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Report on the NSW Government's Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Appendix B
NSW Ministry for the Arts
Contact :Susan Donnelly 9228 4878
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Cultural Grants Program | $844,000 allocated to 47 organisations as 63 grants for activities in 1998;
$751,620 offered to 29 organisations 39 grants in initial round for activities in 1999;
Further funds will be provided by June 1999. | 1997-98
1998-99 | These grants do not include funds to mainstream arts organisations whose range of activities also benefit Indigenous communities | - | Total figure for 1998-99 to be finalised July 1999 |
Indigenous Arts Fund
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | To provide rapid response one-off assistance outside of the Ministry’s annual grants rounds for projects over the full range of art forms;
Grants are assessed by members of the Indigenous Arts Reference Group of the NSW Arts Advisory Council;
Part of Ministry’s Cultural Grants Program. | Establish-ed in 1996-97 year | $50,000 a year for three years | - | |
Indigenous Arts Fellowship
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | Established in partnership with the Sydney City Council as a biennial grant of $15,000;
Part of Ministry’s programs of assistance to individuals. | Established in 1996 | $7,500 in 1998 | Sydney City Council contributes $7,500 per award | Second award presented in 1998 |
Indigenous History Fellowship
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | Part of Ministry’s programs of assistance to individuals;
Established as biennial $20,000 grant. | Established in 1997-98 | $20,000 every two years | | Inaugural winner announced late 1998 |
Indigenous Arts Reference Group | Established to promote effective relations between non-Aboriginal artists, Aboriginal artists and the Government and advise the NSW Arts Advisory Council;
Indigenous Arts Protocol: a guide developed to provide principles and guidelines for arts workers and organisations to nurture Indigenous cultural expression in NSW. | Establish-ed in 1996
Guide released in March 1998 | Administered by Ministry for the Arts | | 9 members
Available by contact Ms Margaret Minatel on (02) 9228 4838 |
In the Interest of Bennelong | Sorry Day exhibition which Aboriginal people speak about the forced-separation policies on their lives. | May to June 1998 at Govern-ment House and July to August 1998 at Museum of Sydney | $4,000 through Cultural Grants Program funds | Joint project with a range of organisations including Historic Houses Trust and NSW Community Arts Association | |
Regional Indigenous Cultural Officer
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | To assist Indigenous arts workers, artists and regional communities in project planning. | Commenced September 1997 | $50,000 per year for 3 years | Based at the NSW Community Arts Association | Co-curated Sorry Day exhibition – In the Interest of Bennelong displayed at Government House and Museum of Sydney |
Return of Indigenous cultural remains
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | To implement the February 1998 decision of the Cultural Ministers Council. | From 1998-99 | $125,000 a year for a four-year program | Contributions from all CommonwealthStates and Territories | Awaiting further advice of Cultural Ministers Council |
Art Gallery of NSW
Contact : Ms Trish Kernahan 9225 1852
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Employment of Aboriginal staff | Curator, Aboriginal Education Officer and Gallery Service Officer employed in Yiribana Gallery. | Since 1995 | $121,000 per year included in $1.4 m annual expenditure on Yiribana Gallery | | ongoing |
Yiribana exhibition | Retrospective of work by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Alhalkere – Paintings from Utopia. | 15/5/98 to 16/7/98 | | This show was a Queensland Art Gallery travelling exhibition | Provided the people of NSW with an opportun-ity to view a major retrospect-ive of this important Aboriginal artists career. |
Exhibition | Festival of the Dreaming: Portraits of Oceania – This is the first exhibition by an Australian art museum which looks at the nature of photographic portraiture of some of the Indigenous peoples of the Oceania during the first fifty years of photography. | This exhibition will be touring Australian Galleries and Museums from March 1998 into the 1999 year. | $59,506 | Some photographs on loan from the NSW State Library.
A fully illustrated catalogue was published for this exhibition with the assistance ($9,000) of the Australian Foundation for Culture and the Humanities. | |
Education Program | The Art Gallery has developed and distributed (free of charge) over 10,000 Yiribana Education Kits to provide teachers with information concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural issues. | ongoing | The Gallery spent $10,000 to develop and publish the kits.
The Gallery spends approximately $5,000 per year maintaining and distributing the kits. | The Gallery’s Aboriginal Education Officer and Curators are involved in research, development, implementa-tion and maintenance of the kits. | Development has commenced on a second Yiribana Education Kit. |
Education Program | The Gallery is developing links with Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative College to promote use of the gallery by ATSI students. | ongoing | N/A | The Gallery’s Aboriginal Art Department and Education Officer have continued developing links. | Development of links with Eora College now also underway. |
Acquisitions | The Art Gallery is continuing to acquire, exhibit and conserve Aboriginal art in line with its commitment to make the collection accessible to the widest possible audience. | ongoing | In 1997-98 the Gallery acquired
24 works valued at $208,085. | Several private donors made gifts of works of art under the Commonwealth Government’s Cultural Bequest Scheme, which offers a tax incentive to donors. | The Gallery’s collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works of art is enhanced and expanded in line with curatorial policy to be benefit of the people of NSW and their visitors. |
Artist-in-residence program | The Gallery conducts Indigenous performances and storytelling under the artist-in-residence program. | ongoing | $45,000 per year included in $1.4 m annual expenditure on Yiribana Gallery | - | Approximately 50,000 visitors each year experience Aboriginal dance, music and storytelling presented by ATSI performers. |
Merchandising | The Gallery promotes Aboriginal publications, textiles and paper products to all visitors through the Aboriginal Art Product Range, available at the Gallery Shop. | ongoing | Self-funding commercial operation. | - | The Yiribana Book continues to be one of the Gallery most popular selling stock items. |
Australian Museum
Contact: Mr Roger Muller 9320 6230
Departmental contact: Mr Phil Gordon 9320 6192
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
| The Museum has implemented a comprehensive public program relating to the Indigenous Australians Gallery. | 1997-98 and ongoing.
Performances
demonstra-tions
NAIDOC celebrations
staffed interpretation | $35,000.00 and staff salary | - | Complet-ed 1997-98 and ongoing. |
| Changing displays in the Indigenous Australian Gallery;
Barddi”wanga: From the String;
Eora exhibition;
Stolen Lives;
Illawarra South Coast Artists;
Warrali Burrul. | 1998
1998
1998
1998
1999 | | | ongoing |
Indigenous Australian touring exhibition
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | As part of Museum-on-the-Road. The exhibition explores spirituality, cultural heritage, family, land, social justice, health and the future. | | $170,000 exhibition and staff salaries | | Will tour South Coast venues in 1998 and the Northern Tablelands and Western NSW during 1999 |
Repatriation of cultural remains
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | The Museum is working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council to repatriate significant artefacts and human remains to Aboriginal Communities. | | Within existing resources | - | ongoing |
Loans | The Museum loans Aboriginal artefacts to various Aboriginal communities. | ongoing | $40,000 salaries and facilities | - | 15 community loans and ongoing |
Museum-in-a-Box program | The Museum tours materials relating to Aboriginal studies to school students throughout the State who cannot easily visit the Museum. | ongoing | $17,000 management costs | - | ongoing |
Schools Programs in Indigenous Studies | The Museum undertakes a range of programs for schools, including visits to the Indigenous Australians exhibition, preparation of teacher/student material, hands-on sessions, senior students talks, theatre programs, teacher staff development days etc. These programs reach 60,000 students pa. | ongoing | Total schools program (including Indigenous programs) $40,000 plus staffing | | ongoing |
Aboriginal Outreach Program | The program provides training, support and advice on the establishment and maintenance of cultural centres and keeping places to Aboriginal community groups in NSW | ongoing | $100,000 salaries and resources | Includes $60,000 from ATSIC | ongoing |
Indigenous Policy | The Museum is reviewing its policies relating to Indigenous Australians and the Division of Anthropology/Aboriginal Heritage Unit. | 1998-99 | Within existing resources | - | ongoing |
Publications | Far North West NSW catalogue;
Care of Collections Conservation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Keeping Places and Cultural Centres Edited by Karen Coote;
Far West NSW catalogue. | 1997-98
1998
1998-99 | $29,810 salary and resources | - | Completed
Completed |
Community Access Programs in partnership with Indigenous groups or community groups with Indigenous peoples | Forbidden Love, Bold Passion;
Peepshow Kinetica;
Twang;
Images of Mambesak. | 1998
1998
1998
1998 | Annual Community Access Programs budget ($37,000) and staff salary
$80,000 | All programs additionally funded from other sources including NSW Ministry for the Arts, Carnivale, local councils and grants from Arts organisations | Commun-ity Access Program ongoing |
Historic Houses Trust of NSW
Contact : Caroline Butler-Bowden 9251 5988
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Museum of Sydney
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | The Museum of Sydney holds exhibitions and runs public programs on colonial and contemporary Sydney which include objects, images and new media focusing on Aboriginal culture and history. | ongoing | The MOS cost $27m to establish.
MOS employs 10 full-time staff and 4 part-time staff. | Trust
Foundation | Open three years. Museum is developing a niche market concentrating on the debate of contemporary social and architectural/ planning issues. |
Edge of the Trees | A sculptural installation which was the first major public artwork in Sydney created as a collaboration between a European and an Aboriginal Australian artist. The work interprets the complex mix of Aboriginal and British history on the site. | ongoing | Approximately $250,000. ongoing maintenance costs approximately $4,000 per annum. | Nil | The work has received critical local and international acclaim. |
Soundscape installation | The Calling to Come A soundscape in the entry cube to the Museum of a conversation between an Eora woman and a European man, based on the records of William Dawes 1792. | ongoing | NA | NA | NA |
Exhibition (permanent installation) | Eora A showcase containing Eora artefacts, LED screens showing over 200 European images of the Eora by early colonial artists, labelling using Eora language, and a film made by Aboriginal film-maker Michael Riley. | ongoing | Included in cost of whole | Nil | NA |
Exhibitions | Redevelopment of Eora showcase, object changeover. | May 1998 for twelve months. | Exhibition budget
approx $15,000 | Nil | Negotiations ongoing for planning of object changeovers. |
Exhibition (permanent installation) | Colony A large showcase containing objects grouped as a spatial map representing the activities of Sydney’s work sites in the 1820s. The case also contains the installation Witnesses, two video screens with characters who interact in conversation, speaking from their own experience. The characters include an Eora woman and an Indigenous lawyer. (Eora is the Australian Aboriginal language from the area now occupied by Sydney.) | ongoing | NA | NA | NA |
Exhibition (permanent installation) | Bond Store This is the storytelling place in MOS with various characters based on historical research telling stories of everyday life in colonial Sydney. The stories include “Why are you weeping?” told by an Aboriginal sailor, and “Tell him things” a young Aboriginal women’s story. | ongoing | NA | NA | NA |
Exhibitions | Development of an exhibition Yuendumu Doors from South Australian Museum. | Septem-ber – October 1999 | Unknown | Unknown | In planning |
Employment | Museum guide, Aboriginal. | ongoing | Salary for Visitor Services Officer (Museum Guide) is $28781- $31808. | Nil | ongoing |
Employment | Targeted Aboriginal position – Assistant Curator, Indigenous Studies. | ongoing | No funding received. | No funding received. | Currently vacant. Previously a Curator Grade 1 position was targeted and filled temporarily |
Education Program | Whose Place Is It Anyway?, a program for Years 4-7 exploring the different cultures who have made Sydney home, from the Indigenous people, the Eora, to European settlers and later migrants. | ongoing
| $10,000 | Board of Studies | Very successful with students. Bookings increasing markedly every year. |
Publication | Forthcoming book about MOS MOS Book will include a section on Eora. | In develop-ment. | Unknown | Unknown | In development. |
Bush Lives: Bush Futures exhibition catalogue | An essay in the Bush Lives: Bush Futures exhibition catalogue essay titled “Western Lives after Wik: Aboriginal Access, Land Management and Native Title” was written by lawyer and Aboriginal activist Tony McAvoy. He works for the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs as the manager of the policy unit dealing with native title and cultural heritage issues. He was formerly the Registrar of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. | The exhibition showed at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum from 12 July – 6 December 1998, and tours to the following venues: Great Cobar Outback Heritage Centre 22 January - 22 March 1999, Inverell Art Gallery 27 March – 3 May 1999, Bishops Lodge – Hay 10 June -
29 August 1999, Dundulimal Dubbo
4 September –
17 October 1999, Orange Regional Gallery February 2000, Canberra Museum and Gallery April – May 2000, Broken Hill City Gallery
12 October –
26 November 2000. Other venues are currently under negotiation. | | | |
Bush Futures? Forum | A session entitled “saving Bush Heritage: Community perspectives and ideas” included as one of the speakers lawyer and Aboriginal activist Tony McAvoy (as a last minute replacement for the advertised speaker Mark Sutton, Treasurer of Mutawintji Land Council, Mutawintji National Park who was ill) on the subject “Aboriginal owner’s perspectives”. This talk stimulated much discussion, and was referred back to through the remainder of the forum. The forum was successful and it is hoped that it will form a template for similar events to be run by local communities at several of the proposed touring venues (see entry above). | 7 Novem-ber 1998 | | | |
Exhibition at MOS | A touring exhibition from the South Australian Museum titled Unhinged! The Yuendumu Doors. In 1983, the Warlpiri people of the Tanami Desert made the historic decision to paint thirty doors of the Yuendumu School. This literal and metaphorical opening of the doors to their culture led to the transfer of their ground paintings to canvas and international recognition of their art. MOS will develop a concentrated series of events to link with NSW schoolchildren to maximise the value of bringing these doors to the Museum. Will also link with the Sydney Koori community. | 18 Sept-ember –
5 Dec-ember 1999 | | Visions of Australia travelling exhibition | |
Sorry Day display Museum of Sydney | This display was first shown at Government House (see previous entry) then came to MOS during late July-August 1998. Display included Bennelong, stories of the Stolen Generation and a Sorry Book for the public to sign. The display was organised by ATSIC. | July – August 1998 | | | |
Education service/Aboriginal Studies Projects Display MOS | Selected Year 12 2-unit HSC Aboriginal Studies projects including posters, essays, artworks and other material, were displayed on Level 2 of Museum of Sydney near the Eora display. This was a joint initiative between the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Museum of Sydney. | August-Septem-ber 1998 | Exhibition Unit Budget | | Temporary exhibit, with some works remaining on display. |
Education programs | Aboriginal perspectives: Training of museum staff to deliver focus tours with an Aboriginal perspective, and to provide education service for Aboriginal Studies students. | 1998-ongoing | $500 | Colin Gale (Pres. Darug Tribal Corporation) | Broader range of visitor services to be provided throughout 1999 and beyond. |
Education Initiative | Museum of Sydney: Flag exhibition of 100 best entries into Ausflag competition. Opened by Aboriginal community leaders. Provided opportunity to present Indigenous issues and perspectives. | Australia Day 1998 | Exhibitions budget. | Ausflag | Popular event that extended beyond MOS event. |
NSW Film and Television Office
Contact : Jane Smith 9380 5599
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Production Loan | $71,500 cash flow loan to Aboriginal Nation for the Dreaming Three Feature Film “Radiance”;
National Indigenous Documentary series 2 (2 Projects). | April 1997- February 1998
February 1998 | $200,000
$40,000 | Aust Film Commission, SBS Independent, Showtime
ABC – ATSIC | completed
Completed February 1998
In Develop-ment |
Script and Project Development | Funding of $11,000 for Sacred Boomerang;
Funding for Waterloo Creek;
Funding of $10,250 for Pemulwuy;
Funding of Lyle and Jack. | Septem-ber 1995 to March 1998
Septem-ber 1997 to May 1998 | $31,500
$19,450 | Nil
Nil | |
Screen Culture Support | Establishment costs for Metro Television Indigenous Mentorship Scheme. | 1997/98 financial year | $10,000 | various | continuing |
Production Liaison | Responding to enquiries regarding filming Aboriginal sites. | Current Year,
continu-ing | within existing resources | - | Research-ing appropriate body to handle requests for informa-tion |
Script and Project Development | Aboriginal Nations – The Dreaming Series 4 and 5;
Development funding for Fish (Documentary);
Native Title Series of two half hour drama’s – Wind and Saturday Night, Sunday Morning;
Script Development for Black Mary;
Script development for The Last Warrior;
Travel grant for financing documentary, Stolen Generation. | | $1,600,127 (total budget)
$15,537 (FTO) $268,888 (total budget)
$60,000 (FTO) $860, 000 (total budget)
$10,000
$14,700
$3,400 | ATSIC and ABC
SBSI, Page Bros., SVT, Music Arts Dance
AFC, SBSI, ABC | Due for completion Jan 1999
production May 98 to Dec 98
May 98 – Feb 99
Nov 98 – Feb 99
May 98 -Feb 99
Nov 98 |
Script and Project Development | National Indigenous Documentary Series. | | $37,000 per project – don”t know at this stage how many projects. | | Starts mid March |
Script and Project Development | National Indigenous Feature Writing Program. A nation wide initiative for Indigenous writers designed to assist talented Indigenous writers to develop and enhance their writing skills by providing an intensive, feature film writing experience. | Beginning March 1999 | | | |
Screen Culture | Grant for producing The Black Book through the Creative Initiatives fund. | Jan. 1998 to end of 1999 | $5,000 | | |
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
Contact: tba 9217 0576
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Education programs | Special tours of Sydney Observatory are provided for ATSI students from Tranby Aboriginal College and Northern Territory high schools. | Annual | | | |
Exhibition at Powerhouse Museum | Ngaramang Bayumi: an exhibition about Indigenous Australian music and dance at the Powerhouse Museum highlights the value and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and dance;
Ngaramang Bayumi means “music and dance” in Eora language -- the Aboriginal language from the area now occupied by Sydney. | Opened September 1997 as part of Festival of the Dreaming; continuing to February 1999 | | | |
Regional: exhibition presenting Indigenous Australian culture. | Through Sharing the Wailwan story, photographs from the Museum’s Tyrrell collection were researched by a Museum curator in conjunction with a field officer from the Indigenous Wailwan community and returned to that community in the form of a permanent display installed in the Quambone Public School (220 kms north west of Dubbo). | Permanent display at Quambone Public School | | | |
Indigenous advisory committees | The Museum’s Education and Visitor Services Department established two separate committees to advise on the development of specific Museum projects -- one for Aboriginal culture, one for Torres Strait Islander culture. These committees aim particularly to raise awareness of the differences between these cultures. | ongoing | | | |
Community involvement | James Wilson-Miller is President of the Aboriginal Studies Association, Vice-President of the Aboriginal Education Council and a member of the Centenary of Federation Civic Committee. | ongoing | | | |
Program for ATSI students | Special tours of Sydney Observatory are provided for ATSI students from Tranby Aboriginal College and Northern Territory high schools. | Annual. | | | |
Education | Development of teachers notes for Sharing the Wailwan Story exhibition. | 1999 | | | |
Exhibition – regional tour | Regional tour of Sharing the Wailwan Story exhibition. Proposed for the Brewarrina area beginning Reconciliation Week 1999. | February 1999 | | | |
Exhibition | Renewal of Ngaramang Bayumi exhibition with a view to establishing a permanent Indigenous gallery. | February 1999 | | | |
Education | Soundhouse Educator Peter Mahoney and Aboriginal Education Officer Steve Miller will present a mobile Soundhouse workshop to the Annual General Meeting of the NSW Aboriginal Consultative Group. The intention is to offer the mobile Soundhouse for use by Aboriginal students in regions that express an interest. | 25 February 1999 | | | |
Exhibitions | Sharing the Wailwan story travelled throughout regional New South Wales. | 1998 | | | |
Employment | The Museum recruited a full-time Indigenous Project Officer, Steve Miller, to advise on issues relating to ATSI communities. | From 24 August 1998 | $37,000 | | |
Reconciliation | NAIDOC Day. | 30 May 98 | | | |
Reports | The Museum’s two Aboriginal staff, James Wilson Miller and Steve Miller, provided comment and advice on several Government reports, including the Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) report into provision of services for Aboriginal people in NSW and the Australian Bureau of Statistics proposal for gathering information on Indigenous people. Steve Miller also attended a seminar on the latter. | 1998 | | | |
Professional activities | Social History Curator Ann Stephen provided an entry for the Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art on Sharing the Wailwan Story. | 1998 | | | |
Professional activities | Steve Miller sat on the Boards of the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) and the Tullagulla Aboriginal Cultural Centre. | January-December 1998 | | | |
Public programs:
Lectures on Koori history | Mr James Wilson-Miller, the Museum’s Curator of Koori History and Culture, delivered the following talks and lectures:
· Battlefields and Conflict in Australia, University of Sydney (Lecture);
· The Stolen Generations, A Family perspective, University of Sydney (lecture);
· Contemporary Fragmentation of the Koori Family, Australian College of Psychology (lecture);
· Koori Astronomy and perceptions of the Southern Night Skies, University if Western Sydney (lecture);
· Koori Studies and storytelling sessions on Koori Astronomy, Youth Action Policy Association (Talk);
· Koori History of Education and Dreamings, Kings Scorss Rotary Club (Talk).
There have been numerous Aboriginal groups visiting the Museum, most of whom are met and shown through Ngaramang Bayumi by James Wilson-Miller and/or Steve Miller, the Aboriginal Education Officer. These included Pjunga Aboriginal Elders and a group of Gifted and Talented students from the Armidale region. Non-Indigenous students, many undertaking Aboriginal Studies, have also been guided through the exhibition. | April 1998
April 1998
April 1998
May 1998
June 1998
June 1998
July-November 1998 | | | |
State Library of NSW
Contact : Ms Bronwyn Coop 9273 1453
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Oral history strategy
Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal People undertaking | An oral history strategy is being developed in collaboration with Link Up, to record the stories of stolen children. | ongoing | within existing resources | Link Up and other State libraries and the National Library as part of the national oral history project | Planning underway with Link Up. National and State libraries agreeing to decentralised approach |
Aboriginal family and local history resources | INFOKOORI, an index of information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, issues and events is now available on the Internet through the Library’s website (www.slnsw.gov.au/koori);
It includes an index to articles published in the Koori Mail newspaper (the only national Aboriginal newspaper) and The Dawn, New Dawn, Our AIM and Identity periodicals. Indexes to other relevant resources are being prepared and a digitisation strategy developed;
Identification of manuscript collections relevant to family history research and stolen children. Indexing priorities to be determined;
State Library is a member of the Task Force on Access to Government Records. | ongoing
1997-98 and ongoing
ongoing | funded from current resources | - | 51,000 website hits on INFOKOORI database between August and December 1998 |
Employment | The Library employs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and trainees;
An informal network of Indigenous staff will be established to facilitate communication and sharing of ideas. This group will also develop the Library’s Indigenous Employment strategy. | ongoing
1998-99 | Approx $130,000 pa for Indigenous services librarians
within existing resources | 2 trainees funded by ALIA/DEETYA Employment Strategy | 3 staff in substantive positions. In 1997-98, 6 Aboriginal trainees employed under Aboriginal Traineeship Schemes. 1.4 per cent of Library staff of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background |
| Hot Topics are plain language information packages on specific topics in the law, prepared by the Legal Information Access Centre. | | | | Native Title Hot Topic published |
Information Services | Aboriginal staff provide a wide range of information services to ATSI clients using the Library’s collections;
An advisory committee on Indigenous services and collections will be established. | ongoing
1998-99 | within existing resources | - | In 1997-98, over 580 people were directly assisted by Indigenous Service Librarians. |
Public Programs | Family Find-it seminars to assist clients trace their Aboriginal family history using sources in the Library. | ongoing | within existing resources | - | 100 people attended 96-97 |
Professional Development | Indigenous staff present talks and conference papers;
Indigenous staff arrange community history seminars and cross-cultural training seminars for staff from public libraries in NSW, the State Library, government and other organisations;
Indigenous staff active in ATSILIRN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library and Information Resource Network). | ongoing
ongoing
ongoing | within existing resources | - | 12 presentations 1996-97
Over 200 State Library staff attended cross-cultural training workshops in 1996-97. Workshop held for National Parks and Wildlife Service
Attendance and presentations at seminars, meetings and conferences |
State Records NSW
Contact : Martyn Killion (02) 9237 0126
Project/
initiative by State Records | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome or current status |
Special Preservation Project | This is a special project initiated by State Records to preserve the correspondence files of the former Aborigines Welfare Board on microfilm. The files are used by Aboriginal researchers and demand has increased with the release of the report of the HREOC Inquiry. These files constitute the most significant body of records documenting Government policy in relation to Aboriginal people in NSW during the 20th century. | This project commen-ced in 1997 and filming and checking was complet-ed in Decem-ber 1998. | The special budget allocation of approx. $100 000 was spent over two years (1996-97 and 1997-98). This covered material costs and contributed to staff costs. | Special budget allocation $100.000 (approx) | Duplication of microfilm reels to be completed by end of February 1999. |
Publications | State Records published a Guide to State archives relating to Aboriginal people. The Guide is a listing of the key record series in our custody relating to Aboriginal people. It includes a listing of the records of the former Aborigines Welfare Board, together with records from other agencies, such as the Colonial Secretary, Police and Education.
Publication of the Guide was planned for some years. However, the project was given particular impetus by the HREOC Inquiry, in particular Recommendation 22 which made specific reference to the need for finding aids to the records. | Guide complet-ed in June 1998 | Within existing resources | Nil | Completed. Guide launched in August 1998. |
Free Talks | State Records provides free talks to Aboriginal groups visiting our facilities;
A talk and tour will be offered to Aboriginal people in consultation with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Link-Up during NAIDOC Week 4-11 July 1999;
In addition, State Records participates in workshops on Aboriginal family history co-ordinated by AIATSIS. During 1997/98 workshops were held in Sydney, Canberra, Dubbo and Armidale. Further workshops for the Bathurst and Kembla Warra Aboriginal community are planned for the second half of 1999. | ongoing
ongoing | Within existing resources
As above | Nil
Some financial assistance from AIATSIS. | ongoing
ongoing |
Moratorium | On 18 June 1997 the Premier announced a 12 month moratorium on the destruction of Government records relating to the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. On 18 June 1998 this was extended for a further 12 months. | Original term 12 months (extended for a further period of 12 months) | Within existing resources | Nil | ongoing |
NSW Government Taskforce established to draw up common access guidelines (Records Access Taskforce) | Following the handing down the HREOC report Bringing them Home the Government established the Records Access Taskforce which is convened by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and with representation from including key NSW Government and non government for example Link-Up, In summary its terms of reference are:
· identify and establish which agencies have records;
· abeles recommendations form the HREOC report which relate to access;
· strategy for access and retention of records;
· assist NSW Govt agencies develop guidelines relevant to their agency an access to the records;
· develop” first stop policy and guide” contact point.
A sub committee has been established to develop common access guidelines for application within the Government sector. | Original term 12 months (extended for 6 months) | Within existing resources | | Common access guidelines to be finalised by June 1999. |
Connecting Kin Project operated by the Department of Community Services | In 1997, the Department of Community Services established a project to locate the records of those institutions (both government and non-government) responsible for children in State care. The objective of the Project was to produce a guide to the location and accessibility of such records;
State Records participated in the Project by being represented on the Project’s Advisory Committee. | Project complet-ed July 1998. | Within existing resources | N/A | Completed. Guide published in the second half of 1998 by the Department of Community Services. |
Events | The first national Sorry Day was celebrated on 24 May 1998. This was undertaken as a whole-of-government initiative. | 24 May 1998 | N/A | N/A | Unknown |
Interdepartmental Committee | In November 1997 the NSW Government established an Interdepartmental Steering Committee convened by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to develop a whole-of-Government response to the HREOC report. State Records was represented on the Committee. The report of the Committee was due to be handed down by June 1998. This timeframe was extended to allow for community consultation which has taken place and a draft of the response has been circulated to State Records for comment. | Commenced Novem-ber 1997 | Within existing resources | Nil | Pending formal response by Govern-ment. |
Sydney Opera House
Contact: Ms Jane Johnson 9250 7992
Project/
initiative | Description | Time
frame | Estimated expenditure and resources | Contribution from other sources | Outcome/
current status |
Indigenous Forum – Employment and training within the entertainment industry | The HRPandD Dept of the SOH have proposed a two day forum on Indigenous training and employment with the main objective of increasing access for Indigenous people in the entertainment industry. | July 1999 – Sept 1999 | | Funding is being contributed by our Trust and possibly ATSIC and corporate sponsorship | A project team has been established and a project manager appointed (Adrian Wills, Indigenous Trainee) who will co-ordinate this event. |
Programming initiatives 1998/99 | The Sydney Opera House Trust will be presenting a broad range of events on Sundays across 1998/99. A number of Indigenous artists are included in the program content. | ongoing from May 1998 | Programming costs covered by the SOH Programming Department | Sponsors currently being sought | Planned to commence in May 1998 |
Permanent display | Possum Dreaming by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra, which at the time of its creation was the largest authentic Indigenous painting on canvas, is on permanent display in the Northern Foyer of the Opera Theatre. | ongoing | | $30,000 contribution from Cadbury-Schweppes Pty Ltd. | ongoing |
Indigenous trainee program | The Sydney Opera House has begun implementing an Indigenous trainee program with one position in Marketing and Management and two positions in Arts Administration. | Trainee-ship for one year commen-cing March 1998 | 20 per cent of wages contributed by SOHT, plus employee benefits. | 80 per cent of wages funded by Traineeship Program through EnterArts Media who provide orientation and mentor support to trainees, and cross-cultural support to managers | Trainees have been interviewed and selected for commencement in March 1998 |
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