Regional Profile

The Many Rivers Regional Council (formally known as the North Eastern Indigenous Regional Council) extends from Tweed Heads in the north to the Hawkesbury River in the south, along the eastern seaboard of Northern New South Wales. Throughout the region there are 36 Aboriginal urban, rural and discrete communities which constitute approximately 20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The region has three (3) Aboriginal Medical Services. One (1) each at Grafton, Kempsey and Newcastle and three (3) medical outposts situated in the communities of Cabbage Tree Island, Baryulgil and Bellbrook. The region also has two (2) Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centres, these being Namatjira Haven at Alstonville near Lismore and Benelongs Haven at Kinchela near Kempsey.

The region hosts two universities, Southern Cross at Lismore and Coffs Harbour and Newcastle University at Newcastle. Participation rates, although approximate, show an increase in the levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation throughout the region and the three centres. Both universities offer a wide range of Aboriginal specific programs to cater for the educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. TAFE has also been active in the catering for the educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the region, with 33 TAFE campuses and a large percentage of enrolments over two TAFE regions for the 1996 academic year.

The CDEP is a major contributing factor and measure of employment and participation rates within the region. Currently, there are nine (9) functional CDEP's employing in excess of 900 people at the following communities:

1. Coraki

2. Cabbage Tree Island

3. Maclean, Yamba

4. Corindi, Grafton, Coffs Harbour

5. Macksville, Nambucca, Bowraville

6. Kempsey

7. Bellbrook

8. Forster

9. Newcastle

Each CDEP has a variety of employment opportunities ranging from market gardening to carpentry. The opportunities are generally skills based so that CDEP participants can gain 'real' and 'portable' skills which can be used outside of their own community.

With each CDEP comes the introduction of CDEP cells. This approach allows for communities outside of those indicated above to access CDEP opportunities. The Many Rivers region has a number of CDEP cells in operation. These cells undertake activities ranging from parks and garden maintenance to art and craft.

The Many Rivers Regional Council area takes in some of NSW most pristine coast line. The area is troubled by high unemployment rates due to the migration of those people who choose to live in this part of the State. Although unemployment rates for this region are high, opportunities do exist in the horticultural / permacultural and agricultural industries as well as the education, communication, eco tourism, environmental management, forestry (value adding) and mineral processing industries.

The region is supported by excellent transport facilities such as the Pacific Highway, airports in all major centres and ports both in the Lower Clarence and Newcastle.