April 2013

Volume 1 No 3 Registered for Post

congressmob nationalcongress.com.au updates, member news, opportunities

During June and July, every member can vote for who leads Congress for the next two years.

Nominations for our male and female Co-Chairs open from 3–10 June, then voting is from 21 June to 5 July.

Protecting our rights needs strong leaders and unity among our Peoples.

Congress representatives are chosen by our members, not appointed by Government. Open membership and elections are at the heart of our independence. So to make your voice heard, vote in the Congress elections.

Congress will publish statements and CVs of candidates in a special CongressMob News and on our website to help you choose who to vote for.

We want to know what you want to ask candidates, and

give candidates the chance to answer your questions. Email your questions to us at: membership@nationalcongress.com.au

Only members can stand or vote and our membership remains free and open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and organisations. To make sure you have a say on who leads Congress, become a member and ensure your details are up to date.

DelegatesOur first round of Delegate applications for individual members closed in April.

We look forward to organisational member nominations and voting throughout May. Go to nationalcongress.com.au for more information.

A CompilAtion of Congress news, stories AnD events

Congress Elections: Have your say

Welcome! Here you’ll find a wrap up of the news we regularly email to our members. Download extra copies from our website: nationalcongress.com.au

News review

Meet our mob

Congress said it

Around the nations

2 | Congressmob news April 2013

The proposals, outlined in our 2013–14 Budget submission, specifically target health, education and language maintenance funding and place priority on strengthening governance in our community-controlled organisations. Congress Co-Chair, Jody

Broun said that achieving the best outcomes was not simply about the amount of funding but better ways of working, for example: identifying and overcoming obstacles like duplication of services, complexity of grant administration and poor accountability by the states and territories.

Our proposals also focus on Justice Reinvestment to address the over-representation of our Peoples in the criminal justice system.

We also raised these issues with the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit with specific proposals on ways of doing business differently with our Peoples.

For more details go to nationalcongress.com.au/policyandadvocacy

Congress has a clear commitment to principles of ethics such as integrity, honesty, transparency and openness.

Our Ethics Council advises us on how to best live up to these commitments and is another feature that sets us at the cutting edge of Australian best practice in the area of corporate ethical conduct.

Thanks to Mary Graham and Wesley Enoch for their valuable contributions to the Ethics Council over their three-year terms and we look forward to having them back as members of the Congressmob!

Congress has asked for sweeping changes to the way the federal government works with Aboriginal and torres strait islander communities to deliver better programs and services on the ground.

Congress welcomes emeritus professor maryAnn Bin-sallik and mr nick freeburn as our two new ethics Council members.

News reviewn Congress wants more

for our communities

n New Faces in the Congress Ethics Council

maryAnn Bin-salliknick freeburn

Policy Updates:

HealthThe Congress submission to the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan outlined our members’ views on supporting our Peoples’ health. Congress hosted consultations on specific health areas including: drug and alcohol, traditional and cultural approaches and mental health.

JusticeThe National Justice Policy is now finalised after member input and consultation. A key part of the policy is Justice Reinvestment and Congress has called for it to be trialled and implemented in targeted communities.

Education Our draft education policy is being finalised and we are also involved in developing ways to measure success in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education programs.

Native TitleCongress continues to advocate for a reversal of the onus of proof for native title claims in relation to proposed changes to Native Title laws.

More info onlineSee details of this and more info on Congress policy work at nationalcongress.com.au/policyandadvocacy

National Congress ReportThe NC12 Report is now available on the website at nationalcongress.com.au

Congressmob news April 2013 | 3

Around the nationsAll Stars Weekend: Everyone’s a winnerA crowd of 5000 rugby league fans from all over Australia cheered on the Murri and Koori teams battling it out in the knockout as part of the NRL All Stars weekend in Brisbane in February.

NRL legend David Peachey (pictured) worked the Congress stall along with youth committee members; Elise Wall and Jared Hutchison and Congress staff.

Congratulations to the Argun Warriors from Badu Island on their win and to the one hundred new Congress members who signed up on the day!

Hard Yards on Constitutional Reform beginThe Act of Recognition is now law but the real journey to Constitutional reform is just beginning. The Journey of Recognition, inspired and led by AFL legend Michael Long, will begin after Dreamtime at the G in Melbourne on 26 May.

Supporters will walk, cycle and drive from Melbourne to North East Arnhem Land raising awareness and spreading the word about recognising our Peoples in the Constitution.

Congress is supporting the Journey of Recognition, which is being organised by the Recognise campaign.

To find out how you can get involved or help out at any point on the journey contact: info@recognise.org.au.

The full story on the journey is at: recognise.org.au

Congress wins on International Women’s DayFundamental to the way Congress does business is the equal representation of our women throughout the organisation – on the Board, the Ethics Council and among our Delegates.

This year the Australian Centre for Leadership for Women awarded Congress the Sustaining Women’s Empowerment in Communities and Organisations Gold Award for the advancement of women in workplaces and in the community.

Co-Chair Jody Broun, said, “We listened to our people when gender equity was established as a founding – and now an operating – principle of Congress.

“The women working within Congress now are part of the long, proud history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have fought for our Peoples and we honour the achievements and the significant contributions those women have made”, she said.

nrl legend David peachey and his mother, Congress legend irene, at the All stars weekend – Brisbane.

Co-Chair Jody Broun with education working group member Kara Keys and Delegate Darcel russell.

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6 | Congressmob news April 2013

“Languages and culture is a very important area so it was important to see how the traditional languages are going here,” said Co-Chair Les Malezer.

“We must see extra Budget funds dedicated to critical areas where language services are essential like in translation services in health and justice, as well as in language education,” he said.

Local elder and Kaurareg Aboriginal Corporation Chair, Milton Savage welcomed all to country at our community event at the Tamwoy Hall where locals gathered for a Friday evening Kai Kai (feast). They also spoke with Directors and staff, joined up as members and enjoyed performances by the Mer Island dance troupe.

“It’s really valuable for us to be talking to community members. These sorts of exchanges between people who sit on the National Board and people who are in the community wondering what is happening about their affairs are vital”, said Co-Chair Les Malezer.

Congress Directors know the importance of speaking to people face to face. in march they travelled to the torres strait for their Board meeting. while there, Directors visited the on-campus cultural centre and a bilingual language class at tagai state College.

Congress news

n Congress Board on Thursday Island

n Youth Voices in CongressCongress youth lobbying Committee (CylC) is focussed on growing youth membership and involvement in Congress work.

The ten-person voluntary committee, formed out of the Congress Youth Program last year, is a direct response to the need to increase youth representation and views in Congress.

Co-convenors, Nayuka Gorrie (VIC) and Todd Fernando (NSW) said, “The Congress Youth Lobby Committee looks forward to working with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to establish a stronger and empowered voice in Congress.”

The committee is now actively working on increasing youth membership and providing a youth perspective on Congress business. Other committee members are: Sorrell Ashby (NSW), Kimberley Benjamin (WA), Gus Fitzgerald (NT), Emma Garlett (WA), Benjamin Gertz (QLD), Jared Hutchison (QLD), Joel Omeenyo (NT) and Elise Wall (QLD).

n Delegates meetHow our Delegates can better guide and continue the work of Congress was the main focus of a recent meeting in Adelaide.

The meeting, co-chaired by Directors Brian Butler and Tammy Solonec, was opened by Kaurna elder and Congress member, Aunty Josie Agius, who welcomed

us to country. The 30 Delegates worked through a range of issues

including policy direction and the UN Declaration; promotion and representation of Congress; and delegate roles and responsibilities. The meeting was a recommendation from the NC12 Meeting in Alice Springs in September last year.

welcome to Country by Chairman of the

Kaurareg Association milton savage.

Directors venessa Curnow, Daphne yarram, Brian Butler and rod little with tagai College principal lyn-Anne Chandler visiting the campus cultural centre with uncle Dimple and nancy sailor.

locals feast at the Kai Kai.

member Bua mabo.

Director Dennis eggington dancing up at the Kai Kai on

thursday island.

Delegate Abigail Harry attended the Kai Kai.

richard matthews teaches traditional language Kalaw lagaw ya – in class at tagai state College, thursday island.

the Congress youth lobbying Committee met in sydney.(front, l-r) elise wall, nayuka gorrie, sorrell Ashby, Co-Chair Jody Broun, nCie’s youth Council Chair peter Dawson, Ben gertz.(back, l-r) Jared Hutchison, Joel omeenyo, todd fernando, gus fitzgerald.

Chamber 3 Delegates in Adelaide.

margaret gabey and gibra sambo sign up on ti.

Congressmob news April 2013 | 7

Protecting our rights needs strong leaders and unity amongst our Peoples.The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Ltd (Congress) is a national voice for our Peoples.Our members will decide who leads Congress when we hold elections for our male and female Co-Chairs in June. Only Congress members can nominate for the positions and vote.Membership is free and open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 18, and organisations. So if you want to have a say, join the CongressMob today.

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I confirm that I am a person:● who is 18 years or over● who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander● of Aboriginal descent; and● who is accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.I further declare that the contents of this application for membership has been accurately completed.

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8 | Congressmob news April 2013

Congress said it…

Displacement, loss of land, low rates

of birth registration, limited access to

culturally appropriate education and

health services, low enrolment

and literacy rates, conflict and a lack

of access to justice, all create conditions

that affect human rights, development, human security and,

ultimately survival. –20 March

Over-representation of our Peoples in the criminal justice system is both cause and effect for the poor state of health, education and employment of so many of our families and communities. –15 March

Congress stands for unity

and working together to improve

the lives of our Peoples.–26 March

Continued investment is

essential if we are to build on this

excellent work and be the generation

to end the national disgrace that

sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Peoples die more than 10 years

younger than the broader Australian

community –21 March

Congress will work to better inform our Peoples about these proposed Constitutional

Recognition reforms. –13 February

This year’s election is the time for all parties to demonstrate how they will close the gap in health, education and justice by 2030.–6 February

We listened to our people when gender equity was

established as a founding – and now operating – principle of Congress and we urge other

Australian companies to do the same. –7 March

The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples is a national voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoplesemail: info@nationalcongress.com.au freecall: 1800 266 477 read our e-newsletters online: nationalcongress.com.au/e-news-newsletters

Directors tammy solonec and Brian Butler speak at the Delegates meeting in Adelaide.

Co-Chair les malezer with brothers; michael, thomas, earl and Claude Conway on palm island to talk about the Alcohol management plan.

police liaison officers mary Kenyi, shane plummer, rhonda reid and Debbie DeBree at the nrl All stars festival in Brisbane. new member rodney

Knight at mount Druitt.

meriam Dance troupe.