Six Monthly Reports

• Six Monthly Report November 2009
  • Welcome Letter
  • Report Info
  • Table of Contents
  • Highlights
  • Introduction
  • Community Specific Information
  • Comparative Services Table
  • NSW Information
  • NT Information
  • QLD Information
  • South Australia Information
  • WA Information
  • Progress - Closing the Gap
  • Governance and Capacity Gap
  • Establishment
  • Appendix One
  • Appendix two
  • Appendix three
• Six Monthly Report August 2010
• Six Monthly Report March 2011
• Six Monthly Report September 2011
• Six Monthly Report March 2012
• Six Monthly Report September 2012
• Six Monthly Report March 2013
• Status of Recommendations
• Status of Community Issues

Progress against Closing the Gap in the 29 Remote Service Delivery locations

One of my responsibilities is to monitor progress against the 'Closing the Gap' in the 29 Remote Service Delivery communities. Significant new investments will be implemented using National Partnerships which have been agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). National Partnerships have been agreed in the areas of early childhood, housing, health and schooling and will provide critical additional resources to the 29 locations, complementing work undertaken as part of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery.

This section seeks to collect and summarise details of existing and planned investments in the 29 priority communities, under each of the COAG Closing the Gap “Building Blocks”.

As I have previously noted, the COAG agreed timing of investments into, and for the benefit of priority communities need to be weighed against the expectations of Indigenous Australians who have been told to expect a new approach to remote service delivery by governments. While progress is broadly on track, people are impatient to see tangible changes in their communities.

In responding to my request for details of tangible progress on National Partnerships, Commonwealth agencies, who are the lead agencies for the National Partnerships, have sought to assure me that consultation and implementation planning is progressing well. Their explanation for being unable to detail the value of investments or local strategies in some instances is that State and Territory Governments hold this information. Further, the nature of the new COAG agreements is such that Commonwealth agencies now have limited ability to access this data. As a result I have sought more detailed information on progress under the National Partnerships from State and Territory Governments. This request has produced some additional information in all jurisdictions in the area of early childhood and education but not in health.

While I understand and support COAG's focus on outcomes, I struggle with the concept that data relating to a joint investment in communities cannot be made available on an ongoing basis. This issue needs to be addressed to ensure that communities can be better informed of the size and nature of additional measures in their region and that the roll out of this investment can be properly tracked.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
	Indigenous Early Childhood Development			Early Childhood Education
Location	CFC	Ante-natal care, pre-pregnancy and teenage sexual health	Mothers and Babies services	Pre-school
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION LESS THAN 250 PEOPLE
Ardyaloon		*		2013
Beagle Bay		*		2013
Coen		*	2010	2013
Mossman Gorge		*	2010	2013
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION 250 - 750
Amata		*		2013
Fitzroy Crossing	2011	*		2013
Lajamanu		*		2013
Mimili		*		2013
Numbulwar		*		2013
Umbakumba		*		2013
Wilcannia		*		2013
Yuendumu	2011	*	2010	2013
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION 750 - 1249
Angurugu		*		2013
Aurukun		*	2010	2013
Doomadgee	2012	*	2010	2013
Gapuwiyak		*		2013
Gunbalanya	2011	*		2013
Halls Creek	2011	*	2010	2013
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)		*		2013
Hope Vale		*	2010	2013
Milingimbi		*		2013
Mornington Island	2012	*	2010	2013
Ngukurr	2011	*		2013
Walgett †	2012	*		2013
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION OVER 1250
Galiwin'ku		*		2013
Maningrida	2011	*		2013
Nguiu		*		2013
Wadeye	2010	*		2013
Yirrkala		*		2013

† This facility is not part of the National Partnership. * Information not yet available.

ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION	HEALTHY HOMES
Indigenous Economic Participation	Remote Indigenous Housing Program		Nation Building Social Housing
Jobs filled	New houses	Refurbishments	New houses
4	1
0	10	5
18		4
18		10
1	19	29
17	3	19	2
35.6
7	18	26
15
3	6	30
5	2
35
4	18	31
11	15	83
2	22	70
19
40	31	30
41	19	25	7
31.2
15	4	63
13.5
13	11	49
37
1	2	29
30	36	60
62	36	28
49.5	43	56
76	31	40
29

 

	SCHOOLING
	Low SES Schools	Building the Education Revolution			Digital Education Revolution	Trade Training Centres in Schools
Location		National School Pride	Primary Schools for the 21st century	Science and Language Centres	Secondary school computer fund (no. of computers)
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION LESS THAN 250 PEOPLE
Ardyaloon	2010	2010	2011
Beagle Bay	2010	2009	2010
Coen		2010	2010
Mossman Gorge		2010	2011
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION 250 - 750
Amata	2012	2009	2010		10
Fitzroy Crossing	2010	2010	2011		25
Lajamanu	2010	2009	2011
Mimili	2012	2009	2010
Numbulwar	2010	2009	2010			2011
Umbakumba	2010	2009	2010
Wilcannia	2010	2010	2010		3	2011
Yuendumu	2010	2009	2010		6
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION 750 - 1249
Angurugu	2010	2010	2011
Aurukun	2010	2009	2011
Doomadgee	2010	2009	2011		13	2011
Gapuwiyak	2010	2010	2010	2010
Gunbalanya	2010	2010	2010	2010
Halls Creek	2010	2010	2011		43
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)	2011	2010	2011
Hope Vale	2010	2009	2010
Milingimbi	2010	2010	2011	2010
Mornington Island	2010	2009	2011		5	2011
Ngukurr	2011	2009	2011		16	2011
Walgett	2010	2009	2010		37
COMMUNITIES OF POPULATION OVER 1250
Galiwin'ku	2010	2010	2010	2010	41
Maningrida	2010	2009	2010	2010
Nguiu	2010	2009	2011			2011
Wadeye	2010	2010	2010	2010		2010
Yirrkala	2010	2010	2010		26

 

SCHOOLING		HEALTH
Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory (National Partnership)
Additional teachers	Additional classrooms	Additional teacher houses	Ear, Nose and Throat 08–09 | 09–10		Audiology   08–09*	Dental folow up 08–09 | 09–10		Mobile Outreach Service 08–09 | 09–10		Expanding Health Service Delivery
3
2
2
1.5	2
2	1
3.9	2
6	1
3.7	2
7.8
6	1
3	1
3	4
3.4

* From 2009 –10 Audiology services will be provided through the Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative.

Early childhood

Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Implementation progress summary

Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership signed	July 2009
Total value of the National Partnership	$564.6 million over six years
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes.

There are three elements of the National Partnership which are explained briefly below. Investments planned for the 29 priority communities are detailed where known.

Element 1 - Children and Family Centres

Children and Family Centres (CFCs) will provide integrated early childhood services, including, early learning, child care and parent and family support as well as connecting to other relevant services for Indigenous children. The Centres will target the needs of Indigenous families and their young children, but all families will be able to use the Centres. The following table describes the current status of implementation of the CFCs in the 29 priority locations. CFCs have been earmarked for 10 of the 29 priority communities.

The budgets for individual services cannot be confirmed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at this time and are subject to further community consultation.

Location	Timeframes
Wadeye	Construction has commenced. Due for completion March 2010. Note that this facility is not part of the National Partnership, however represents new investment in a children's service centre.
Halls Creek	Construction is expected to be completed by December 2010. The CFC is expected to become operational in February 2011.
Yuendumu	Construction is expected to commence in 2010–11. The CFC is expected to be operational in early 2011.
Fitzroy Crossing	Construction is expected to be completed by May 2011. The CFC is expected to be operational in May 2011.
Gunbalanya	Construction is expected to commence in 2010–11. The CFC is expected to be operational in mid 2011.
Maningrida	Construction is expected to commence in 2010–11. The CFC is expected to be operational in late 2011.
Ngukurr	Construction is expected to commence in 2010–11. The CFC is expected to be operational in late 2011.
Doomadgee	The CFC is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2012.
Mornington Island	The CFC is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2012.
Lightning Ridge (Walgett LGA)	The CFC is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2012.

Element 2 – Increase access to antenatal care, pre-pregnancy and teenage sexual reproductive health

Under this element of the National Partnership the Commonwealth has agreed to provide $107 million over five years in payments to State and Territory governments to increase access to antenatal care, pre-pregnancy and teenage sexual and reproductive health. The Department of Health and Ageing has reported that under the terms of the National Partnership, the first financial year is an establishment year. $7.5 million has been transferred to State and Territory Governments in facilitation payments to commence implementing their activities.

The determination of locations for investment under the National Partnership is the responsibility of State and Territory Governments. So while the Commonwealth can suggest that additional resources are allocated to the 29 priority communities, they cannot compel other jurisdictions to do so under the terms of the National Partnership.

I will be closely monitoring the progress of this element and report on Commonwealth efforts to encourage the prioritisation of funds to the 29 locations. I will also report on State and Territory efforts to direct new investments under this element to these communities.

Element 3 - Increase access to child and maternal health care

Element 3 comprises both Commonwealth own purpose funding and complementary investment by State and Territory Governments for mothers and babies services. The combined investment by States and Territories under this element is $75 million over five years. Commonwealth own purpose funding totals $90.3 million over five years and is directed through the New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services program which has been funding service delivery since the 2007 – 08 financial year.

As at 11 November 2009, 48 New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services have been approved for funding. Of these, 30 are operational and providing services to communities. The remaining 18 services are in an establishment phase or negotiating funding agreements. It is expected they will be operational in the first quarter of the 2010-11 financial year.

Four organisations approved for funding have advised that they intend to deliver services in eight of the 29 remote service delivery regions. The following table shows the project location, primary and secondary locations where outreach services will be provided and the funding that has been agreed to date.

Location	Secondary location	2008/09 Funding	2009/10 Funding
Yuendumu	Willowra, Nyirripi	$ 85,234	$ 209,171
Cairns	Coen, Hope Vale, Aurukun, Mossman Gorge, Laura, Mapoon, Wujail Wujal	$ 839,019	$ 1,025,297
Mt Isa	Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Burketown, Uradangie, Normanton	$ 408,687	$ 409,200
Halls Creek	Ringer Soak, Koongi Park, Lamboo Village, Redhill, Nicholson Block, Mardiwah Loop	$ 253,570	$ 409,200

The total funding allocated to these organisations to date is $3,639,378.

The Department of Health and Ageing is currently negotiating further services within identified remote service delivery regions, with confirmation by the end of 2009.

Early Childhood Education National Partnership Agreement Implementation progress summary

The National Partnership on Early Childhood Education commits the Australian Government and the States and Territories to work together to ensure that by 2013 all Australian children, including those in remote communities, will have access to early childhood education in the year prior to formal schooling.
Early Childhood Education National Partnership signed		December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership		$970 million over five years to 2012-13
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?		By the end of 2009 $116 million will have been allocated

The Commonwealth Government has committed $970 million over the five years to 2012–2013, including $955 million to States and Territories to support universal access and $15 million for data development and evaluation.

This commitment is underpinned by bilateral agreements which include strategies to increase preschool participation by increasing the number of hours available to 15 per week, increase the number of teachers delivering programs that are early childhood qualified and four year trained, and reducing the cost where it is a barrier to participation.

Under this National Partnership pre-schools will be funded in all 29 priority communities. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has indicated that as the new Federal Financial Relations arrangements are focussed on jurisdiction-wide outcomes and there is significant State/ Territory funding already committed to the provision of pre-school/ kindergarten services. The National Partnership does not require jurisdictions to track Commonwealth funding separately to State/ Territory funding. Under the National Partnership the States and Territories have developed strategies to implement universal access to pre-school including for Indigenous children, especially in remote communities. State and Territory Governments do not report detailed input costs to the Commonwealth.

All states and territories have a small number of targeted strategies aimed at increasing preschool participation by Indigenous children. Examples of the main strategies include:

• providing significant additional funding to community preschools in New South Wales;
• providing up to 12 mobile and 6 outreach services in Queensland over four years to meet the needs of Indigenous children in rural and regional areas where centre based delivery is not viable;
• maintaining existing Aboriginal Kindergartens in remote locations in Western Australia;
• providing 15 hours of preschool education in South Australia to assist in increasing attendance rates for Indigenous children; and
• a Northern Territory wide plan with costed models of delivery for preschool children in small remote communities to improve access to participation and attendance in preschool programs.

Key issues

While progress in this area is in accordance with COAG agreed timelines, it is nonetheless slow for communities who have been informed of the renewed interest in remote Australia and the size of COAG investments. The Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership was approved by Commonwealth, State and Territory leaders on 2 October 2008 and came into effect on 1 January 2009. Elements 2 and 3 of the National Partnership came into effect on 1 July 2009. The other National Partnerships were not agreed until 29 November 2008.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations points out that in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia the opening dates of a number of Child and Family Centres have been accelerated. This is welcome, but it remains the case that of those new centres which will be constructed in priority locations, a majority will not be operational until the middle of 2011 or later. While acknowledging that funding for these initiatives is finite, there is a clear case for further acceleration of the roll out of these services if we are to make an impact on Year 12 attainment rates over the medium term.

In cities and regional centres there are active efforts to co-locate and better coordinate early childhood services. Co-location can contribute to better integration of education and care and can assist with the identification of developmental and health issues within a mainstream, non-judgmental setting. In the remote context there may be additional benefits from consolidating scarce resources and the creation of safe, educationally focused precincts.

There are instances in the early childhood area where it appears that sufficient consideration is not being given to how new capital projects and services are best aligned:

• a new classroom with an early childhood focus was progressing towards construction in one remote priority community without allowance being made in the plans for the possibility of co-location with COAG investments or future upgrades to early childhood facilities. Intervention by a Government Business Manager has helped to ensure the plans provide for a second stage build that will provide the option of co-locating the local créche with this new facility; and
• both Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments provide recurrent funding for playgroups and other family supports, but there appears to be little consideration given to whether these services, particularly the professionals engaged, might be co-located within a single early childhood facility or precinct.

Given engagement by Government Business Managers and Regional Operations Centres has commenced with communities to develop implementation plans in each of the Remote Service Delivery communities, there is an urgent need for Commonwealth, State and Territory education experts to partner these officers to ensure additional early childhood investments are delivered in a coordinated fashion, consistent with the best evidence of what works.

As highlighted in the following story, a well run early childhood centre can play a significant role in a community.

 

Schooling

Smarter Schools National Partnerships

On 29 November 2008 COAG agreed to implement a package of reforms aimed at ensuring that all Australian school students acquire the knowledge and skills to participate effectively in society and employment in a globalised economy. Over the period 2009 to 2012, the Commonwealth has committed to provide an estimated $47.4 billion in schools funding for government and non-government schools to support the national agenda for school reform.

Under new funding arrangements agreed by COAG, the National Education Agreement will provide an estimated $23.2 billion to the States and Territories for government schools over 2008-09 to 2012-13, which includes funding for National Partnerships and Indigenous education programs. This also includes an estimated additional $635 million that will align the historical differences between primary and secondary rates for recurrent funding for students attending government schools. This additional funding for primary schools amounts to around $100 per student and acknowledges the importance of the early years of schooling in students' future educational success. However, this is at the discretion of States and Territory governments.

The new funding framework agreed by COAG provides greater flexibility for States and Territories to allocate Commonwealth funding to areas which they believe will produce the best outcomes for students. The new framework reduces Commonwealth prescriptions on service delivery by the States and Territories, in conjunction with outlining clearer roles and responsibilities and implementing outcomes-based public accountability. State and Territory Governments are responsible for ensuring that schools, including primary schools, are appropriately resourced to achieve the mutually-agreed objectives and performance benchmarks
of the National Education Agreement.

Low Socio-economic Status School Communities National Partnership Implementation progress summary

This agreement supports reforms to address the complex challenges facing students in disadvantaged communities.
National Partnership signed	November 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$1.5 billion over seven years
Is money available to jurisdictions in the 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. The Commonwealth made the first facilitation payments to States and Territories in June/July 2009. A final list of State and Territory schools participating in this National Partnership will be available by the end of 2009.

Smarter Schools – Improving Teacher Quality National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The focus of this agreement is on improving teacher quality.
National Partnership signed	November 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$550 million over five years
Is money available to jurisdictions in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. The Commonwealth made the first facilitation payments to States and Territories in June/July 2009. This National Partnership does not identify individual participating schools as it targets all teachers with an emphasis on strategies to attract, train, place, develop and retain quality teachers and leaders.

Smarter Schools – Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership Implementation progress summary

This agreement focuses on teaching, leadership and the effective use of student performance information to deliver sustained improvement in literacy and numeracy.
National Partnership signed	November 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$540 million over four years
Is money available to jurisdictions in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. The Commonwealth made the first facilitation payments to States and Territories in June/July 2009. A list of state and territory schools participating in this partnership will be finalised by the end of 2009.

The three Smarter Schools National Partnerships preliminary implementation plans were agreed in June 2009. Final implementation plans are expected to be agreed by the end of 2009.

The list of schools participating under the Smarter Schools National Partnership (Low Socio-Economic Status and Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership Agreements) is currently being finalised. Selection of schools and the allocation of funding are the responsibility of State and Territory Governments in partnership with schooling authorities. The following summary table provides an indication of how priority communities are benefiting under the Low Socio-economic Status Schools National Partnership based on data available at 18 November 2009. This material has been provided by State and Territory Governments. Funding allocations are not available at this time.

Priority Community Schools scheduled to benefit under the Low Socio-economic Status School Communities National Partnership

Northern Territory
Angurugu	Angurugu School
Galiwin'ku	Shepherdson College
Gapuwiyak	Gapuwiyak School
Gunbalanya	Gunbalanya School
Hermannsburg	Ntaria School
Lajamanu	Lajamanu School
Maningrida	Maningrida School
Millingimbi	Millingimbi School
Nguiu	Xavier CEC, Murrupurtyanuwu Catholic School
Ngukurr	Ngukurr School
Numbulwar	Numbulwar School
Umbakumba	Umbakumba School
Wadeye	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr
Yirrkala	Yirrkala School (Yamburpa)
Yuendumu	Yuendumu School
Queensland
Aurukun	Western Cape College will receive assistance under the Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership
Coen	Not targeted at this stage
Doomadgee	Doomadgee State School
Hope Vale	Hope Vale State School
Mornington Island	Mornington Island State School
Mossman Gorge	Not targeted at this stage
South Australia
Amata	Amata Anangu School
Mimili	Mimili Anangu School
Western Australia
Ardyaloon	One Arm Point School
Beagle Bay	Sacred Heart School
Fitzroy Crossing	Fitzroy Crossing District High School
Halls Creek	Halls Creek District High School
New South Wales
Walgett	Walgett Community College St Joseph's School
Wilcannia	Wilcannia Central School St Therese's Community School

On 6 November 2009, Australia's Education Ministers agreed on a draft Indigenous Education Action Plan that will be released for further consultation. The Action Plan is to guide the national effort towards closing the gaps in early childhood and school education outcomes for Indigenous Australians. It will include a range of actions to bring about both systemic and local-level improvements across six domains of activity that evidence has shown will make the most impact on closing the gap. They are:

• readiness for school;
• engagement and connections;
• attendance;
• leadership, quality teaching and workforce development;
• literacy and numeracy; and
• pathways to post-school options.

Youth Attainment and Transitions National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The focus of this agreement is on young people attaining Year 12 or Certificate II or above and transitioning to further education, training or employment.
National Partnership signed	July 2009
Total value of the National Partnership	$723 million over five years
Is money available to jurisdictions in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. $13.3 million

Building the Education Revolution Implementation progress summary

As part of the Commonwealth Government's economic stimulus package, $16.2 billion is being invested over two years in three capital programs targeted at multipurpose halls, libraries and classrooms in all primary schools, general maintenance and repairs in all schools and science and language training facilities in selected secondary schools.
National Partnership signed	December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$16.2 billion
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes

Under the three elements of the Building the Education Revolution almost all communities have received additional investment in educational infrastructure.

Building the Education Revolution Element	Number of communities benefitting
National School Pride	All communities ($4.9 million),
Primary Schools for the 21st Century	All communities ($67.9 million)
Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools	Galiwin'ku, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Wadeye ($11.6 million)

Mossman Gorge

The nearest education facilities to Mossman Gorge are found in Mossman, less than two kilometres away. Under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) $3.3 million in total has been committed to Mossman State School, Mossman State High School and St Augustine's School.

Secondary School Computer Fund

The Australian Government is investing over $2.2 billion in the Digital Education Revolution to improve access to world class information for Australian school students. A key element of this investment is over $2.1 billion for the National Secondary School Computer Fund (the Fund), which will assist schools to provide new information and communications technology for secondary students in years 9–12. The overall aim of the Fund is to achieve a 1:1 computer to student ratio for students in years 9–12 in Australian secondary schools by 2011.

Eleven communities have benefitted from the Fund. These schools have received a total of 225 computers, of which 43 are installed.

Communities which have received funding to date	Number of computers (Total $0.2m)	Number of computers installed
Amata	10
Doomadgee	13
Fitzroy Crossing	25	9
Galiwin'ku	41
Halls Creek	43	6
Mornington Island	5
Ngukurr	16
Walgett	37	19
Wilcannia	3	3
Yirrkala	26
Yuendumu	6	6

* Installation of computers as at 23 November 2009

Trade Training Centres in Schools Program

Seven priority communities have benefitted from five funded projects under the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program.

Approved projects	Project, project costs and progress
Mornington Island and Doomadgee	Mornington Island State School and Doomadgee State School received funding as part of a cluster project with Spinifex State College ($4.5 million). To be completed in 2010.
Wilcannia	Wilcannia Central School received funding as part of a cluster application with Broken Hill High School, Ivanhoe Central School, Menindee Central School and Willyama Central School ($5.6 million). To be completed in 2010.
Wadeye	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic School received funding to construct an automotive workshop and refurbish a wood and metal work and hospitality classrooms ($1.5 million). To be completed in 2010.
Ngukurr and Numbulwar	Ngukurr and Numbulwar Schools have been approved for funding as part of a cluster project to build a facility at Ngukurr School ($3.9 million). To be completed in 2010.
Nguiu	Xavier Community Education Centre was approved for funding to refurbish a facility to deliver Hospitality, Building and Construction, Graphic Art and Printing, Rural Operations and Horticulture training ($1.5 million). To be completed in 2010.

Based on existing Ten Year Plans for the Program, locations for future Trade Training Centre projects already include 13 of the remaining 21 priority locations (including 10 priority locations in the Northern Territory; both priority locations in South Australia and the remaining location in New South Wales). The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is considering how best to encourage and support schools in these locations to access the Program including looking at Program Guidelines to focus support in these communities.

Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory

Under the Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership between the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory Government, fourteen of the fifteen priority communities have received additional teachers and/or classrooms to boost their capacity.

Extra teachers

Total funding of $98.8 million over five years from 2008-09 was provided to employ an additional 200 teachers in the Northern Territory. 47.3 teacher positions have been funded to date in 13 of the 15 priority communities in the Northern Territory. A total of 85 government positions have been funded in total to date. It is expected that the remaining positions will be rolled out as school attendance increases and in line with the funding profile of the measure including to the 15 priority communities.

Additional teacher housing

Total funding of $18.2 million has been committed by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments to construct up to 50 new homes in remote communities. Ten priority communities will benefit from this initiative, with an expected completion date of 30 June 2010.

Classrooms

Total funding of $10.3 million over 2 years from 2007– 08 has been committed for the construction of 26 classrooms in Northern Territory schools. Fourteen classrooms in eight priority communities are scheduled for completion by October 2010 under this initiative.

Priority community	Additional teachers	Additional classrooms	Additional teacher houses
Angurugu	2 teachers in place
Galiwin'ku	7.8 teachers in place		Yes
Gapuwiyak	1.5 teachers in place	2 classrooms. Target: completion July 2010
Gunbalanya	2 teachers in place	1 classroom. Target: completion July 2010	Yes
Hermannsburg	3.9 teachers in place	2 classrooms. Target: completion March 2010	Yes
Lajamanu	3 teachers in place
Maningrida	6 teachers in place	1 classroom. Target: contract let Jan 2010. Completion Oct 2010	Yes
Millingimbi	6 teachers in place	1 classroom. Target: completion Aug 2010
Nguiu	3 teachers in place	1 classroom
Ngukurr	3.7 teachers	2 classrooms Target: completion Dec 2009	Yes
Numbulwar	Nil teachers
Umbakumba	2 teachers in place		Yes
Wadeye	3 teachers in place	4 classrooms*
Yirrkala	3.4 teachers		Yes
Yuendumu	Nil teachers		Yes

* No completion dates are available for non-government schools

Funding is also available in the Northern Territory under the Quality Teaching Package and Accelerating Literacy measures for all 15 priority communities. The Quality Teaching Package is a professional development framework focused on upskilling local Indigenous staff who are more likely to stay long term in communities. Accelerating Literacy is designed to support Northern Territory education providers to embed good teaching practices to manage the anticipated increases in enrolment and attendance and to accelerate literacy outcomes for Indigenous students in remote communities. Funding under these measures is currently available and will continue until 2012 –13.

Key issues

My visits have confirmed for me the central importance of education and training to governments' commitment to close the gap. High performing schools have the potential to be the hubs of many remote communities - a focus for learning; an enabling education environment; a safe community meeting place for parents and the broader community; and in some cases a site for adult learning, transition to work experience, access to computers and the internet and a place for recreation (see following story).

 

In almost every one of the 29 communities, capital improvements are in progress or planned as a result of the Building the Education Revolution program. In many Northern Territory communities, additional classrooms have been built as part of the Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership.

Some of the additional $2.2 billion invested in schooling National Partnerships will shortly also be distributed to participating schools. $87.3 million has already been delivered to States and Territories. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has stated that it is progressively identifying the overlap between participating National Partnership schools and the 29 priority locations. Given the importance of the Remote Service Delivery partnership, I would expect that every one of the 29 priority locations will benefit from this significant additional investment.

I will be monitoring these National Partnerships closely and will report on the degree to which Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments prioritise COAG investments to the 29 priority communities.

At a time when there is significant additional educational infrastructure and recurrent funding on offer there is a risk these investments will not be deployed in a coordinated way in remote Australia. As a result, the efforts of individual school communities will not realise their full potential – lifting attendance and retention and providing hope for future economic independence.

In the next section of this report I have recognised existing mechanisms in some jurisdictions to coordinate and tailor investment at the local level and I have also proposed the development of Education and Training Pathway Plans which can be incorporated into the Local Implementation Planning process being undertaken with communities. These educational plans could link new investments with existing infrastructure to ensure students:

• attend early childhood education programs to prepare them for school and their parents receive advice and support on early learning and referral to other early childhood services available in the community;
• attend and participate in school and are afforded opportunities to gain skills in areas for which there are local and remote post school training and employment opportunities; and
• participate in post school training including local apprenticeships or vocational education opportunities.

These plans may require the creative use of infrastructure and existing services including:

• the use of school facilities for adult learning, internet access and community events;
• Trades Training Centres providing instruction for junior secondary students and adults;
• co-location of childcare, schooling and playgroups; and
• identifying training places and providing them within existing services such as schools, stores, child care centres, council services.

In some communities some or all of these things are being tried already.

In relation to another Commonwealth election commitment – to provide funding of up to $1.5 million per eligible secondary school for Trade Training Centre facilities – to date six projects in eight of the 29 Remote Service Delivery communities have benefitted. All eligible schools in the priority areas are expected to benefit from the Program over the next decade. However, as the Program relies on a competitive process, it is likely many of these communities will not receive assistance until later in the 10 year life of the Program.

Given the importance of trades as a strategy to keep secondary Indigenous students engaged at school and the explicit commitment to lift Indigenous attendance and school retention to close the gap - there is a case for accelerating the roll out of Trade Training Centres for the benefit of all 29 priority communities. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is considering options to facilitate such acceleration.

Beyond the Trade Training Centres program, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is also considering flexible options to support school training centres. For example, Ministerial approval was recently given to support a training centre project at Mossman Gorge from targeted funds within the Department.

Health

Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The initiatives in this Agreement tackle smoking; healthy youth transition to adulthood; make Indigenous health everyone's business; improve primary health care service delivery; improve continuity of care and co-ordination with health services; and improve access to acute care.
National Partnership signed	December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$1.6 billion over four years
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. Allocation of funding under the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package will commence in 2010.

The Indigenous Health Outcomes National Partnership targets five priority areas:

• tackling smoking;
• primary health care services that can deliver;
• fixing the gaps and improving the patient journey;
• providing a healthy transition to adulthood; and
• making Indigenous health everyone's business.

The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package – the Commonwealth component of the Partnership - commenced on 1 July 2009. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is currently consulting with the Indigenous health partnership forums on priority areas for investment for its contribution to this National Partnership. The Department has indicated it will ensure that the forums consider the 29 priority locations in identifying target regions. State and Territory Governments have provided no details of implementation progress under this Partnership.

Hospital and Health Workforce Reform National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The focus of this agreement is on reforming the efficiency of public hospital services, health workforce capability and supply, the volume and quality of subacute services and the functioning of emergency departments.
National Partnership signed	December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$3.042 billion over five years
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. The Commonwealth provided States and Territories full funding in 2008-09 of $500 million for subacute care and $750 million for taking pressure off public hospital (Emergency Department) reforms. Refer below to the availability of funding for communities.

The Hospital and Health Workforce Reform National Partnership aims to reform the efficiency of public hospital services, health workforce capability and supply, the volume and quality of subacute services and the functioning of emergency departments. Funding for the three components of the Agreement relating to hospitals will be provided across all states and territories and will benefit the Australian community as a whole. The Workforce Enablers component will be implemented through Health Workforce Australia, and on the whole, will be facilitating subsidies to assist in the provision of clinical training and will provide timely and accurate advice and policy information to governments. This will help to address workforce shortages and support health workforce planning to ensure Australia's future health workforce can meet the increasing demand for services for all Australians. State and Territory Governments have provided no details of implementation progress under this Partnership.

The National Partnership Agreement does not require information about Indigenous initiatives to be separately identified. Some States and Territories, however, have included such information in their subacute care implementation plans. For example:

• enhancing the Hospital in the Home Program at Alice Springs Hospital by recruiting Aboriginal Health Workers in 2009-10 in the Northern Territory; and
• possible recruitment of an Aboriginal Health worker in palliative care services in New South Wales.

In addition to National Partnership requirements, the Commonwealth will request specific information from States and Territories relating to the priority locations for the Subacute Care and Emergency Department reform elements through the relevant implementation groups and will provide this information once it becomes available.

The Partnership Agreement funds for the Subacute Care and Emergency Departments were paid in their entirety in the 2008-09 financial year. State and Territory implementation plans were agreed with the Commonwealth in June 2009 and States and Territories are now in the early stages of delivering against those implementation plans. This information will be available for future reports.

Preventative Health National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The agreement will address lifestyle risks associated with chronic disease through healthy lifestyle programs in workplaces, communities and childhood settings and through social marketing campaigns.
National Partnership signed	December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$872.1 million
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes

The Preventative Health National Partnership includes provisions for addressing the particular needs of socio-economically disadvantaged Australians, including those living in rural and remote communities. The Department of Health and Ageing has indicated it will ensure that the Healthy Communities, Healthy Workers and Healthy Children initiatives which form part of the Agreement have the potential to deliver benefits to some of the 29 priority locations. The Healthy Communities initiative is the only element of the Agreement for which funds are available in 2009-10. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is currently identifying 12 communities, which include rural and remote communities, to participate in a pilot phase under the initiative. The Department has indicated it will ensure that the 29 priority locations are considered as part of this process.

The Social Marketing initiative for Measure Up includes an extension of the campaign targeting adults at key life stages and high risk groups. The Building upon the Tomorrow Peoples campaign, a strategy based on formative research, will be rolled out to specifically target Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing will ensure that the 29 priority communities are considered when identifying the audience for this initiative. State and Territory Governments have provided no details of implementation progress under this Partnership to date.

Many of the COAG National Partnerships relating to health were separately negotiated prior to the COAG Remote Service Delivery partnership and as a result may not align with the priorities in the latter agreement. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has indicated that for the elements of agreements that are in the early phases of planning and implementation, it will pursue alignment opportunities toward the 29 priority communities. For example, the Department has indicated:

• it is seeking advice from its Indigenous health partnership forums on priority regions for investment for its contribution to the Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes National Partnership and will ensure that the forums consider the 29 priority locations in providing this advice;
• it has recently advertised an open Request for Tender process to engage a consultant to undertake a planning and needs analysis for the strategic location of hearing equipment in Aboriginal Medical Services and that the successful tenderer will be provided with a list of priority locations and will need to identify primary health care services within the priority locations that would be within scope to receive hearing equipment;
• in expanding the current Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program to fund multidisciplinary teams to better manage complex and chronic health conditions in rural and remote Indigenous communities, implementation will have regard to the 29 priority locations; and
• the implementation of an $11 million initiative to pilot the use of mobile dental facilities in regional and remote Indigenous communities will have regard to the 29 priority locations.

Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership

Under the Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership, priority locations are benefiting from targeted health services including ear nose and throat, dental and audiology services. A Mobile Outreach Service was funded in 2008-09 and is being progressively implemented over four years. Since commencement in 2008, the service has been delivered to all priority locations. Details of visits completed are summarised in the table below.

Follow up Health Care provided in Northern Territory Priority Locations

	Ear Nose and Throat			Audiology			Dental follow up			Mobile Outreach Service
	07–08	08–09	09–10	07–08	08–09	09–10	07–08	08–09	09–10	07–08	08–09	09–10
Angurugu	N	Y	N	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Galiwin'ku	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Gapuwiyak	N	Y	Y	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	N
Gunbalanya	N	Y	Y	N	Y	*	Y	Y	Y	n/a	N	Y
Hermannsburg	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	*	Y	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Lajamanu	N	N	Y	Y	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Maningrida	N	Y	Y	N	Y	*	Y	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Milingimbi	N	Y	Y	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	N
Nguiu	N	Y	N	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	N	Y
Ngukurr	N	Y	N	Y	Y	*	Y	Y	N	n/a	N	Y
Numbulwar	N	Y	N	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Umbakumba	N	Y	N	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	N	Y
Wadeye	N	Y	Y	N	Y	*	N	Y	Y	n/a	Y	Y
Yirrkala	N	Y	N	Y	Y	*	N	Y	N	n/a	Y	Y
Yuendumu	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	*	Y	Y	N	n/a	Y	Y

*From 2009-10 onwards, Audiology services will be provided through the Expanding Heath Service Delivery Initiative.

Under the Expanding Heath Service Delivery Initiative considerable additional investment is being made in the 15 priority locations. This investment is being used to deliver long term improvements in the Northern Territory primary health care system.

The Commonwealth Government committed $99.7 million to expand primary health care service delivery in remote Northern Territory Indigenous communities over two years from July 2008. The expansion of services provided by this initiative will contribute to Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory. The Commonwealth Government is providing a further $131.1 million over three years commencing in 2009-10 which is an addition to the funds already committed for the EHSDI in 2009-10 for the Northern Territory. This measure will:

• maintain the increased primary care services;
• continue regional reform of remote Indigenous primary care health services in the Northern Territory;
• continue the Remote Area Health Corps;
• continue dental care provision;
• expand the Mobile Outreach Services to respond to child abuse-related trauma;
• continue alcohol and other drug treatment and rehabilitation services; and
• complete ear, nose and throat follow up services.

Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Sites with Expanding Heath Service Delivery Initiative Details

Priority community	Health Service Delivery Area	2008-09	2009-10
Hermannsburg	Central Australia	$525,736	$525,736**
Yuendumu	Central Australia	$508,813	$508,813**
Angurugu	East Arnhem	$456,779	$456,779*
Galiwin'ku	East Arnhem	$921,107	$921,107*
Gapuwiyak and outstations	East Arnhem	$614,858	$614,858*
Milingimbi	East Arnhem	$551,626	$551,626*
Numbulwar and outstations	East Arnhem	$361,931	$361,931*
Umbakumba	East Arnhem	$210,930	$210,930*
Yirrkala	East Arnhem	$337,393	$337,393*
Ngukurr	Katherine East	$671,617	$1,674,911**
Lajamanu	Katherine West	$0	$747,766**
Maningrida and outstations	Maningrida	$1,465,907	$1,933,176
Nguiu	Tiwi	$833,398	$852,292
Wadeye	Top End West	$840,717	$956,016
Gunbalanya	West Arnhem	$997,076	$1,291,965
Total		$9,297,888	$11,945,299

*An additional funding allocation of $2.8 million is available for the East Arnhem Health Services Delivery Area which may result in additional funding to these sites.

**The funding for 2008-09 and 2009-10 refers to total Health Service Delivery Area Funding, not site specific funding levels.

***The Funding for 2008-09 and 2009-10 refers to sub-Health Service Deliver Area Funding, not site specific funding levels. However, an additional Funding allocation of $2.5 million is available for the Central Australia Health Service Delivery Area which may result in additional funding to these sites.

Outside of the National Partnership Agreements, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has indicated it has invested significant capital funds in 22 of the 29 priority locations to upgrade the quality of health care facilities. An investment in health-related capital works of $62.1 million has been provided since 2000 to 22 of the 29 communities. Of this, $40 million is for completed works and $21.9 million is currently in progress.

Key issues

The nature and implementation timeframes of the health National Partnerships reached at COAG make it difficult to discern progress at this time, particularly in regard to the 29 priority locations which are a focus for my Office.

I want to stress there is no evidence that the implementation of COAG health agreements is currently behind schedule. However, State and Territory Governments who are responsible for much of the implementation tasks have not indicated that additional funding is contemplated for services to remote Indigenous communities. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has provided details of planning, consultation and funding activity in the areas for which it has responsibility. While welcome, this information only succeeds in highlighting the absence of State and Territory data on progress.

A related issue that has been drawn to my attention by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is that COAG health related agreements preceded the Remote Service Delivery partnership. While the Department has sought to draw attention to how it will give consideration to remote service delivery and the 29 priority locations where possible, this is unlikely to produce the same kind of results as an amended set of health agreements which gave stronger direction to health agencies across both levels of government.

I will be monitoring this area of service delivery in the coming months, including seeking information from State and Territory Governments on implementation progress.

End Stage Renal Disease Services

Renal disease is a major concern in almost every community I visited. The incidence of treated end stage renal disease in Indigenous Australians is more than eight times that of other Australians. In the Northern Territory it is more than 28 times.

Given the prevalence of renal disease in Aboriginal communities and the social and economic costs of patients relocating to regional centres for treatment, patients and communities are seeking local provision of services where possible. There is also concern in the Central Desert region at current arrangements that see renal services in Alice Springs effectively closed for patients from cross border regions. While negotiations continue between the Northern Territory and Western and South Australian Governments, patients are being sent further away from family and cultural affiliations to Perth and Adelaide.

State and Territory Governments are responsible for providing tertiary services within their jurisdictions and determining policy regarding the provision of these services. This includes delivering renal dialysis and associated support services within hospital and community settings. The Commonwealth Government provides funding to State and Territory Governments through the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations for tertiary services delivered in a manner consistent with the terms of the National Healthcare Agreement, which includes the provision of renal dialysis services. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is also providing approximately $10 million through to 2011-12 in additional funding for renal services for Indigenous patients in rural and remote areas in the Northern Territory.

The policies of both levels of government state that if patients are able to learn self care dialysis, they will be supported to return to and access services in their communities on the condition that sufficient family and clinical support is available to enable dialysis to occur safely. However, only a proportion of clients are deemed suitable for self care dialysis and are able to return home.

Both levels of government argue that providing care for Indigenous people in their communities can be unsafe, expensive and impractical given constraints such as the need for a specialist workforce, infrastructure and support, however, there are examples of services that are operating successfully.

In reality some patients will choose not to receive care if they cannot access it locally, which means they are likely to die prematurely and painfully. Patient wishes and quality of life should be considered when determining the most appropriate approach to care. It should also be borne in mind that the costs associated with treatment provided in regional centres can be considerable and often involve the movement of families.

Governments should make every effort to implement measures which might extend the lives of Aboriginal people when the current policy framework agreed by COAG has, as its goal, the closing of the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

I do not want to constrain discussion between governments on the exact nature of measures that may be required to resolve the complex problem of treatment of renal disease in remote Aboriginal communities but I urge action on two key fronts:

• immediate consideration of strategies to boost renal services in Alice Springs including for patients travelling from the desert regions in nearby Western Australia and South Australia; and
• further consideration by State and Territory Governments in partnership with the Commonwealth of the costs (including patient and family movements) and benefits of providing care in priority communities and the merits of co-locating renal services with primary health clinics in these locations.

 

Department of Health and Ageing investment in the 29 priority locations

Location	Captail investment since the year 2000	Capital projects in progress 2009-10	Other Health and Ageing funding in 2009-10
Angurugu	$800,000	$350,000	$ 1,448,604
Galiwin’ku	$4,834,000	$2,700,000	$ 4,493,641
Gapuwiyak	$648,412	-	$ 811,339
Gunbalanya	$1,377,000	$550,000	$ 339,463
Hermannsburg	$380,000	$380,000	$ 1,942,839
Lajamanu	$2,620,000	$2,620,000	$ 905,397
Maningrida	$2,202,000	-	$ 4,597,804
Millingimbi	$483,851	-	$ 1,304,188
Nguiu	$7,170,579	$2,000,000	$ 1,810,173
Ngukurr	$750,000	$750,000	$ 1,986,264
Numbulwar	-	-	$ 617,162
Umbakumba	$1,150,000	$1,150,000	$ 595,769
Wadeye	$10,867,260	$10,175,260	$ 3,438,548
Yirrkala	$5,435,000	-	$ 2,630,093
Yuendumu	$11,701,933	-	$ 3,001,622
Aurukun	$482,000	-	$ 3,648,152
Coen	-	-	$ 1,478,365
Doomadgee	-	-	$ 2,832,432
Hope Vale	-	-	$ 2,490,298
Mornington Island	$449,000	-	$ 3,033,445
Mossman Gorge	$409,000	-	$ 2,007,237
Ardyaloon	-	-	$ 2,606,004
Beagle Bay	$415,000	-	$10,124,570
Fitzroy Crossing	$4,256,698	-	$ 9,048,702
Halls Creek	$2,595,371	$1,262,500	$10,185,207
Walgett	$1,051,586	-	$ 4,258,464
Wilcannia	-	-	$ 1,078,382
Amata (and homelands)	$110,000	-	$ 67,280
Mimili (and homelands)	$1,940,000	-	$ 56,682
Total	$62,128,690	$21,937.760	$82,838,125

Note that capital works funding is generally multi-year funding due to the duration of projects. Figures for 2009-10 contain a list of funding agreements for capital works which are currently in progress by the Department of Health and Ageing in the 2009-10 financial year. Projects identified as undertaken since the year 2000 may be either complete or in progress.

Other Department of Health and Ageing funding includes estimates attributed to the communities based on a proportion of region-wide funding.

Economic participation

National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Economic Participation Implementation progress summary

This agreement seeks to assist up to 13,000 Indigenous people into employment and ensure Indigenous workforce strategies are incorporated in all COAG reforms.
National Partnership signed	February 2009
Total value of the National Partnership	$228.9 million for Element 1 only
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes. Jurisdictions have been provided with funds to help CDEP participants to find jobs outside of CDEP.

The National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Economic Participation involves complementary investment and effort by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to significantly improve opportunities for Indigenous people to engage in private and public sector jobs through four elements:

• Element 1: creating jobs in areas of government service delivery that have previously relied on subsidies through the CDEP program;
• Element 2: strengthening government procurement policies to maximise Indigenous employment;
• Element 3: incorporating Indigenous workforce strategies into all new major COAG reforms contributing to Closing the Gap targets; and
• Element 4: increasing public sector employment to reflect Indigenous working age population share by 2015.

Under Element 1 of the National Partnership, as at 4 November 2009, a total of 1,549 jobs for Indigenous Australians have been created in government service delivery from CDEP activities in rural and remote areas of Australia. Of the 1,549, only 1,206 have been filled. This includes around 632 in the 29 priority communities of which 153 jobs have been created in the 14 priority communities of the COAG Indigenous Economic Participation Jobs Package Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. Jobs were intended to be in place at the time of CDEP reform on 1 July 2009.

Northern Territory conversions are part of the NT Jobs Package, created in December 2007 as a key priority of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Under this earlier program, the Australian Government provided more than $90 million over three years to generate around 2000 jobs supporting government service delivery. As of 30 September 2009 over 479.8 jobs have been created under the Northern Territory Jobs Package in the 15 Remote Service Delivery communities.

The following table shows the total jobs created under the Indigenous Economic Participation National Partnership and Northern Territory Jobs Packages in each of the 29 priority RSD communities.

Total jobs filled under Indigenous Economic Participation National Partnership Jobs
Package and Northern Territory Jobs Package in the 29 Priority Locations

Jurisdiction	Priority community	Jobs
NT	Angurugu	4
NT	Galiwin'ku	30
NT	Gapuwiyak	19
NT	Gunbalanya	40
NT	Hermannsburg	31.2
NT	Lajamanu	35.6
NT	Maningrida	62
NT	Milingimbi	13.5
NT	Nguiu	49.5
NT	Ngukurr	37
NT	Numbulwar	15
NT	Umbakumba	3
NT	Wadeye	76
NT	Yirrkala	29
NT	Yuendumu	35
NT Jobs Package Sub-total		479.8
QLD	Aurukun	11
QLD	Coen	18
QLD	Doomadgee	2
QLD	Hope Vale	15
QLD	Mornington Island	13
QLD	Mossman Gorge	18
NSW	Walgett	1
NSW	Wilcannia	5
SA	Amata	1
SA	Mimili	7
WA	Ardyaloon	4
WA	Beagle Bay
WA	Fitzroy Crossing	17
WA	Halls Creek	41
COAG Jobs Package Sub-total		153
Total		632.8

Note - Data does not include Northern Territory Jobs Package Municipal Services and Night Patrol positions. Agencies currently have different methodologies of information management and contract management and therefore data is not currently provided in a consistent format by community. Agencies are working to meet a streamlined approach to information management reports for December 09 quarters' end.

Under Element 2, a revised Indigenous Opportunities Policy has been drafted and is currently under consideration by the Commonwealth Government. It is not clear when the revised Policy will be agreed and implemented. Nor is it clear what progress the States and Territories have made in contributing to this element. Further, the advisory service, to be established by the Commonwealth to support agencies, including State and Territory Governments has not yet been created.

Separate from the National Partnership, but contributing to its objectives, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations executed a $3 million funding agreement in June 2009 to support the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council pilot project over three years. The pilot will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the minority supplier model in promoting Indigenous business and employment outcomes in Australia. The Council aims to encourage the growth of the Indigenous private sector by linking corporate purchasers with registered Indigenous businesses, thereby providing employment opportunities to Indigenous Australians.

In relation to Element 3, COAG's commitment to include Indigenous workforce strategies in all new major COAG reforms has not formally been reflected in all new National Partnerships. Some National Partnerships include strategies to develop Indigenous employment and training opportunities such as:

• work is progressing as part of the National Partnership for the East Kimberley Development Package to ensure that the projects include contractual requirements to implement an Indigenous training and employment plan;
• the National Partnership Agreement for Remote Indigenous Housing includes a national benchmark of 20 per cent of local Indigenous employment for the procurement for new housing construction – noting that individual States and Territories may contribute in different proportions; and
• under the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership, each jurisdiction will have a workforce development strategy which will set out how each Children and Family Centre will develop a local Indigenous workforce and build the cultural competence of the Centre.

Mechanisms are being considered by the Commonwealth to ensure Commonwealth agencies and jurisdictions fully utilise Indigenous employment and economic participation opportunities through National Partnerships.

Under Element 4, all jurisdictions have identified their Indigenous public sector targets to 2015. The Commonwealth target is 2.6% Indigenous public sector and a Commonwealth public sector employment strategy is being developed to support the achievement of the target.

This National Partnership is intended to be supported through a larger investment in Indigenous economic participation that has been made through the reformed Job Services Australia, Indigenous Employment Program and the CDEP program.

Under the new Job Services Australia contract, there are 19 providers servicing the 29 priority communities. These providers service almost 9,200 job seekers. In areas where Job Services Australia and CDEP providers both operate, the providers are required to enter into Service Level Agreements to align delivery of support to jobseekers. All required Service Level Agreements are in place in the 29 priority locations. Under the Job Services Australia deed, each job seeker receives an individualised Employment Pathway Plan tailored to their needs and opportunities in the labour market with the highest level of assistance going to the most disadvantaged job seekers. Data indicate that 96 per cent of job seekers in the 29 communities are receiving the highest levels of Job Services Australia support under Streams 3 and 4.

The reformed Indigenous Employment Program commenced on 1 July 2009. There are currently 92 projects operating in remote Employment Service Areas, some of which are in the 29 priority communities. These projects are funded for $48.7 million and have the capacity for 3,241 employment places, 3,558 pre-employment support places and 1,442 mentoring places. 25 of the 29 locations have Indigenous Employment Program projects. Job Services Australia has recorded 229 Remote Education Commencement Outcomes between 1 July and 30 September 2009 in the 29 communities.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is also considering piloting workforce innovation projects in some of the 29 remote service delivery locations. Such projects would assist communities, business and industry to put in place specific workforce development solutions for a location.

Key issues

Progress in the creation of properly paid positions for the delivery of government services that were previously supported by CDEP is now substantially complete. It is also welcome that support for these positions will be ongoing. However, it will be important that funding arrangements to support created positions at a local level are not arbitrarily removed from communities and used to plug new or emerging gaps. I will be monitoring this closely to ensure that government services continue to be provided at an appropriate level in these communities in accordance with the principles of the job creation arrangements.

In the course of my visits, some community members have expressed concern at the lack of coordination between Job Services Australia providers and other employment and training providers, including CDEP. I note the mechanism of a local service level agreement to ensure that providers whose role it is to promote economic participation work together. I am advised that the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs have recently completed a series of Job Services Australia and CDEP provider workshops involving all providers in the priority locations to emphasise the need for coordination at the local level. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' contract and agreement managers will continue to work with providers on their approach to job seeker servicing to ensure cooperative working relationships continue.

Given the portfolio separation of CDEP and the Job Services Australia programs, these efforts need to be closely coordinated through Regional Operations Centres to ensure that activity is aligned and that employment and training services complement educational and other services in communities.

I have indicated earlier the importance of establishing education and training pathways that allow young people and their parents to identify post school training and employment opportunities in their local communities. From my visits it appears to me that there may be between 15 and 50 vocational education training opportunities that might be attached to the various Commonwealth, State and Territory supported services in each community. Systematic identification, management and promotion of vocational education and training within communities would help school retention by providing young people with a post school opportunity, assist with workforce issues and promote economic independence.

States and Territories have flexibility under the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development for the promotion and delivery of vocational education and training within communities. They are able to implement programs and initiatives which will help achieve the outcomes such as retaining young people in school and developing their skills to improve employment opportunities. Regional Operations Centres need to work with State and Territory authorities to identify and take advantage of these opportunities to maximise the outcomes that can be achieved at the individual community level.

Investment through all of the National Partnerships, coupled with existing program funding in the 29 priority communities, should be structured such that funding agreements or community-wide contracts set out the training places that should accompany each activity.

Employment services

The new job search and training arrangements should provide additional opportunities for job seekers to gain available jobs or return to education. This is because:

• the classification of almost all job seekers within priority locations within streams 3 and 4 of the new system means that significant resources are available to provide the level of support needed by job seekers. These resources include Service Fees paid to providers and Employment Pathway Funds available to help individual job seekers overcome barriers to employment;
• the Job Services Australia deed and CDEP funding agreements provide strong incentives for providers to assist job seekers in remote areas to return to education, undertake accredited training or language, literacy and numeracy training; and
• Job Services Australia and CDEP providers are able to claim for the same outcomes where they are working in close cooperation to assist their common job seekers.

I will be monitoring what happens in practice. In remote servicing, Jobs Services Australia providers will need to maximise their time on the ground in remote communities and properly utilise funding available for each client if they are to achieve robust outcomes.

 

 

Healthy homes

Remote Indigenous Housing National Partnership Implementation progress summary

The agreement aims to achieve reform in the provision of housing for Indigenous people in remote communities, to address overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing condition and severe housing shortages.
National Partnership signed	December 2008
Total value of the National Partnership	$5.48 billion over 10 years
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes

Social Housing – Nation Building National Partnership Implementation progress summary

National Partnership signed	February 2009
Total value of the National Partnership	$5.638 billion over two years
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes

Through the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing the Commonwealth Government will provide $5.48 billion over ten years to address significant overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing conditions and the severe housing shortage in remote Indigenous communities. The National Partnership will deliver up to 4,200 new houses as well as refurbishments to a further 4,800 houses. The Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) is part of the broader National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing. Under SIHIP the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments aim to complete 750 new homes, 230 rebuilds and 2500 refurbishments in the Northern Territory between now and 2013.

Other than in the Northern Territory where the Commonwealth is now jointly managing the delivery of SIHIP, the delivery of new housing and refurbishment activity outlined in the tables below is the responsibility of State Governments. All jurisdictions have committed to meet their capital works targets for 2009-10.

In the 2009-10 financial year, jurisdictions have committed to deliver a substantial number of new dwellings across Australia. In the 29 remote service delivery communities:

• 201 new homes are projected to be built in the fifteen Northern Territory communities by 30 December 2010; and
• 126 new homes are projected to be built in the fourteen Western Australian, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australian communities by 30 June 2010.

Projected completions through to 30 December 2010 are not yet available for jurisdictions other than the Northern Territory.

A substantial number of refurbishments and rebuilds are scheduled for completion in the 29 priority locations prior to the end of the 2010 calendar year, including:

• 275 refurbishments and rebuilds in the fifteen Northern Territory communities by 30 December 2010; and
• 412 refurbishments and rebuilds in the fourteen West Australian, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australian communities by 30 June 2010.

One of the preconditions for the construction and refurbishment of housing is the settlement of land tenure issues. This policy was put in place to ensure that significant new investment in housing is underpinned by land tenure arrangements that allow for these assets to be properly managed and maintained as public housing. As the tables below indicate, tenure negotiations are at different stages in each of the 29 priority locations. As tenure arrangements are negotiated, scoping of works is progressed and new housing and refurbishment targets are agreed.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has indicated that while the wet season traditionally reduces work activity across many locations in the Northern Territory, new strategies are being deployed by the contracted Alliance consortiums in 2009 to ensure minimal wet season disruption. For example, site preparation is being expedited in some locations, the stockpiling of building materials is underway ahead of possible wet season road closures and workers camps are being constructed which will also serve as temporary accommodation for tenants when refurbishment work is carried out on their homes. Despite these efficiencies, the Department advises that a majority of works are scheduled to take place in the middle and later months of the 2010 calendar year.

The tables below provide information on the progress of leasing and works in each of the 29 communities, as well as State and Territory targets. Variations in actual numbers achieved in individual communities may occur as is normal with capital projects in remote areas. Government is confident that the overall targets for SIHIP by December 2010 will be met.

Remote Indigenous Housing Program investment in the 15 Northern Territory priority locations to 31 December 2010

Location	Status of tenure reforms	Progress to date	New houses projected by December 2010	Refurbishments and rebuilds projected by December 2010
Angurugu	Lease in place	Two new houses have had floors laid and a third new house is at foundation stage. Of the five refurbishments and rebuilds underway, three are complete. 14 Indigenous people are currently employed in the Groote package.	18	31
Galwin'ku	Lease in place	The Package Development Report which locks in budget and scope should be finalised before the end of 2009 and refurbishment early works will commence shortly.	36	60
Gapuwiyak	Lease agreed but yet to be executed	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Gunbalanya	Lease in place	Rebuild of the first house has been completed and 6 refurbishments are underway. A work camp is being established and materials stockpiled to enable capital works during the wet season. 8 Indigenous people are currently employed.	31	30
Hermannsburg	In principle agreement	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Lajamanu	In principle agreement	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Maningrida	Lease in place	The Package Development Report which locks in budget and scope should be finalised before the end of 2009 and refurbishment early works will commence shortly.	36	28
Milingimbi	Lease agreed but yet to be executed	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Nguiu	Lease in place	8 new homes are under construction and 8 refurbishments are underway. 44 Indigenous people are currently employed on the Tiwi package	43	56
Ngukurr	Lease agreed but yet to be executed	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Numbulwar	In principle agreement	Subject to approval of the lease, the package of works is scheduled to be allocated to an Alliance Partner before the end of 2009. Scoping work is due to commence in early 2010 with construction starting in the dry season.	*	*
Umbakumba	Lease in place	All 4 houses underway at Umbakumba have had floors laid. Of the 8 refurbishments underway, 6 have been completed. 14 Indigenous people are currently employed in the Groote package.	6	30
Wadeye	Lease in place	Preparation work has begun on 7 houses scheduled for refurbishment. 6 of these new houses will be constructed through the local factory. A work camp is being established and materials stockpiled to enable capital works during the wet season. 19 people are currently employed in the Wadeye package	31	40
Yirrkala	Lease negotiations underway	Project scoping will commence as soon as signing of lease is imminent.	*	*
Yuendumu	Lease negotiations underway	Project scoping will commence as soon as signing of lease is imminent.	*	*
Total			201	275

*Further details will be provided as leases are finalised or current negotiations are finalised.

Remote Indigenous Housing Program (RIHP) investment in the 14 priority locations in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia to 30 June 2010

Location	Status of tenure reforms	Progress to date	New houses projected by 30 June 2010	Refurbishments and rebuilds projected by 30 June 2010
Aurukun	Lease negotiations underway	Leasing negotiations are underway with Local Councils. The refurbishment program is at scoping stage with work due to commence in early 2010 and be completed by June 2010.	15	83
Coen	Strategy being developed			4
Doomadgee	In principle agreement		22	70
Hope Vale	Lease negotiations underway		4	63
Mornington Island	Lease negotiations underway		11	49
Mossman Gorge	Strategy being developed			10
Ardyaloon	Current construction is a result of previous leasing commitment. A strategy is being developed for future works	Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.	1
Beagle Bay	Current projected construction occurring on land where tenure is already secure.	A contract for the new housing construction is expected to be awarded in January 2010 with work to be completed by June 2010. A contract for the refurbishment works was let in October 2009. Work on the five refurbishments has commenced and is expected to be completed by June 2010.	10	5
Fitzroy Crossing	Current projected construction occurring on land where tenure is already secure.	Contracts for the new housing construction are expected to be awarded in January 2010 with work to be completed by June 2010. Contracts for the refurbishment works are expected to be let in February 2010 and with work to be completed by June 2010.	3	19
Halls Creek	Current projected construction occurring on land where tenure is already secure.	Contracts for the new housing construction are expected to be awarded in December 2009 with work to be completed by June 2010. Contracts for the refurbishment works are expected to be let in February 2010 and work completed by June 2010.	19	25
Walgett	Freehold to be purchased	29 refurbishments and 2 new houses are to be completed by 30 June 2010.	2	292
Wilcannia	Freehold to be purchased	Houses are to be purchased or built by June 2010.	2
Amata	Lease in place	Site preparation and septic tank installation is underway for 11 houses being constructed. Construction on 6 prefabricated houses has commenced offsite. Two transportable homes have been delivered and work is underway on external works, which are expected to be completed prior to Christmas.	19	29
Mimili	Lease in place	Five slabs have been poured and five more are being prepared. Construction of 6 prefabricated houses has commenced off-site. Wall and roof frames have been completed on two houses. Two transportable homes have been delivered and work is underway on external works, which are expected to be completed prior to Christmas.	18	26
Total			126	412

1 Projected houses includes only those forecast to be completed and handed over by end June 2010. Projected projects through to December 2010 are not yet available for jurisdictions other than the Northern Territory.

2 Urgent steps are being taken to expedite the work on 29 (Phase 1) of the planned 70 refurbishments in Walgett and these are expected to be completed by 30 June 2010.

Key issues

The lack of adequate housing in remote communities is a stand out issue. In almost every community I visited it was a priority for community members. Housing also lies at the intersection of much of the Closing the Gap agenda. It provides security, underpins a healthy lifestyle and provides a base for children's education and development.

While communities are impatient for new and refurbished housing, during my visits individuals have concerns about some aspects of the reforms being implemented. There is some confusion and differences of view in some communities about governments' insistence that new housing is underpinned by long term leases and mainstream tenancy management arrangements. Those with concerns are wary of reforms that relate to land tenure because of their connection to the land and governments' changing approach to tenure issues. These concerns have required that governments' progress tenure reform at a pace that is respectful to Indigenous people and acknowledges their concerns.

Governments appear to have recognised that structural change is required to address tenure and tenancy management. For example, the Queensland Government has established the Remote Land and Infrastructure Program Office in Cairns, which has commenced negotiations with Councils over 40 year leases.

However, I am concerned that State and Territory governments maintain momentum in resolving tenure issues to enable housing upgrades and new builds to continue. This is particularly the case in Western Australia, where this issue is a complex one to resolve. I do not want to see priority locations miss out on new housing because the tenure reforms required are complex. I will be closely monitoring the locations for planned housing to ensure that allocations are based on need already recognised by all parties.

While it is clear progress is being made in resolving tenure issues and construction is underway in many communities, the targets state and territory governments have nominated in some areas, appear ambitious. State and territory governments need to apply the same drive that has been evident in the roll out of the social housing component of the National Building and Stimulus Package to this endeavour.

I note the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has established an Office of Remote Indigenous Housing and agreed to deploy Commonwealth Officers to the Northern Territory and other key jurisdictions to better monitor the delivery of capital works and Indigenous housing reforms agreed under the National Partnership Agreement.

The following case study details the intervention made by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments in the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program.

Like many other infrastructure and program design phases, the review of this program uncovered an absence of detailed scoping, open ended consultation and too many layers of management.

The Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments' willingness to address early implementation issues with the program demonstrate a commitment to realising improved housing conditions for Indigenous Australians. As land tenure issues are resolved, the model of contracting being used should maximise benefits to remote Indigenous communities, taxpayer value for money and Indigenous employment opportunities.

While the very public re-examination of the program was difficult for some, the willingness of both governments to intervene to ensure the program delivers on its objectives should be encouraged. If governments are serious about working differently to secure better life outcomes for Indigenous people, they must be prepared to be agile, backing approaches that work and discarding those which prove ineffective.

 

Safe communities

There is considerable activity in this area occurring across remote Australia by Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, including community patrols, youth projects, justice projects, safe houses and substance abuse programs.

In the Northern Territory and Western Australia the importance of permanent police presence in communities has been recognised.

In the Northern Territory, an independent review has been commissioned of police resourcing levels in remote communities. The review is to make recommendations on sustainable policing levels and deployments taking into account regional planning needs. I will be examining the outcome of that review with great interest.

In Western Australia, the Government has confirmed it will fund an extra 500 police personnel which includes 350 police offices and 150 auxiliary police officers. I am hopeful that this initiative will result in additional policing presence In the four priority communities within Western Australia to meet additional need where this is identified.

It is now well established that there are serious levels of child abuse and neglect in many parts of Australia, particularly in Indigenous communities. There have been inquiries in Queensland (1999), West Australia (2002), the Northern Territory (2007) and New South Wales (2008). The most recent was the South Australian Mullighan Inquiry into Children in State Care and the Children on the APY Lands Commission of Inquiry in 2008. The Northern Territory Government recently announced another inquiry into the child protection system in response to reports that children at risk were not investigated.

Inquiries are a legitimate tool of investigation and can assist governments in devising and implementing systemic reforms to protect children and support families. But while they are in operation, day to day tasks and the implementation of sound policies can sometimes be put off. Given the important nexus between the safety of children and their life chances, over coming months I will be monitoring the implementation of recommendations in the 29 priority locations from the previous series of inquiries as well as the new National Child Protection Framework agreed by COAG.

Key issues

One of the most consistent issues raised with me to date has been the concern of individual community members about safety. I urge greater Commonwealth, State and Territory action, as envisaged under the National Indigenous Reform Agreement Integrated Strategy. In this regard the recently convened Indigenous Community Safety Roundtable is a promising development and I will be monitoring their ongoing activities with great interest.

The concerns raised with me were not so much about the overall level of policing in communities, though clearly police strengths could be improved in some areas. Rather they were concerns that policing is not visible and engaged enough and tangible on the ground. Community members want visible and regular patrols by local police and they want improved responsiveness when something goes wrong. Community members also place a premium on policing strategies which target alcohol-related criminal behaviour.

These are not necessarily issues that require large additional investments by government but rather a recognition that the visibility of local policing needs to be maximised to address actual crime and perceptions of safety.

Abuse of alcohol is a driver of the majority of community violence, abuse and property crime. The effective regulation of alcohol is pivotal to the safety of communities. I am concerned that my visits have confirmed that many of the current attempts to manage supply and excessive consumption of alcohol and treat addiction are not working.

 

The Local Implementation Planning process will provide an opportunity for governments and communities to work together to develop local alcohol management strategies where these do not exist or might be improved. Where communities commit to new or additional actions to manage alcohol, all levels of government must be prepared to set out in Local Implementation Planning documents how they will support the effort. This means setting out policing, licensing and other steps to ensure community actions are reinforced.

In each of the jurisdictions in which the 29 priority communities are situated, juvenile justice statistics tell a worrying story of early contact with the criminal justice system, repeated infringement and ultimately expensive incarceration. Too often, the point at which young Indigenous people spend time in custodial settings, the battle to rehabilitate them has been lost. The importance of youth strategies, proactive sport and recreation officers, youth workers and the availability of youth activities does not appear to be recognised as these are not yet provided in many of the 29 communities.

Given the social and budgetary costs that flow from the imprisonment of so many young Indigenous people, a new approach is needed. This might pair legislative provisions which aim to prevent criminal behaviour and divert juvenile offenders from the justice system with local programs that better engage young people. A nationally consistent approach could be developed jointly by Attorneys-General and Indigenous Ministers and agreed by COAG.

Current alcohol restrictions in priority communities

Jurisdiction	Communities	Basis of restrictions
Western Australia	Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing	Section 64 of the Liquor Control Act 1988
Western Australia	Beagle Bay, Ardyaloon (included in north of -20 degrees latitude decision)	Section 64 of the Liquor Control Act 1998
Northern Territory	All NT RSD priority communities	Liquor Act and the alcohol provisions of the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007
Queensland	Mornington Island, Doomagee, Hope Vale, Aurukun	Liquor Act 1992, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities (Justice, Land & Other Matters) Act 1984, Queensland Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000
Queensland	Coen, Mossman Gorge	No restrictions
South Australia	Amata, Mimili	Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights (Regulated Substances) Amendment Act 2006
New South Wales	Walgett, Wilcannia	No restrictions

 

Governance and leadership

Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Implementation progress summary

To improve access to a full range of services; improve governance and leadership within Indigenous communities and Indigenous community organisations; increase economic and social participation, and promote personal responsibility, engagement and behaviours consistent with positive social norms.
National Partnership signed	January 2009
Total value of the National Partnership	Total value of National Partnership is $291 million with a $202 million governance and leadership component
Is money available to communities in 2009-10 financial year?	Yes

A large proportion of the governance and leadership component of this National Partnership concerns the establishment and operation of the Single Government Interface in each priority community.

There will be two types of officers. Firstly there will be at least one government worker who will be mostly responsible for coordination, called “Government Business Managers”, “Government Engagement and Coordination Officers”, or “Local Area Coordinators”. In this report I use the term Government Business Manager. Their work will be supported by an Indigenous person recruited from within the local area who will be responsible to ensuring that community members actively participate in the implementation of the Remote Service Delivery strategy called “Indigenous Engagement Officers”.

All Government Business Manager positions in each priority community will be filled by the end of November 2009. The majority of Indigenous Engagement Officer positions will also be filled by the end of November, and the remainder filled in December 2009, with induction and training to be provided in early 2010. In the Northern Territory, Government Business Managers are well established. Work is on track apart from delays in securing staff facilities. This is not expected to have a significant impact on the overall project as interim office and accommodation facilities are in place.

Regional Operations Centres and jurisdictional Boards of Management have been established in each jurisdiction.

Engagement with communities regarding Local Implementation Planning has commenced in all priority communities. The Local Implementation Plans will be living documents, developed through an iterative process, and capable of being amended as additional inputs become available, including through the baseline mapping process. In some jurisdictions, Local Implementation Plans may be based on or incorporate existing plans that are in place.

An Engagement Workshop with a range of community representatives was held in August 2009 with a further workshop to be held in the first half of 2010. Cultural competency and cultural awareness training programs are also being developed for government staff to help them engage more appropriately with Indigenous people and delivery will commence in early 2010.

Leadership and governance training modules are being developed and delivery will commence in early 2010 to support Indigenous people participate in planning processes.

Key issues

The establishment of Regional Operations Centres and the employment of Government Business Managers and Indigenous Engagement Officers will strengthen Commonwealth, State and Territory presence and engagement in each of the 29 priority communities. However, this interface is not yet truly representative of governments. Mainstream agencies such as health and education departments have their own local networks and established contracting relationships. The Remote Service Delivery partnership can represent a challenge to the normal business processes of these large agencies.

There are a number of areas where significant improvement by the mainstream agencies of governments is required:

• prioritisation of and monitoring of performance in servicing the 29 priority locations agreed by COAG;
• channelling local delivery through the Regional Operations Centres; and
• enabling local officers of agencies greater discretion to amend policies and programs to best fit local need.

In the preparation of this report, it has been clear that not all agencies believe they need to change the way in which they currently do business. If governments are serious about effective remote service delivery and Closing the Gap, any ambiguities which currently allow agencies to avoid their responsibilities must be removed.

Good governance is an important precondition for engagement and Closing the Gap. In the remote service delivery context, good governance requires the presence and engagement of all levels of government and community leadership.

As the community by community snapshot in this report indicates, governance is problematic in a number of the 29 communities. My visits indicated that a significant proportion of the priority locations are experiencing difficulties with governance.

Communities where governance was raised as an issue during my visit included:

• in New South Wales, Walgett and Wilcannia;
• in Queensland, Mornington Island and Coen;
• in West Australia, Beagle Bay; and
• in the Northern Territory, Gunbalunya, Hermannsburg, Lajamanu, Milingimbi, Nguiu, Numbulwar, Wadeye, Yirrkala and Yuendumu.

Governance issues raised included:

• achieving functioning community governance bodies which enable all voices on issues affecting that community to be heard;
• management of local organisations, particularly ensuring that services are accessible to all; and
• the absence of a working partnership with government service providers such as police and local councils and with Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments themselves.

As I have noted in the next section of this report, sustained governance and leadership training that is tailored to the needs of individual communities is needed as a matter of priority. This requires that qualified facilitators or trainers who have the trust and support of local communities be engaged to partner Government Business Managers to work with them to address issues of governance and leadership.

Without intervention the current Local Implementation Planning processes and the significant new investments being rolled out will lack strong foundation within communities.

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