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$2 million funding for men in remote communities
supplied by Office of Member for Cook 19 February 2014
M
en’s support services in Far North Queensland Indigenous communities are set to receive a much needed boost thanks to a new $2 million State Government funding initiative. David Kempton, Member for Cook, said applications were now open for the new funding which would deliver support services to help tackle health and wellbeing issues, including reducing alcoholrelated harm in the Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah communities. “The Newman Government understands the rates of assaults and domestic and family violence are well above the state average in our Indigenous communities,” Mr Kempton said. “Alcohol can be one of the primary causes of much of this violence and often there are no alternate services available like the ones you find in major cities.” Mr Kempton said the services would provide face-to-face counselling to help people improve personal relationships, build emotional resilience and selfreliance. “The men’s support services
David Kempton, Member for Cook (far right) and Min for National Parks Steven Dickson with traditional owners in Cooktown at the hand over of title deeds to the 354,800 hectare area in Cape York late last year. Image: Newsport Daily
will also provide case management along with information, advice and referral for better health,” he said. “Cultural identity is very important to Indigenous wellbeing, so fostering cultural identity and links to cultural community will be a key part of this initiative.” Mr Kempton said the initiative was a new approach to addressing the health and alcohol-related issues impacting Indigenous families. “Through initiatives like this, the Newman Government is revitalising frontline services for families as promised at the election,
and helping to improve safety in Indigenous communities,” he said. “This funding will assist those men requiring support, address the underlying issues that cause them to abuse alcohol and in the long-term, help cut the rate of harm in some of our most remote communities.” Non-government organisations are encouraged to apply for a share of the funding and for more information www.communities.qld. gov.au. Applications close on 10 March, 2014.
National NAIDOC Poster Competition and nominations for the National NAIDOC Awards are now open. Forms are available online at www.naidoc.org.au or at your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre. Poster competition entries close Friday 28 March. Award nominations close Wednesday 23 April.
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