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Minjilang (Mamaruni School) 'Education and Health' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Date:	15 September 2005
Sub Category:	Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Place:	Minjilang
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State/Country:	Northern Territory, Australia
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	Minjilang is a remote Indigenous community on Croker Island, Arnhem Land; it is 230 kilometres north-east of Darwin.
Alternative Names:	Minjilang 'Marumani School' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Subject Matter:	\| Education \| Health and Community Services
Detailed Information:
The Minjilang (Mamaruni School) 'Education and Health' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) is aimed at improving the education, health and learning environment of Minjilang's children. Shared Responsibility Agreements are agreements between governments and Indigenous communities to provide discretionary funding in return for community obligations. The new arrangements developed from an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments and replace the previous ATSIC system of funding. For more information see 'Shared Responsibility Agreement' below. Purpose The Parents and Friends Committee at the Mamaruni School have noticed that those children that are frequently absent are usually the same children who do not have a family representative in the classroom. This SRA aims to turn this situation around by providing four Indigenous Education Workers (IEWs) who will assist in the school, establish a school nutrition program, as well as clean up and remove cyclone debris from the school grounds. Shared Responsibilities The community will nominate four people to work as IEWs, one from each of the family groups in the community. The IEWs will commit to training and professional development, including a Certificate III in Indigenous Education Work. Building upon the strong 84% attendance rate, parents will ensure that their children attend school and will consider using Centrepay deductions to pay for their children's school meals. The Minjilang local store, operated by the Arnhemland Progress Association, will provide the school's nutrition program with food at cost prices. The health clinic will commit to conducting regular health screenings at the school. The community council will administer the IEWs through their Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) programme. The Darwin Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) will report on the employment and progress of the IEWs and particular data sought by the Government. The Commonwealth Government will fund and train the IEWs through the CDEP program, and will pay for improvements to the school grounds. The proposed financial contributions comprise: $19,600 towards the employment of the four IEWs for 12 months, or until full-time employment is organised through the DEET, by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST); $27,000 towards the employment of the four IEWs and for the improvements to the school grounds by the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC); and $13,400 towards the employment of the four IEWs by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The funding of the SRA is subject to the partners entering into a legally binding funding agreement. Performance Indicators The implementation and success of the SRA will be assessed annually against two main indicators, including attendance statistics and the employment of IEWs. These assessments will be made by the DEST and the DEET. Under the SRA, these are in addition to the 'two-way feedback' comprising community meetings and reports from the ICC.