NEIRC wished to implement a Data Base to have all information in a central
location. Janet Layton in conjunction with Auslig received $13,925 from
Program Support a National program to implement the Data Base. With the
funds Ms Layton received she completed background research.
NEIRC encourages the new Council to implement the Data Base for the
following reasons:-
- assist with strategic planning for future allocation of funds.
- assist in identifying needs for housing, infrastructure, CDEP, business
development and land acquisition
- other social programs on a regional basis
State Advisory Committee (SAC)
Is a body that is made up of all NSW's Regional Managers, Regional Council Chairpersons, Commissioners and the State Manger. The function of SAC is to liaise, co-ordinate and advise on state and national programs and policies.
NEIRC experienced lack of communication between SAC and the Regional Councils and feels that SAC should not interfere or change Regional Council prioritising list and mandate given to Regional Council Chairperson or Commissioner or SAC is to be deleted.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
DEET/ATSIC Protocol
NEIRC have met with DEET on a few occasions to discuss issues regarding employment policies and programs and how they can work together to provide a better service to both their clients. No MOU was reached due to the complexity of each agency. NEIRC would encourage the new Council to arrange a MOU with DEET.
Housing
That the North Eastern Indigenous Regional Council request a review to be conducted into the policy area of ATSIC Home Loans to examine all criteria affecting: 1. Aboriginality 2. Eligibility 3. Loan amounts and income ceilings 4 Interest rates (Housing/renovation/extensions) 5. Repayment And other relevant policy areas.
Women's Issues
Objective:
Greater access to funding opportunities to promote the role of women within indigenous society and to assist in facilitating the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across Australian society. 1995/96 Funding $100,000.
Major Outcomes:
NAIDOC
1995/96 funding National $4,000 Regional Council $50,000 NEIRC has hoped that each major town would conduct NAIDOC celebrations annually and that NEIRC would support such initiative. In 1996 Lismore was support with a $7,000 NAIDOC grant to conduct a NAIDOC Ball, Family Fun Day and a week of celebrations and various activities.
Funding Process for other Applications: Advertise - call for application with a defined closing date distribute monies equally amongst applications.
Funds have been allocated to Bungree Aboriginal Association to act as a host organisation for distributing funds.
Sport and Recreation
Councillor Gordon Griffth who was the Chairperson of the Sport Portfolio for the NEIRC will present to the new Council a paper on the policies decided by the Portfolio group.
These policies were not endorsed by the full Council.
The paper will be presented at the first Regional Council meeting after the induction.
Also attached is a procedural paper prepared by the Lismore Regional
Office.
Administrative Procedures applying to Sport and Recreation Grants:
Each year NEIRC allocates a bulk amount for Regional Sport & Recreation grants. These funds are administered by Nungera Co-operative Society Ltd who act as a "banker" organisation. In 1996/97 NEIRC have allocated $70,000 to this program.
Sport & Recreation applications are received at this office and are co-ordinated by the Regional Council Support Unit (Elizabeth Griffiths). At regular intervals such applications are presented to either the full NEIRC or the NEIRC Sport and Recreation Portfolio Councillor for consideration. The deterrnining body then informs Nungera as to who has been allocated funds and Nungera in turn sends a cheque in that amount to the recipient.
This process led to uncertainty at various times in 95/96 with Nungera and NEIRC unsure as to the amount of funds available at any given time.
A problem that occurs in the acquittal process for Nungera is that the recipients of the funds from Nungera do not send any acknowledgment of expenditure of the funds or that the funds have been spent on the correct items.
In a bid to overcome these problems the following process is suggested.
This information can then be provided to the NEIRC at each meeting or upon this request. The spreadsheet will also provide a breakdown as to the project funded, eg teams/individuals, types of sport etc.
This allows Nungera to have an accounting process that follows ATSIC guidelines for acquittal.
The above process was endorsed by the Regional Manager, RCSU representative and the NEIRC.
NEIRC CDEP Forum
The NEIRC CDEP Forum is a body incorporating representatives from the nine operational CDEP's within the Region and the NEIRC CDEP Portfolio Councillors. Regular meetings of the Forum are held to discuss operational matters, policy and guidelines changes and other matters affecting the operation of CDEP's within the Region.
Since November 1995 the Forum has been discussing the possibility of the Forum becoming formally incorporated. Discussions took place over several meeting and the Forum decided against incorporating.
The working part consists of the following participants:
Cal Davis, Manager Forster LALC CDEP
Graham Purcell, Manager Nungera Co-op CDEP
Suzanne Riley, Manager Kempsey LALC CDEP
Bob Walford, Manager Daingatti AC CDEP
Terry Long, ATSIC Andrew Riley, ATSIC
Discussions amongst the working party members led to the conclusion that the ongoing management of CDEPs was critical to the ongoing operation and hopeful development of the schemes within the region.
The NEIRC have continued to support the 9 CDEP and have endorsed additional funding.
Group Training - Maclean
Under Labour Government Working Nation Initiative 20 community members from Maclean began apprenticeships in the building industry.
Initially there were 12 carpentry apprentices and 8 bricklaying apprentices. At present their are approximately 16 apprentices nearing the completion of their training.
This project which utilised Federal (DEETYA/TAP) funds and State Funding (via TAFE) to provide accelerated, competency based training, both on site and in the classroom.
The Nungera apprentices have constructed 4 Department of Housing homes and 5 TRIP homes (Yaegl LALC) at Maclean and have also constructed other Department of Housing homes at Grafton.
The apprentices are indentured to the Central Coast Group Training Company but are "hosted" out to "Nungera Constructions".
ACHIEVEMENTS OF NEIRC
(OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS)
Portfolio | Portfolio Members |
Social Justice;
Land Rights, Native Title, Law and Justice, Heritage Protection, Language Maintenance, Art and Culture, Reconciliation, and Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC). |
Councillors Des Williams, Manuai Ritchie and Raymond Kelly |
Economic Development;
Community Development Employment Program (CDEP), CEIS, Industrial Development, Employment/Training, BFS and CDC. |
Councillors Dean Jarrett, Jim Budd, Julie Russell and Andrew Hegedus. |
Health, Housing and Infrastructure;
Health and Substance Abuse, Housing Infrastructure, Sport and Recreation, Youth and Women's Issues. |
Councillors Steve Blunden, Tim Torrens, Betty Cohen and Gordon Griffiths. |
Strategic Development;
Annual Report, Strategic plan, Data Base, Community Planning, Protocol and Memorandum of Understanding. |
Councillors Jim Budd, Jim Wright, Betty Cohen, Des Williams, Andrew Hegedus and Steve Blunden. |