ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

Print this page
Beswick 'Youth At Risk Strategy' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Date:	27 April 2007
Sub Category:	Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Place:	Beswick
	Click this link to search this location with google maps
State/Country:	Northern Territory, Australia
	Click this link to search this location with google maps
Payments:	Proposed contribution - Attorney-General's Department (Cth) ($105,000) Proposed contribution - Department of Health and Ageing ($94,000) Proposed contribution - Department of Education, Science and Training ($25,000) Proposed contribution - Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ($100,000) Proposed contribution - Australian Sports Commission (In-Kind) Proposed contribution - Department of Health and Community Services (In-Kind) Proposed contribution - Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (In-Kind) Proposed contribution - Nyirrunggulung Mardruik Ngadberra Regional Council (In-Kind) Proposed contribution - Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services Inc (In-Kind)
Subject Matter:	\| Health and Community Services \| Youth
URL:	https://apps.indigenous.gov.au/sra/search/DisplayDocuments.aspx?id=613&name=(Beswick&title=Youth%20at%20Risk%20Strategy&signDate=27-Apr-2007
Summary Information:
The Beswick 'Youth At Risk Strategy' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) is an agreement between the Beswick Indigenous Community, the Australian and Northern Territory Governments and local organisations. The Agreement provides the funding and resources for the employment of a youth worker and programs to eliminate petrol sniffing, reduce substance abuse, and encourage young people to re-engage with the education centre. 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.
Detailed Information:
Purpose The SRA aims to address the community-identified priority of eliminating petrol sniffing, reducing substance abuse and the rate of young people engaging with the criminal justice system. It aims to 'steer young people away from destructive behaviours and re-engage with education and training for a better future.' Shared Responsibilities The Commonwealth Government has proposed to make several contributions through various departments. The Attorney-General's Department has proposed a contribution of $105,000 towards capital, activity and operational costs, including vehicle high. In addition, the Department of Health and Ageing has proposed a contribution of $94,000 towards the salary of a youth worker, associated on-costs, medical support and capital. The Department of Education, Science and Training will also contribute $25,000 towards the youth worker's salary. Similarly, the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will provide $100,000 towards the youth workers salary and on costs. The Australian Sports Commission will provide in-kind support for the 'Active After-School Community Program.' The Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services will provide in-kind support in the form of strategy advice, training, education sessions, establishing council guidelines for alcohol consumption and marijuana reduction, and will support advocacy for the establishment of non-sniffable opal fuel in the region. The Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation will auspice the project and provide support from the Health Clinic in Beswick. Nyirrunggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council (NMNRC) will contribute an NMNRC house for the youth worker. The Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services Inc will provide counseling, training and rehabilitation services. In return for this funding, the community, family and individuals will: pursuant to the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act 2005 (VSAPA), become a management area for volatile substance abuse, which includes the development of a management plan, the implementation of VSAPA guidelines, and the coordination of authorised wardens with powers to seize and destroy containers carrying petrol; establish and ensure adherence to policies and procedure for the Beswick Social Club; develop a petrol sniffing education and awareness campaign; direct youth involved in the criminal justice system to report to the youth worker; introduce a night school program to improve literacy and numeracy and ensure school enrolment and attendance; nominate six local youth workers who will run programs under the guidance of the professional youth worker; have use of the vehicle for work-related purposes; and proactively support the programs and activities. The funding of the SRA is subject to the partners entering into a legally binding funding agreement. Performance Indicators and Feedback Mechanisms The SRA provides for quarterly meetings between parties and also for the frequent measurement of the progress of the SRA against indicators such as school attendance levels, completion of programs, levels of active or chronic petrol sniffers, mentoring levels and numbers of local Indigenous males aged 15-25 appearing before the courts.