Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan

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Introduction According to the 2001 ABS Census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represented 0.2% of the population of the Northern Sydney region and numbered 1,763 people. The number of people willing to identify themselves as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has remained fairly constant since 1996. Local sources suggest that there are members of the Indigenous population who choose not to identify for a variety of reasons. As a result, actual numbers of Indigenous residents are likely to be signifi cantly higher than indicated in the 2001 Census. Throughout this Social Plan, the term Aboriginal within this document refers to all Indigenous Australians including Torres Strait Islander peoples unless stated in full. The Northern Sydney region has an extensive and valuable Aboriginal history and culture. Warringah, Hornsby, Ryde and Pittwater council areas have the largest number of Indigenous residents. The remaining local government areas have relatively small numbers. Although the population is small, Aboriginal people have strong feelings of connection spiritually, culturally and socially to the area. The majority of the Indigenous population currently living in the Northern Sydney region come from Aboriginal countries or language groups outside the original Guringai and Darug homelands. Nonetheless, some Aboriginal families have lived in the region for many decades and have a real sense of caring for country and belonging to country. The small scale of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Sydney region presents particular challenges, including the tendency to be invisible to all levels of government. While inroads have been made to deliver more coordinated services at the grassroots level, more work is needed. It is acknowledged that the fi rst Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2000-2004 was a starting point and there is a need for ongoing consultation with Aboriginal communities in the region to improve their access and equity to local services. In 2004, it was agreed to continue a successful partnership between the eleven local government areas of Northern Sydney and the Department of Community Services to address social needs for Aboriginal people living in the area. This Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011 is an outcome of that partnership and builds on the foundations of the previous plan. The original aims of the social plan are still relevant today. These are to: • improve outcomes for the Aboriginal community living in Northern Sydney • improve coordination and relationships with government on Aboriginal issues, and • increase sharing and co-operation between individuals, groups, and agencies across Northern Sydney. page 7 Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011
Principles The initiatives of the Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan have increased awareness of issues facing Aboriginal communities in the region and provided an effective channel for communication between the local Aboriginal people and local councils and government agencies. Importantly, the plan empowers Aboriginal people to express their concerns and hopes as Aboriginal people living in this region, in Guringai and Darug country. Broad access, equity and social justice principles underpin the strategies contained in this document. Specifi c principles governing the plan are: • a knowledge that this plan will not be effective without Aboriginal people’s acceptance, involvement and support • acknowledgement of the true history of this region and its implications for the present • a commitment to building closer communication links between the agencies and the Aboriginal community of this region • recognition that Aboriginal rights and issues are of concern not only to the Aboriginal population but to the wider community • the observation of appropriate protocols in regard to consulting and working with Aboriginal people • a recognition that a strong regional partnership on this issue between other levels of government, local councils, community groups and residents is the best way to achieve improved outcomes for Aboriginal people • a commitment to support the Reconciliation process in achieving social justice for Aboriginal people. Geographic Area The geographical area covered by this plan is defi ned by the following local government areas: Hunters Hill, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Manly, Mosman, North Sydney, Pittwater, Ryde, Warringah and Willoughby. These areas are the traditional homelands of two Aboriginal language groups, the Guringai and the Darug. The maps below show their location in relation to the 11 local government areas. page 8 Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011
Page 2 and 3: Principal author of this document S
Page 4 and 5: Acknowledgements The Northern Sydne
Page 6 and 7: Acronyms ABS ACYFS AECG AHO AIATSIS
Page 8 and 9: Foreword It gives me great pleasure
Page 10: • The average income of Indigenou
Page 13: 5. Employment 5.1 The Northern Sydn
Page 17 and 18: History of the Plan The development
Page 20 and 21: What Remains to be Done? While some
Page 22: Lane Cove National Park, Ryde Local
Page 25 and 26: Background to the Community Norther
Page 28 and 29: • strategic change indicators hav
Page 30 and 31: Planning priorities for the ACYFS i
Page 33 and 34: 1. Collaboration and Cooperation Th
Page 35 and 36: services is said to be poor to non-
Page 37 and 38: At present, specialist Aboriginal s
Page 39 and 40: 3. Education and Training The level
Page 41 and 42: Tertiary and Further Education (TAF
Page 43 and 44: work towards the social justice req
Page 45 and 46: 4. Housing Stable and affordable ho
Page 47 and 48: 5. Employment The need for meaningf
Page 49 and 50: 6. Culture and Heritage Aboriginal
Page 51 and 52: Aboriginal Heritage In 2000, North
Page 53 and 54: Appendix A Demographic Profi le Det
Page 55 and 56: Population Growth Between 1996 and
Page 57 and 58: The Age Profi le The table below sh
Page 59 and 60: Age profiles of Northern Sydney’s
Page 61 and 62: Average persons per household, by b
Page 64 and 65:
Average size of families 5 Living A
Page 66 and 67:
Further Education On average, Abori
Page 68 and 69:
Cost of Housing • Average cost of
Page 70 and 71:
Industries The main industry where
Page 72 and 73:
Computer Use • 45% of Aboriginal
Page 74 and 75:
Lane Cove National Park May 7th 200
Page 76 and 77:
Statutory Bodies in Indigenous Affa
Page 78 and 79:
Appendix D New South Wales State Go
Page 80 and 81:
• assisting Aboriginal people to
Page 82 and 83:
The DADHC Aboriginal Policy Framewo
Page 84 and 85:
Bibliography Australian Bureau of S
Page 86:
page 79 Northern Sydney Aboriginal
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Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan

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