SNAICC in the News for the week of 8 April 2024
This week’s SNAICC in the News covers the Mparntwe/Alice Springs curfew extension, as well as the announcement that the Improving Multidisciplinary Responses program has created nearly 100 new jobs for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in the last year.
The Mparntwe/Alice Springs curfew has been extended until 6 am on Tuesday, 16 April. Following discussions among Northern Territory officials, the curfew that has been imposed on youths in Mparntwe/Alice Springs has been extended to coincide with the remainder of the Territory’s school holidays. The curfew was originally in place to last 14 days, from 27 March to 10 April and prohibits anyone under 18 from being in public in the town CBD between 6 pm and 6 am.
Amanda Rishworth, Australia’s Minister for Social Services, spoke on the positive impacts and the success that the Improving Multidisciplinary Responses (IMR) program has had for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations during her address at the IMR Community of Practice event held on Kaurna Country (Adelaide) on the 10 April. The program has directly employed nearly 100 people in remote communities to develop innovative approaches and improve service delivery to First Nations children and communities.
For a comprehensive look, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: Mparntwe/Alice Springs curfew extension
Following meetings between Northern Territory authorities, the Mparntwe/Alice Springs curfew has been extended until 6 am on Tuesday, 16 April.
Eva Lawler, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, announced the extension on Tuesday afternoon, 9 April, to coincide with the remainder of the Territory’s school holidays. The curfew, which was originally imposed for two weeks, prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from being in public in the town between 6 pm and 6 am. When the curfew was implemented, Catherine Liddle, SNAICC CEO, stated that the community’s top priorities should be to ensure the safety of the children, provide them with places to go and support vulnerable families.
This story has been covered extensively on our SNAICC in the News post earlier this week, linked below.
See the full coverageTopic: Nearly 100 new jobs have been created for ACCOs through IMR program
The Australian Government’s investment in the Improving Multidisciplinary Responses (IMR) program last year has seen the creation of more than 93 jobs in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, the majority in regional and remote Australia.
Amanda Rishworth, Australia’s Minister for Social Services, acknowledged the positive impacts and success of the IMR program for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations during her address at the IMR Community of Practice event held on Kaurna Country (Adelaide) on the 10 April. The program has directly employed nearly 100 people in remote communities to develop innovative approaches and improve service delivery to First Nations children and communities.
The IMR program works to improve service models for First Nations families with multiple and complex needs. The models are community-led, with a focus on providing integrated and holistic child and family support services to reduce the number of First Nations children in out-of-home care. The program is an Australian Government commitment, through the Department of Social Services, to address risk factors for neglect and abuse in the home in collaboration with parents and carers. It also contributes to Closing the Gap social and economic outcomes, including building the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.
See below for the DSS Media Release and Amanda Rishworth’s address transcript at the IMR workshop on Kaurna Country.
Find out more about the IMR programMedia Release: Boost in jobs vital to reducing the number of First Nations children in out-of-home care – The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services (released 10, April)
Excerpt:
Read the full Media Release“CEO of SNAICC Catherine Liddle highlighted the importance of First Nations-led solutions.
“Strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in the early years space to support vulnerable families will help keep our children safe and allow them to thrive, connected to family, community and culture,” Ms Liddle said.
“The IMR project will assist in reducing the rates of our children in the child protection system, one of the key outcomes in Closing the Gap.”
Transcript: IMR Workshop, Adelaide – The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services (released 10, April)
Excerpt:
Read the full transcript“I’d like to thank Arney Chong Consulting and SNAICC for holding this event and inviting me to speak.
We all know, and we are all committed to addressing, the disproportionately high rates and over representation of First Nations children in out-of-home care because it has ripple effects across families and communities and that’s of course what brings us all here today.
I don’t need to tell all of you that Indigenous children are 12 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care or connected to the child protection system.
And so on coming into this role as Minister for Social Services, I was very keen that the Safe and Supportive Framework be put in place.”
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