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CEO’s
Report
Another year has flown past and what a great year
it has been! At a time of government budget cuts
and growing uncertainty, SNAICC has stayed on
course, gradually building on our work — at both
the National Executive and administrative levels.
We consolidated our internal systems and governance
processes, strengthened our policy positions,
produced and distributed more resources,
increased our training, media and fundraising
activities, and defined more clearly our relationship
with government.
Over the past 12 months the National Executive
and staff teams enjoyed great stability. We had a
number of additional co-opted members join the
NE and have benefited from the work of a record
number of students, interns, volunteers and
others working pro bono.
A highlight in 2012 was celebrating the 25th
anniversary of National Aboriginal and Islander
Children’s Day. To mark the special milestone,
SNAICC produced a coffee table book titled Our
Children, Our Culture, Our Way. Its photos and
stories serve as a testament to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and families. The
book also highlights SNAICC’s long commitment
to working with communities to improve the
wellbeing of our children and families.
SNAICC continued to advocate for our membership
at many committees, from NGOs to government
and through the media, Indigenous and
mainstream. Our key messages remain the right
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to
design, develop and deliver services to their own
local communities and the fundamental right to
receive the resources necessary to do so.
The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s
Children completed its first three-year period and
in August 2012 announced the next three-year
plan. SNAICC has been active in both processes,
with the support of the Coalition of Organisations
Concerned with the Safety and Wellbeing of
Australia’s Children (the Coalition).
SNAICC worked in partnership with numerous
other organisations to further our policy
directions (too many to do justice to here, see
page 45 for the list). I warmly acknowledge all
the support and assistance we have received from
many mainstream organisations and people.
We continued our involvement in the Northern
Territory, in particular in ensuring the best
possible roll out of the recommendations made by
the Board of Inquiry into Child Protection.
In 2012, SNAICC attended the United Nations
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples in New
York, and the review of Australia by the Committee
on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. This work
is supported through SNAICC’s partnership with
Save the Children. Both events, particularly the
latter, are important platforms for a better understanding
of Australia’s international obligations
under the UN system and as a means of holding
our governments accountable.
SNAICC continued its work at the international
level by working to give voice to Indigenous
children’s issues through our convenorship of the
Indigenous Sub-Group of the Non-Government
Organisations Group for the CRC. The lack of
resources controlled by Indigenous peoples
everywhere makes meaningful engagement very
difficult. However, we will keep trying.
Looking ahead, 2013 is shaping as a huge year for
SNAICC — our 30th year of operation. SNAICC’s
national conference next June is attracting plenty
of interest. It should be a great event, offering a
lot of learning, contacts and direction.
I look forward to the challenges and opportunities
ahead as we — SNAICC staff and the National
Executive — continue to advocate strongly for the
rights, needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Frank Hytten
SNAICC CEO
SNAICC Annual Report 2012 15