SNAICC in the News – $70.4 million Australian Government investment in First Nations Early Childhood Activities
The week of 11 November 2024 covers the announcement of a $70.4 million Australian Government investment over two years to support early childhood programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Australia, findings from the National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey and Jamie Oliver’s children’s book controversy.
The announcement earlier this week of a $70.4 million Australian Government investment over two years under its Indigenous Advancement Strategy is dedicated to the expansion of early childhood support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. This funding will support 188 programs across Australia, through 173 organisations in areas such as facilitated playgroups ($16.8 million), integrated early childhood services ($15.5 million), family and kinship support ($14.5 million), early learning activities ($14.1 million), and family and community engagement ($9.4 million). Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy praised this initiative for promoting school readiness and cultural education. SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle welcomed the funding, saying that it has a key role in empowering Aboriginal-led services and helping to close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The latest report from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) reveals a need to address systemic racism and cultural barriers in services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The survey gathered responses from 442 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, detailing low levels of trust in policing, judicial and social services. ANROWS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said that overcoming systemic racism and the impacts of colonisation is essential for creating safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. In an ABC News discussion, Catherine Liddle said that the findings confirm what many communities already know—that systemic barriers in policing, judicial, and social services undermine the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
Find the report here: Attitudes Matter: 2021 NCAS Findings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Respondents.
This week, Jamie Oliver’s children’s book Billy and the Epic Escape faced calls for removal from shelves from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, advocates and organisations because of its culturally inappropriate and inaccurate portrayal of an Aboriginal character. Proud Bardi and Kija person Sharon Davis, from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC), said the book trivialises and stereotypes First Nations peoples and experiences, calling the book harmful and disrespectful. Kooma and Nguri author Cheryl Leavy advocated for authentic representation of First Nations peoples in publishing to be led by First Nations voices. Catherine Liddle voiced similar concerns during an ABC News discussion, pointing to My Dad’s Gone Away, co-authored by Andrew Krakouer a proud Minang (Nyoongar) and Inggarda (Yamatji) man, as an example of respectful, culturally informed children’s literature on difficult topics. Oliver and his publishing company have since pulled the book from sale, expressing regret for the oversight.
For more details, check out the linked news stories below.
Topic: $70.4 million Australian Government investment in First Nations Early Childhood Activities
The Australian Government announced earlier this week a $70.4 million investment over two years to support early childhood programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Australia.
The announcement details that the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy has allocated $70.4 million over two years to support early childhood activities for Australian and Torres Strait Islander children and families. The investment will increase funding for 188 activities across the country, ensuring that 173 organisations are able to continue supporting children in their early years while encouraging good health and school readiness. The Indigenous Advancement Strategy is an Australian Government framework for funding and delivering programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, administered by the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Key funding allocations include:
- $16.8 million for facilitated playgroups
- $15.5 million for integrated early childhood approaches and wrap-around services
- $14.5 million for family, parenting, and kinship support
- $14.1 million for early learning activities
- $9.4 million to enhance family and community engagement.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy stated that the funding ensures that First Nations families have access to early childhood activities and programs that help children thrive. She welcomed the Albanese Government’s commitment to supporting First Nations children to get the best start in life through culturally appropriate education and development initiatives.
SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle has also welcomed the funding, saying that the increased and extended funding will make a huge difference in delivering services and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services around the country. She said that the funding will help to close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and set them up to thrive, as it allows for collaboration with and strengthening of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Media Release: Extended Funding for First Nations Early Childhood Activities Ministers’ Media Centre (released 9 November)
Excerpt:
Read the full Media Release“This increased and extended funding will make a huge difference in delivering services and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services around the country.
“Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. These projects involve collaborating with and strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled organisations as well as skilling up mainstream Early Childhood Education and Care services who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
“This funding helps to close the gap for our children and set them up to thrive.”
Article: Feds invest $70.4 million in early childhood care and education for First Nations families NIT (released 9 November)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleSNAICC – National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said the increased and extended funding will make a “huge difference” in delivering services and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services around the country.
“Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. These projects involve collaborating with and strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled organisations as well as skilling up mainstream Early Childhood Education and Care services who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.This funding helps to close the gap for our children and set them up to thrive,” she said.
Topic: National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey
The latest report from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) highlights an urgent need for systemic reforms to address violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Findings from the 2021 National Community Attitudes to Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) reveal persistent issues with cultural safety, trust and systemic racism in policing, judicial and social services, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate responses. Attitudes Matter: 2021 NCAS Findings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Respondents surveyed 442 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on their understanding of violence against women, attitudes toward gender inequality and trust in community responses to violence. The report indicates that entrenched systemic racism and misunderstandings about gendered violence continue to undermine trust in support services.
ANROWS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine stressed that dismantling systemic racism and addressing the lasting impacts of colonisation are essential to creating safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Dr Boyd-Caine called for urgent reforms across policing, judicial and social services, urging policymakers and service providers to collaborate on creating culturally safe and trustworthy support systems.
In an ABC News segment on Tuesday, 12 November, Catherine Liddle spoke about the NCAS findings, shedding light on the systemic barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Catherine made a point that the findings confirm what many communities already know—that systemic barriers in policing, judicial, and social services undermine the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. She also highlighted ongoing collaboration with the government on a family and domestic violence plan specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, aimed at addressing needs that have been overlooked by mainstream approaches.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
View the full reportArticle: Urgent call for systemic change to address violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women NIT (released 12 November)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleThe latest findings from the National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) underscore an urgent need for systems-level change to address systemic racism and improve the safety and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia, the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) says.
The NCAS, a periodic survey conducted every four years, provides a snapshot of Australian attitudes toward violence against women. This year, 442 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents participated in the survey—92 per cent identifying as Aboriginal, five per cent as Torres Strait Islander, and four per cent as both.
Topic: Jamie Oliver’s children’s book controversy
This week, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, advocates and organisations urged celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to withdraw his children’s book Billy and the Epic Escape for its culturally inaccurate and disrespectful portrayal of a First Nations character.
Proud Bardi and Kija person Sharon Davis, from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC), said the book trivialises and stereotypes First Nations peoples and experiences, calling the book harmful and disrespectful. Davis also said that the book disregards the trauma and oppression endured by First Nations peoples and communities and has demanded its removal from sale.
Penguin Random House UK admitted that no consultation was undertaken with Aboriginal communities, describing the oversight as an editorial lapse. The book includes a subplot where Ruby, a First Nations child living in foster care near Mparntwe/Alice Springs, is taken by a group of children to work for the book’s villain and, despite the fact she is from Mparntwe/Alice Springs, she uses Gamilaraay words.
Award-winning Kooma and Nguri author Cheryl Leavy stressed that First Nations peoples must be engaged throughout the publishing process—from acquisitions and editing to sales and marketing—to ensure respectful storytelling. She said that there is no space in Australian publishing—or elsewhere—for First Nations stories to be told through a colonial lens, by authors who have little if any connection to the people and place they are writing about.
During an appearance on ABC News, Catherine Liddle said that telling Aboriginal stories requires a deep understanding and respect for cultural nuances, something that can only be achieved through consultation with First Nations voices. She said that the involvement of First Nations peoples, communities and experts—such as NATSIEC—is essential to ensure an authentic and respectful narrative. Catherine also pointed out an example, My Dad’s Gone Away, co-authored by Andrew Krakouer a proud Minang (Nyoongar) and Inggarda (Yamatji) man, which sensitively introduces young readers to themes of family and justice through a culturally safe and informed lens.
Jamie Oliver has since expressed regret for the harm caused and he and the publishing company have withdrawn the book from sale.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Article: Jamie Oliver apologises for “damaging and disrespectful” representation of Indigenous people NIT (released 11 November)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleIndigenous writers, advocates and others have called on celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to withdraw his children’s book, Billy and the Epic Escape, for its “damaging and disrespectful” depiction of an Indigenous character.
Mr Oliver, who is in Australia promoting his new cookbook Simply Jamie, has apologised for the book but his publishers have not committed to withdrawing it in its current form.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) said Mr Oliver indulged in the “trivialisation and stereotyping of First Nations people and experiences” in a way that is “damaging and disrespectful” and called for it to be withdrawn from sale.
Article: Yoorrook Justice Commission invites Jamie Oliver to engage with First Peoples NIT (released 12 November)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleNational Indigenous Times understands the Yoorrook Justice Commission has written to Mr Oliver’s agent and publisher.
Mr Oliver has apologised and withdrawn his children’s book, Billy and the Epic Escape, which features a First Nations girl – Ruby – living in foster care in a fictional community near Mparntwe/Alice Springs, who is stolen to join a gang of children working for the story’s villain.