CITY OF STIRLING



MINUTES
/ LOCATION / NAME PAGE


COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING
13 MAY 1997

ITEM SUBJECT: / LOCATION / NAME PAGE

* - Indicates Separate Attachments submitted with Agenda.

# - Item requiring special Council attention .

MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE HELD IN THE TRAINING ROOM, CIVIC PLACE, STIRLING ON TUESDAY 13 MAY 1997 AT 3.01PM

Present:

Chairman

Councillor J Copley JP

 

Mayor

Councillor D C Vallelonga JP

 

Councillors

V A Cooke, E Martin, A A Spagnolo JP, W M Stewart

 

Observers

T W Clarey (from 3.29pm), B R Ham, R M Willox

 

Staff

Chief Executive Officer - M J Wadsworth, Executive Manager Finance and Corporate Services - R A Constantine (from 3.02pm), Executive Manager Community Development - J Glover, Manager Community Services - P Olver, Manager Leisure Services - F Strutt, Administration Officer - S Abbott

 

Public

7

 

Press

Nil.

APOLOGIES

Councillor R J Daniel (granted leave of absence)
Councillor T J Tyzack

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

The Chief Executive Officer opened the meeting and called for nominations for the position of Chairman. Councillor Vallelonga nominated Councillor Copley, this was seconded by Councillor Stewart. As there were no further nominations, Councillor Copley was elected as Chairman.


DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INTEREST

Nil.


MINUTES

Moved Councillor Spagnolo, seconded Councillor Stewart

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

That the Minutes of the Meeting of 8 April 1997 to be confirmed, and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record of proceedings.

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.


ITEMS IN COMMITTEE

Nil.

ABORIGINAL CROSS CULTURAL INFORMATION SHARING DAY REPORT

Mr Walter Eatts addressed the Committee on Item CS1.

ITEM: CS1

FILE: SP8.6.0.2

      

SUBJECT

ABORIGINAL CROSS CULTURAL INFORMATION SHARING DAY REPORT

REPORT

Executive Manager Community Development - 5 May 1997

Moved Councillor Cooke, seconded Councillor Spagnolo that

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

1. That the report dated 18 April 1997 from the Executive Manager Community Development on the Aboriginal Cross Cultural Information Sharing Day be received.

2 That Council establish an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.

RECOMMENDATION TO COMMITTEE

1. That the report dated 18 April 1997 from the Executive Manager Community Development on the Aboriginal Cross Cultural Information Sharing Day be received.

2 That Council establish an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council

REPORT PURPOSE

To advise Council of the outcome of the Aboriginal Cross Cultural Information Sharing Day.

 

BACKGROUND

The Aboriginal Cross Cultural Information Sharing Day was held on 10 April 1997.

As endorsed by Council on 18 March 1997, Item CS2, the forum was organised to meet face to face with members of the Aboriginal community, key organisations and City of Stirling staff who have a role to play in building up a community responsive to Aboriginal concerns. The Mayor and Chief Executive Officer each provided opening remarks to the forum.

One of the City's future directions is in further developing mechanisms for community consultation. Such a process will identify community concerns with a clear strategic plan for addressing these. This plan will identify the key players, be it government or non government, in bringing about desired change.

The forum was seen as a starting point towards better communication to ensure services and facilities are meeting the needs of Aborigines and promote the well being of Aboriginal people.

Accordingly the programme provided information on the Community Services, Leisure, Libraries Arts and Culture, Planning and the Health Departments. The programme also presented opportunities for all participants to discuss and identify issues facing Aboriginal people in accessing the services the City provides.

The day was productive with all attendees agreeing that positive outcomes were achieved. Mr Wally Eatts was nominated by Aboriginal representatives on the day to represent the group at the next Community Services Committee Meeting on 13 May 1997 when this report will be tabled. He will be available to speak on the day's outcomes from the perspective of the participants.

ITEM: CS1(Continued)

Main Themes

1. Aboriginal people are seeking effective and efficient channels of communication with the City of Stirling. An environment which fosters open communication and responsiveness to the consultative process should be seen as a goal for all groups involved. Aboriginal people want to be heard, they have information and expertise within their communities and want to contribute to the process of building up a community responsive to Aboriginal concerns.

2. Within the 3 tiers of government, Local Government is the closest to the people and the most effective in providing localised services and support to the community.

3. There was unanimous support given for the establishment of an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council.

4. Comments were expressed by participants that the Aboriginal community requires a facility in the Northern Region to be utilised as a Resource Centre for all Aborigines. The functions of such a facility would provide a centralised identity for services, support and information to the Aboriginal community.

5. Acknowledgment was given by the participants that the Aboriginal Elders of the region play an important role in consultation and future direction.

6. Promotions - The City of Stirling needs to advertise and promote its existing services for the community.

7. Comment was made that Aboriginal employees should have been invited to the Aboriginal Cross Cultural Information Sharing Day and that there were no Aboriginal presenters at the forum.

WORKSHOP COMMENTS

Communication/Consultation Issues

1. The City of Stirling needs to raise its profile to all constituents by promoting services available and identifying channels of communication.

2. Comments were expressed that there is a requirement for greater communication and effective consultation to identify the needs of the Aboriginal community. Successful avenues could be:
- person to person consultation;
- look at ways of making better use of verbal communication networks when consulting with Aboriginal people;
- increase the liaison between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal support groups, eg. Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Health Department.

3. A call for a "better" understanding of the Aboriginal people in relation to the land. The forum suggested that the City of Stirling invite the Aboriginal Elders of the region who have the historical knowledge to inform people and to place on record the Aboriginal history of the area.

4. A request that in three weeks a meeting of a reference group comprising of key Aboriginal community representatives be held to further discuss the establishment of an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council.

5. National Aborigines and Islander Day Observants Committee (NAIDOC) week was identified as an opportunity to inform the wider community of these developments.

ITEM: CS1 (Continued)

Suggested Strategies

1. The appointment of a marketing manager was seen as a positive move.

2. Form and foster partnerships between the City of Stirling and the Aboriginal community.

3. Establish effective methods to document and promote the Aboriginal culture.

4. Keep services localised.

5. Achieve a visible profile of Aboriginal workers, especially in the Health, Immunisation and Community Services arena.

6. Strengthen the working relationship with established groups and build on their successful models.

7. Implement Aboriginal Cross Cultural training for staff and Councillors.

8. Involve the Aboriginal community in City of Stirling cultural events. Currently there is no participation from the Aboriginal community in these events.

Facilities/Activities/Services

1. That Council give consideration to a joint venture in the establishment of a facility to function as an Aboriginal Resource Centre in the northern suburbs.

2. The City of Stirling Library facilities were seen as a venue where Aboriginal children could access information on the history and culture of Aboriginal people. Programs presented by Aboriginal people in a welcoming environment was seen as important. It was acknowledged that information was already available in the library.

3. Transport to facilities was identified as an issue.

4. Need for Leisure Drop-In Centres.

5. Opportunities for their own sporting activities. Examples given of existing successful events:
- Annual cricket event;
- Football match, North versus South.

Future initiatives could include a basketball competition at Herb Graham.

6. Co-operative programs with schools - This point focused on the use of school facilities in out of school hours. Acknowledgment was given that security is an issue. However the forum felt that solutions could be found.

Identification of individual/group responsible for care of equipment. City of Stirling may have a facilitating role in pursuing discussions with the Education Department.

7. Need to overcome the problems of first time access to facilities to reduce the initial fears.

8. Homeswest Housing - acknowledgment from forum that there are still difficulties with Aboriginal people securing public housing. City of Stirling, within their statutory role, may provide a facilitation role.

9. Parenting groups for young Aboriginal parents - a need was identified for such a service to be provided by an Aboriginal presenter.

10. Keep services local.

ITEM: CS1 (Continued)

Employment

1. The forum acknowledged that a higher profile of Aborigines involved in the workforce and work experience would serve as positive role models to the youth and inspire them to achieve.

2. Comments were made that opportunities exist for the City of Stirling to be responsive to Aboriginal people seeking work experience in the services such as Libraries, reception, office and Community Services Department.

3. Look at ways of recruiting Aboriginal volunteers.

4 A request that a position known as Aboriginal Liaison Officer be established with the role of informing Aboriginal people on services available within their own cultural referencing.

The forum made comment that in view of the Tim Muirhead report and the recommendations concerning youth from a non-English speaking background they would like to see the City of Stirling address similar issues with the relevant groups from those communities.

Recommendations from the staff organisers who attended are:

1. That an Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council be established.

2. Once the Aboriginal Committee to Council has been established some of the main issues to be raised for discussion should be:
- Aboriginal youth issues;
- Workforce issues.
- Appointment of an Aboriginal Liaison Officer.

3. That in the future development of services or review of services, departments use the issues raised as a working reference to ensure services are responsive to the Aboriginal community.

4. The staff support the request that the City of Stirling continue to address issues raised in the Tim Muirhead Report.