want to ensue that our clients are acting like those

to give advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Since FRC started, we’ve seen a lot of good changes here in

role models. This sometimes means

Coen. But if we were to lose it, we would

recommending people for intervention

start a downward cycle back to the way

services with our Wellbeing Centre, like

things were before.

ALISON LIDDY Coen local FRC commissioner

COEN

Coen

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

Before the FRC started, many of our

government to come to our community

children were not going to school. Now,

and see this for themselves. At FRC, we

we are glad to see all of our children

tell the parents that they need to send

going to school every day. Some children

their children to school, and we tell them

are even going to boarding school, and

this in a calm way. If FRC stops, our

this is because of the FRC. We need the

children will not be going to school.

DOROTHY POOTCHEMUNKA Aurukun local FRC commissioner

“

Most kids try to stay at home, but I tell my children, my nieces and nephews, that education is first. My children are on track with their education. It helps that the FRC commissioners are from the local community, because we speak Wik here. Sometimes English is hard to understand.

“ AURUKUN Hope Vale

FRC client Aurukun

Before the FRC started, many of our children were not going to school.

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

The local FRC commissioners are acting as the pillars that uplift this community.

“

FRC means we are the family that tries

local FRC commissioners are acting as

to solve many issues. Issues such as

the pillars that uplift this community. If the

children not attending school, young men

FRC is taken away, these pillars would

going to juvenile detention, and women and men going to prison. Sometimes this means we need to recommend clients for income management, but this has helped a lot of community members. Parents are

fall, and the community would go back to the way things were. We will not have our children going to school. We would have crime, and we would have suffering. We

agreeing that income management, and

need the government to come and see

O-Hub products like SET, are helping

the benefits of the FRC, and why it needs

them with their children’s education. The

to stay.

VERA KOOMETA Aurukun local FRC commissioner

Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

Aurukun

Parents are taking their kids to school, and even sitting with their kids at school.

“

Some people don’t like sending their children to school, and some people are hard to talk to bout these issues. But working with the FRC means parents are taking their kids to school, and even sitting with their kids at school.

EDGAR KERINDUN Aurukun local FRC commissioner

“

Before FRC, community children were not going to school. Now, with FRC, this has changed. We also deal with child safety, money management, court appearances, and family wellbeing. These are the issues we want to help at

the FRC office. And the community likes dealing with us, because we talk to them with a nice voice. We have a system to know if people need further intervention, and we act on the needs of that system. Aurukun

DORIS POONKAMELYA Aurukun local FRC commissioner

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

If O-Hub closed, I don’t know what would happen with our elderly.

Hope Vale

“

O-Hub helps me, and all of the community, with budgeting our money. It helps our budgets for important things, like vehicles and vehicle registrations. Also for events like Christmas, and even for when someone passes away, it helps us buy them a gravestone. Today’s world is all about modern technology. Our elderly don’t know how to keep an eye on their money with this technology. They don’t know how to use internet and telephone banking, so O-Hub helps them. If O-Hub closed, I don’t know what would happen with our elderly.

MAISIE SHORTJOE Aurukun O-Hub partner

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

I come to the O-Hub to help with my budgeting. My goal is to save every fortnight for my vehicle registration. The people at the O-Hub are friendly, and I think of my [coach-consultant] as my friend. Sometimes I come just for a chat and some company. If the O-Hub wasn’t here, I would have to fly to Pormpuraaw to see my family for financial assistance.

STAN MONDAY Aurukun O-Hub partner

Aurukun

If the O-Hub wasn’t here, I would have to fly to Pormpuraaw to see my family for financial assistance.

Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

Many people don’t have confidence in themselves. They don’t have the confidence to speak over the phone to a bank or other services.

“

In Aurukun, many people don’t have confidence in themselves. They don’t have the confidence to speak over the phone to a bank or other services. People use the O-Hub for support in this, and that’s why the O-Hub is a must. Aurukun would be very different if we lost the O-Hub. People rely on it, and I know people would be very upset if it was ever to go. The staff there are of the utmost help to the community. They are friendly people, and I trust and respect them fully.

PHYLLIS YUNKAPORTA Aurukun O-Hub partner

HOPE VALE HOPE VALE

COEN

COENAURUKUN

AURUKUN MOSSMAN GORGE

I was struggling with things for some time, and it was the O-Hub who helped me to find a job.

“

The O-Hub is a very special building, and is a building that supports community elders. The staff always have a smile on their face in the morning. They are very helpful, and have supported me in many ways. I was struggling with things for some time, and it was the O-Hub who helped me to find a job. I don’t want to see this place, or the FRC, closed. We want these entities to stay put and carry on, because we know the people there. Anything that serves the community comes from these places. They care for us like they are our own family, and we thank them for it.

JONAH YUNKAPORTA Aurukun O-Hub partner

Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

There are a lot of great people there, and many in our community visit the O-Hub for technical help.

“

I’ve been in Aurukun for 14 years, and ever since I came to the O-Hub for the first time I thought that it was a good service for the community. There are a lot of great people there, and many in our community visit the O-Hub for technical help because they don’t have computers. If the O-Hub goes away, the community will be lost financially. People have a lot of money problems. The O-Hub saves a lot of people from financial stress, so we need it. We need it to stay in Aurukun.

PATRICK BELL Aurukun O-Hub partner

HOPE VALE HOPE VALE

COEN

COENAURUKUN

AURUKUN MOSSMAN GORGE

Kids in community are going to high school, college and university because of places like the O-Hub and the FRC.

“

The government has to understand that most of our kids in community are going to high school, college and university because of places like the O-Hub and the FRC. Our kids are our future, and the O-Hub and FRC needs to stay in Aurukun because of this. What this community needs is to work as a team, and these services help us to do this, because they work as a team. That’s why we don’t want it to close down.

BERNARD POOTCHEMUNKA Aurukun community leader and O-Hub partner

Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

If we lose these places, we will lose hope for the future.

“

We don’t want to lose the O-Hub or the FRC, because the community is getting help from them all the time. If we lose these places, we will lose hope for the future. We have a very good relationship with the people at O-Hub and FRC, so it’s important that we maintain those relationships for the sake of our children. With these services here, our children have a bright future ahead of them.

LEITH KAWANGKA Aurukun community leader and O-Hub partner

HOPE VALE HOPE VALE

COEN

COENAURUKUN

AURUKUN MOSSMAN GORGE

“

The O-Hub is always here helping the community. It helps school students with their school costs. Without FRC as well, kids would not be at school. Without them, what is the community going to do? The staff there are all very friendly. Most of the old people don’t know how to manage their money, or do internet banking. Many parents have SET accounts too. That’s why we need these places here longer, to help fund the future of this community.

Aurukun

MICHELLE MARBENDINAR Aurukun community leader and O-Hub partner

We need time to help our own community get back on its feet. We need a chance to solve things for ourselves.

“

Budgeting money is the biggest help for our community. The FRC helps with referrals to places that will help their

clients with this, like the O-Hub. But it also refers its clients to places that people in community may not know about, like the Wellbeing Centre and Men’s Group. The FRC and O-Hub work together as a team, so they need more funding, not less. We need time to help our own community get back on its feet. We need a chance to solve things for ourselves. We lose this chance if we lose services like the FRC.

WALTER PAMTOONDA Aurukun community leader and O-Hub partner Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

Aurukun

If you can’t do things independently, then you can definitely find help at the O-Hub.

“

We would all be lost if the O-Hub was

resumes, and apply for things like Blue

taken away, and we would not know

Cards and bank accounts. If you can’t

what to do with our finances. We all want

do things independently, then you can

to be somewhere with our finances,

definitely find help at the O-Hub. The staff

and the O-Hub helps each person with

there are also very friendly people, and

this. It also helps us young people with

this community is grateful for having

finding jobs. They help us build our

them here.

WAYNEAD WOLMBY Aurukun O-Hub partner

Aurukun

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

“

Community has changed for the better, it (Welfare Reform) has encouraged people to change behaviours and improve their lifestyle. There has definitely been a shift in trust for the better towards Commissioners

but we still need to reach some community members. Parents, their children and the wider community need a connection like the FRC to seek the right help.

LORETTA SPRATT Mossman Gorge local FRC commissioner

“

The FRC have helped me with family problems, they referred me to counselling and MPower to help budget my money and use a computer. If FRC weren’t here

“ MOSSMAN GORGE

to help we would be back in the olden days where people were drinking in the streets, that was not a safe place for our kids.

FRC client Mossman Gorge

If FRC weren’t here to help we would be back in the olden days where people were drinking in the streets

HOPE VALE

COEN

AURUKUN

MOSSMAN GORGE

Aurukun Coen

Hope Vale

Aurukun

Mossman Gorge

Doomadgee