SNAICC in the News for the week of 11 March 2024
The week of 11 March 2024 media coverage highlights the launch of the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement for Shared Decision-Making on Kaurna Country in Adelaide.
Community Services Ministers from around Australia and the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group met as the Safe and Supported Shared Decision-Making Committee to sign and launch the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement. SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle described the ground-breaking agreement as a demonstration of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in action. The Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement establishes a strong foundation for collaboration and decision-making in implementing Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 and its two Action Plans.
For a comprehensive look, read the news and media stories linked below.
Find out more about Safe & Supported
Topic: Safe & Supported Partnership Agreement launched
On 8 March 2024, on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group and Community Services Ministers from across Australia met for the first time as the Safe and Supported Shared Decision-Making Committee to sign and launch the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement.
SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle described the agreement as a demonstration of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in action. This historic meeting represents a national commitment to shared decision-making and the importance of working together to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As a reflection of this commitment, the Leadership Group and Community Services Ministers launched the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement for Shared Decision-Making.
The Safe & Supported Partnership Agreement provides a strong foundation for the Leadership Group and all governments to continue to work in genuine partnership and to share in decision-making in the implementation of Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 and its two Action Plans. The Shared Decision-Making Committee also discussed progress on developing the National Child and Family Investment Strategy under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan.
See below for responses to our Media Release and media engagements.
Read the full Media ReleaseArticle: Partnership Agreement with Aboriginal Leadership Group launched – The Sector (published 12 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“State, Commonwealth and territory Ministers have launched a Partnership Agreement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group to implement Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 (the National Framework) and its Action Plans.
The Partnership Agreement – which formalises shared decision-making arrangements – has been developed and endorsed by Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group members.“
Article: Queensland Moves to Close Gap Under New Agreement – The Sector (published 8 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Queensland’s Minister for Child Safety Charis Mullen has joined a new Safe and Supported Shared Decision-Making Committee to launch a national partnership agreement to protect children and young people from harm and neglect.
The Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement for Shared Decision-Making establishes a strong foundation for Australia’s Community Services Ministers and the Safe and Supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Leadership Group to work to close the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.“
Article: WA welcomes new partnership agreement on child protection, expert stresses need for systemic change – The Sector (published 8 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“The WA government described the Safe and Supported Partnership Agreement as “a commitment to partnership and shared decision-making in response to Closing the Gap, Priority Reform 1”.
The National Framework outlines a 10-year strategy to “improve the lives of all Australian children, young people and families, putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and leaders at the heart of decision making”, the WA government said on Saturday.“
Topic: Ministers vow to do more to end violence against women & children
Amanda Rishworth marked International Women’s Day by urging her department, the Department of Social Services, to take immediate and practical steps to make Australia safer.
In the budgets for 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, the federal government made a historic commitment of $2.3 billion to women’s safety and family and domestic violence support. To address the disproportionately high rates of abuse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children face in Australia, a component of the funds has been allocated to the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023–2025 and the creation of a stand-alone First Nations National Plan. SNAICC has been contracted to act as the Secretariat of the Steering Committee for broad consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which are set to begin in April 2024.
See below for the DSS Media Release and media engagements.
Read the DSS Media ReleaseArticle: Ministers vow more will be done to end violence against women and children – The Sector (published 8 March)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“The federal government has committed an historic $2.3 billion to women’s safety and family and domestic violence support in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Budgets.
A component of the funding has also been invested in delivering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-2025 and developing a standalone First Nations National Plan to address the disproportionately high rates of violence First Nations women and children experience in Australia.“