Launch of the second Six Monthly Report

5 October 2010

Today the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, launched my second Six Monthly Report.

Like the first report, this report is the product of a highly collaborative process with many Australian, State and Territory government agencies, local governments, service providers and communities contributing. While the first report focused on communities, this one provides a more detailed assessment of the partnership with government and its accountability. The report again profiles the services and investments in the priority communities through expanded and updated comparative services and the Closing the Gap investments tables.

The report also specifically addresses the following:

• best practice examples from a selection of the communities;
• follow up on progress since the last report;
• assessment of the process of developing the Local Implementation Plans;
• ways forward to capitalise on the vast work done, including turning the Local Implementation Plans into results;
• key recommendations to assist progress in the priority communities.

The Local Implementation Plans are a key part of the Remote Service Delivery architecture and with most of them in place we now have a solid platform to see issues being addressed that are meaningful for communities and productive for Government.  We have, without a doubt, reached an early milestone to start seeing significant changes taking place.

While I have highlighted throughout the report areas that require improvement, there is an overwhelming message that the change process is heading in the right direction.  The ground work has been laid and some great achievements are emerging already including:

• integrated early childhood services through Children and Family Centres have been earmarked for 10 communities;
• twenty-four communities will receive a total of 512 computers of which 402 computers had been installed by the end of June 2010; and
• most Local Implementation Plans incorporate comprehensive community safety plans.

The considerable effort that has been put into the development of the Local Implementation Plans is noteworthy and reflects a positive effort to build stronger relationships and a true partnership with communities. The challenge facing all those involved in the partnership is to ensure that the Plans provide a platform for a coordinated and focused effort on implementation, the harmonisation of capacities/investment to drive quick results, the empowerment of communities to ensure sustainable outcomes and the sharing of experiences to learn from as we walk together.   

The next report will provide much more information at the community level, including tracking progress in improving the wellbeing of those living in the 29 priority communities.  

Brian Gleeson
Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services