Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan

Planning priorities for the ACYFS include:
• Reducing isolation and building connections
between families
• Raising Aboriginal cultural awareness in
mainstream services
• Agency capacity building through the creation
of a specialist Aboriginal agency in the Northern
Sydney region.
In early 2005 a Community Facilitator was employed
to implement the strategy. The ACYFS Northern
Sydney Executive currently meets monthly.
NSW Health
Northern Sydney Area Health (NSAH) has recently
merged with Central Coast Area Health (CCAH) to
form Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health
Service (NSCCAHS). In 2003 NSAH produced the
Northern Sydney Aboriginal Health Needs Analysis
(internal document) and the Drug and Alcohol Needs
Analysis reports. Since the amalgamation of the two
Area Health regions there has been no Aboriginal
Advisory Committee for this department within
the Northern Sydney region. The strengthening
of partnerships and communication between
the NSCCAHS and Northern Sydney Aboriginal
communities is an issue that needs to be addressed
under the current Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social
Plan.
Department of Education and Training
(DET)
The NSW Department of Education and Training
has a strong commitment to addressing educational
disadvantaged faced by many Aboriginal students.
Role of the Aboriginal Education and Training
Directorate:
• Provide a strategic framework for the
development of state-wide policies for
Aboriginal education and training.
• Provide leadership, advocacy and advise in
relation to education and training for Aboriginal
students and communities.
• Development of curriculum and resources to
improve educational outcomes.
•
Administer and monitor Australian Government
funding for Aboriginal education.
• Promote services and programs for Aboriginal
education within NSW.
• Broaden the awareness of TAFE products
and services for Aboriginal people through
appropriate promotional activities.
•
To support the professional development of
Aboriginal education workers and targeted DET
staff.
At a general level, a Review of Aboriginal Education
was undertaken in 2004 (NSW Aboriginal Education
Consultative Group Incorporated and NSW
Department of Education and Training, 2004).
Despite the many education initiatives implemented
by the Australian and NSW Governments over the
past 20 years, Aboriginal students continue to be
the most educationally disadvantaged students in
Australia. The fi nal report was released in August
2005.
The NSW Department of Education and Training is a
lead agency involved in the development of the new
Aboriginal Affairs Plan for New South Wales, Two
Ways Together. The new Aboriginal affairs plan will
guide the way in which the NSW Government does
business with Aboriginal people over the next 10
years.
The Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE supports the
diverse needs of Aboriginal communities through the
Gamarada Aboriginal Education and Training Unit.
The unit provides services to enhance opportunities
for Aboriginal people to access the Northern Sydney
Institute of TAFE and to assist all Aboriginal students
achieve their goals through course information,
tutorial support, pathways to higher education,
referral to other services including Abstudy and
general student support.
page 23
Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011