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St George Elders and Seniors Group 'Build Capacity' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) | Date: | 20 June 2007 | | Sub Category: | Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) | Place: | St George | State/Country: | Queensland, Australia | | St George is a township 500 kilometres west of Brisbane. | | | Payments: | Proposed contribution - Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) ($63,000)Proposed contribution - Attorney-General's Department (AGD) ($27,000) | Subject Matter: | | Law - Policy and Justice | Youth | URL: | http://www.indigenous.gov.au/sra/search/document.aspx?id=20582 | | Summary Information: | | The St George Elders and Seniors Group 'Build Capacity' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) was agreed between the St George Elders and Seniors Group, the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) and the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) on 20 June 2007. This SRA is designed to minimise the number of children and families coming into contact with the child protection and justice systems, and to improve retention and attendance rates for year 10-12 Indigenous students. This SRA also enhances a consistent level of input and participation of elders and seniors within the community into activities, services and programs for their youth and the next generation of elders.
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 aim of this SRA is to strengthen cultural awareness, for the Indigenous youth and their families, within the community; to strengthen or develop a pride in their Indigenous culture and heritage; to increase levels of self esteem within the younger population and instil a respect for elders therefore improving educational outcomes and thus reducing anti- social behaviour.
These aims and community priorities will be addressed in two stages. The initial stage will involve recruiting a full-time worker to coordinate activities of the group. Assisting the group to develop and deliver responses to them, acting as a link between youth and the elders, co-ordinating participation at various forums/meetings/activities in the community and working with stakeholders to help implement the agreed strategies. The group will work with the local child protection organisation, schools, the police and local justice groups and other relevant service providers in the development and implementation of agreed strategies.
Shared Responsibilities
The shared responsibilities between the St George community, Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), and the Attorney Generals’ Department (AGD) involves the creation of a new position for a full time worker (coordinator) whose role it is to assist with monthly meetings, funding for day trips and camps allowing Elders and Seniors to share their knowledge with younger generations. These trips and camps will be supervised and coordinated by youth workers in St George. The Attorney General’s Department (AGD) will also contribute financially to the funding of the position.
The Indigenous community of St George has proposed to meet monthly and as a part of these meetings they will discuss community issues and participate in the St George Negotiation Table. This Negotiation Table was put together with the Department of Communities and the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy. They have been hosting the St. George Negotiation Table for two years. The Negotiation Table's main priority has been to address the lack of co-ordinated response to families, particularly at-risk families and children.
The community will also work with the schools of St. George concerning an increase in student attendance, and carry out storytelling to local school children. The elders and seniors group will work with the Community Education Counsellor at St. George High School in order to address truancy, delivering and achieving quality education outcomes for the youth of St George.
There is also a program called the Adopt-an-Elder program. It is a voluntary program that has been implemented in one school however there is an initiative to include two more schools into the program.
The youth workers in the community aim to work with the St George elders and seniors group, their coordinator, parents and their children to plan day trips and camps and to ensure that all health and safety (including blue card) requirements are met.
Performance Indicators
Performance Indicators monitoring the effectiveness of the SRA will be reviewed monthly and the key milestones for the community, government, and other parties include the development of cultural activities for young people, the Adopt-an-Elder program implemented in two more schools, the engagement of a coordinator with a target date of 31 July 2007 and signs to be erected at the old camp area to be erected by the 30 September 2007.
NOTE: This funding is subject to the partners entering into a legally binding funding agreement.
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