ATTACHMENT 1 CL……. COMMUNITY CARE
MINUTES OF THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADVISORY COMMITTEEMEETINGHELD IN ROOM 1, GROUND FLOOR, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, PARRAMATTA ON TUESDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER 2007 AT 6.13PM.
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PRESENT
Mr Bruce Gale in the Chair, Doug Desjardines, June Magrath, Phillip Russo, Linda McDonald, Phillip Bradley, Lyn Leerson
IN ATTENDANCE
Ms Maggie Kyle – Community Capacity Building Officer; Bettina King – Aboriginal Family Project Officer, Elise Mawhood – Minute taker
MINUTES
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS THE DHARUG PEOPLE
Bruce Galemade an Acknowledgment of Country,recognising that the land upon which the meeting was being held is Dharug and paying respect to Elders past and present.
- WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Bruce welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending.
- APOLOGIES
Apologies were received and accepted for the absence ofDavid Williams, John Robertson, Marcia Donovan, Anne Castle and Annie Neilson.
- CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
There were no Conflicts of Interest noted.
- CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
A copy of the report of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee held on 23 October 2007 had previously been forwarded to each member.
RECOMMENDATION
The report of the meeting of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee held on 23 October 2007 be taken as a true record of the meeting.
- BUSINESS ARISING
Agenda items from 23 October 2007 Minutes:
9.5Council’s Aboriginal Employees
The Committee reinforced the need to seek information on external funding for additional Aboriginal staff. Maggie noted that Council was developing an Aboriginal Employment Strategy which aimed to increase the number of Aboriginal staff employed in both generalist and Aboriginal specific positions. Maggie also reported that the recruitment for theAboriginal Project Officerhad commenced: an external Employment Consultancy firm, Judith Carpenter and Associates which is frequently used by Council, was handling the recruitment. Maggie was forwarding the contact details of the firm on to a number of individuals including members of the Committee.
9.7Aboriginal Educational Support Information Forum
Maggie advised the Committee that the Aboriginal Educational Support Information Forum was a success with approximately 12 people attending and speakers from the Koori Centre, The University of Sydney and Department of Education, Western Region, attending.
- REPORT FROM THE ATSI COMMITTEE’S EXECUTIVE MEETING
Maggie clarified that according to the Committee’s Terms of Reference, there are no separate minutes of the Committee’s Executive meeting. The Executive Committee gave a verbal report to the Advisory Committee and this report was recorded in the Committee’s minutes.
The Executive acknowledged that there had been some confusion regarding their meeting dates and would clarify at the next Committee meeting the date and times of their meetings. Maggie reported that she would ensure the Executive Committee had access to meeting rooms.
RECOMMENDATION
That theCommittee confirm that John Robertson is the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee and that this be noted on all future ATSI Committee meeting agendas.
- INTRODUCTION OF NEW ABORIGINAL FAMILY PROJECT OFFICER: BETTINA KING
Bettina King introduced herself to the Committee and provided information on her role as the Aboriginal Family Project Officer. She provided the Committee with a copy of the December 2007 Parramatta Holroyd Aboriginal Families Project Newsletter (Attachment 1).
To ensure the Committee is kept informed on the progress of the Aboriginal Families Project, Bettina will attend Committee meetings to provide information on her project.
- GENERAL BUSINESS
9.1Committee’s Terms of Reference and Council’s Code of Conduct
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee’s Terms of Reference and Council’s Code of Conductbe tabled at each meeting.
9.2Provision of advice to developers regarding Aboriginal Heritage
The Committee discussed the response Committee members give to developers if they are asked by them to undertake an Aboriginal Heritage report on a site. It was noted that some members of the Committee’s Executive are also members of Land Councils and in this capacity are retained by developers to undertake an Aboriginal Heritage report.
RECOMMENDATION
That Committee members refer developers seeking advice on undertaking Aboriginal Heritage reports, to the NSWLand Council.
9.3Council’s consideration of the LGAN Bid Report
Maggie reported that at the Council meeting of 29 October 2007, Council resolved that the LGAN Report be noted; that the ATSI Committee and Council staff be thanked for their help in preparing the LGAN bid to host the Conference in 2009 and that a letter be written on behalf of the Executive Committee to the LGAN executive proposing that a preferential voting system be used to determine the successful bid to host future LGAN Conferences.
9.4Parramatta Prisoners presentation of a White Ribbon Day Banner to Council
Maggie reported that she had been contacted by the Educational Officer at Parramatta Prison regarding the presentation of a banner painted by Aboriginal prisoners to Council’s Children’s Services on Friday 30 November 2007 at the Parramatta Prison. Council staff were attending. These were: Carmelita Mangiapane, Acting Service Manager Children’s Services and George Mannix, Community Place Development Officer. The Committee’s Executive Members were asked to also attend.
RECOMENDATION
That Bruce Gail and June Magrath represent the Committee at the presentation to Council of the White Ribbon Day Banner by Aboriginal prisoners this Friday 30 November 2007.
9.5Invitation for Committee members to review the film September
Maggie reported on an invitation from a film promotion company for members to review the film September which includes the story of an Aboriginal boy. The deadline for Committee members to review the film was the end of this week and it was not possible for the company to send out a copy of the film for Committee members to view it.
RECOMMENDATION
That Maggie respond to the company on behalf of the Committee, explaining that the Committee members were not able to accommodate the request due to the timeline.
9.6Council’s Legal Graffiti sites
As previously requested by the Committee, Maggie distributed copies of Council’s legal graffiti sites across the area (Attachment 2)
9.7Holroyd Council’s communication: ‘Draft Prospect Hill Heritage Landscape Study & Plan’
Maggie tabled a copy of the Holroyd City Council letter received informing the ATSI Committee of the ‘Draft Prospect Hill Heritage Landscape Study & Plan’ currently on exhibition (Attachment 3).
9.8CommunityCapacityBuilding Information Sheet: Indigenous Population Snapshot
Maggie distributed copies of the draftIndigenous Population Snapshot information sheet recently developed by the Community Capacity Building Team. This details services, events and statistics regarding the Indigenous communities of the area.It will be distributed to services and to individuals who contact Council for information on Indigenous communities in the area.
RECOMMENDATION
That Committee members read the draft Indigenous Population Snapshot information sheet and advise Maggie by the end of January 2008 of any suggested changes, information to omit or include.
9.9Council’s Australia Day Award nominations
The Committee discussed nominations for Council’s Australia Day Awards.
RECOMMENDATION
That Bruce submit anAustralia Day 2008 nomination for Western SydneyReconciliation.
9.10NSWState Government Offices flying the Aboriginal Flag
The Committee discussed the importance of NSW State Government offices flying the Aboriginal Flag.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council write a letter to NSW Members of Parliament with offices in the Parramatta area, requesting that all State Government office buildings in the Parramatta local government area, fly both the Aboriginal and Australian flags.
- INFORMATION SHARING
There were noadditional Information Sharing items.
Next Meetings:
Burramatta NAIDOC Steering Meeting
Tuesday 5th February 2008, 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Level 12, 30 Darcy Street, Parramatta
ATSI Advisory Committee Executive Meeting
Date: To be Advised
ATSI Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday 26 February 2008, 6:00 pm
Rooms 1-2 Ground Floor Chambers
This meeting concluded at 7.45pm
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