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Marthakal Homelands- Elcho Island 'Mechanical Workshop and Training Facility' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Date:	10 May 2006
Sub Category:	Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Place:	Elcho Island
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State/Country:	Northern Territory, Australia
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	Elcho Island is part of the Wessel Island group located in the East Arnhem Region of the Northern Territory, 550 kilometres northeast of Darwin.
Payments:	Proposed contribution - Department of Transport and Regional Services ($332,000) Proposed contribution - Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ($88,000) Proposed contribution - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations ($275,000) - Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination ($82,000) Proposed contribution - Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association ($360,000)
Subject Matter:	Economic Development \| Education \| Employment and Training \|
URL:	http://www.indigenous.gov.au/sra/search/document.aspx?id=8060
Summary Information:
The Elcho Island - 'Marthakal Homelands Mechanical Workshop and Training Facility' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) is an agreement between the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination and the Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association for the construction of a mechanical workshop, the provision of training and the development of business enterprises in the community. 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 community identified issues relating to lack of economic development by generating employment and training opportunities for local people and, through the generation of individual enterprises on the island, move towards greater economic independence. In addition to this, the SRA aims to provide disaster management plans and shelters and reduce the cost of housing in the homelands through the establishment of a prefabrication workshop. Shared Responsibilities The Community will: � invest toward construction of the workshop; � project manage and use local labour and Community Development Employment Programme (CDEP) workers alongside contractors in the construction of the workshop; � employ two qualified Yolngu mechanics and recruit four local Yolngu people as mechanical apprenticeships by 2007; � arrange travel to ensure that Mala Leaders are able to participate in business planning, financial management training and three change management workshops; � coordinate study tour to Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation; � recruit and provide accommodation for the position of mentor to the Yolngu bookkeeper and management support person; and � Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association will develop and run disaster management planning for members of the community. Individuals and Families will: � invest personal contributions totalling $25,000 towards stock in the store associated with the mechanical workshop; � CDEP participants to complete accredited training in workplace literacy and numeracy; � families will provide practical support to the trainees by forming family support committees to advise Marthakal management; � families and individuals will utilise the cyclone shelter at Marthakal rather than requiring facilities to be built on the homeland; � families and individuals will have their vehicles maintained by Marthakal workshop and understand that commercial rates will be changed; and � Mala leaders will participate in visits to Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation The Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association have proposed contributions of $332,000, $88,000 and $360,000 respectively for the construction of the workshop. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations have proposed a contribution of $275,000 over three years towards: � the development of business plans and policies/procedures for the workshop; � salary costs for the mentor to work with Yolngu bookkeeper and Marthakal CEO; and � the renovation of existing staff housing for extra positions and training costs for CDEP participants in workplace literacy/numeracy. In addition to this, the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination has proposed a contribution of $82,000 for the provision of: � an educator and interpreter; � financial management training for Mala Leaders; � expenses for Mala Leaders to participate in organisational management workshops; � the construction of a water tank; � purchase of an auxiliary generator; and � the purchase and erection of basketball hoops and stands on seven homelands. This funding is subject to the parties entering into a legally binding funding agreement. Performance Indicators and Feedback Mechanisms The SRA provides for six monthly reporting on the number of apprentices who progress through the apprenticeship certification scheme, as well as annual reporting on: � the number of Indigenous people who transfer from the CDEP scheme to regular employment; � the number of apprentices who progress through apprenticeship certification system; and � self-generated income meets yearly targets identified by business plan for workshop and mechanical repairs. The SRA also provides for quarterly reports to be provided to the Nhulunbuy Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) by Marthakal and for an ICC representative to attend regular Mala Leaders meetings.