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PDF printable version of Driving change in the Northern Territory (PDF 63 KB)

Joint Release

Jenny Macklin MP
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

THE HON Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
Member for Lingiari

18 October 2010

Over the last three years the Australian Government has improved community safety and increased jobs for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, as programs and services under the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) have been ramped up.

Since coming to Government in November 2007, we have been driving real and lasting change for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.

The latest Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory Monitoring Report highlights the increased service delivery over the last three years in regional and remote communities and the outcomes being achieved.

Community safety continues to be a key priority under the NTER.

Since November 2007 the number of additional police on the ground has risen from 38 to 62 at June this year.

There is now a police presence in 18 communities which did not have a police presence prior to the NTER. We are building five additional permanent police stations in Gapuwiyak, Ramingining, Yarralin, Arlparra and Imanpa. We have also built four extra facilities in Titjikala, Milingimbi, Docker River and Umbakumba so that police can stay overnight
in these communities.

These police are working to build trust and relationships with local communities.

Greater numbers of police in remote communities means that people are more likely to report crimes.

This latest report shows that the number of convictions for assault across the NTER communities rose from 343 in 2006-07 to 401 in 2009-10, a 17 per cent increase.

To encourage local communities to play a part in stamping out violence, the Australian Government has increased the number of night patrols, from 18 in November 2007 to 80 at June 2010. Currently 354 local Indigenous people work with night patrol services to help make their communities safer.

Since coming to Government, we have taken action to increase the wellbeing and safety of children in the Northern Territory, including delivering a mobile child protection team and mobile outreach services to work with children and families affected by child abuse and neglect.

The mobile child protection team was established in 2008. Since then the team has progressively increased their visits to remote communities each year. Between 1 January and 30 June this year the team visited 56 communities and investigated and provided follow up services on 666 matters of child abuse or neglect.

Sexual assault mobile outreach service teams were also established in April 2008. These teams have conducted extensive visits to remote communities and helped hundreds of children and their families.

We know that driving change in people's lives requires more than just delivering additional services. Having a job encourages people to take personal responsibility.

Indigenous employment in remote communities has been boosted under the NTER over the past three years. In November 2007, 235 jobs were funded under the Jobs Package, compared to 2241 jobs as at June this year. These are now properly paid jobs which were previously supporting government service delivery through the CDEP program.

As part of our commitment to improving early child education, the Australian Government has provided more than 250 child care jobs for Indigenous people - jobs that did not exist prior to 2008.

Other services delivered under the NTER:

• Over 10,600 health checks for children and more than 19,000 follow-up specialist services;
• 7000 meals to school children in remote communities each day under the School Nutrition Program;
• 478 short-term placements of health workers, such as doctors, nurses and specialists and 202 new health worker positions; and
• More teachers on the ground than ever before, with140 additional teachers currently working in remote communities.

The Australian Government has strengthened the NTER to make it effective for the long term, including re-instating the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and rolling out a new non-discriminatory income management scheme as part of broader welfare reforms.

Of course there is much more to be done and we are committed to continuing to progress much-needed change on the ground.

Services delivered under the NTER are providing a base for real and lasting improvements.
A summary of service delivery since the commencement of the NTER is attached.


To view the full report visit the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.

Contact: Keely Bell 0417 297 157 (Macklin)
Alice Plate (02) 6277 7820 (Snowdon)

Summary of NTER Achievements

November 2007 – June 2010

Measure	October/November 2007	June 2008	June 2009	June 2010
Crèches	No new crèches built or upgrades completed.	As at 30 June 2008; 3 existing Crèches had been upgraded;	As at 30 June 2009: three new crèches were operational at Lajamanu, Peppimenarti and Robinson River. 8 existing Crèches had been upgraded; 204 Indigenous people employed in Childcare from the Jobs Package.	As at 30 June 2010: 7 new crèches were operational; 11 existing Crèches had been upgraded; 49 Indigenous people employed in Childcare under the crèches measure; 204 Indigenous people employed in Childcare from the Jobs Package.
School Nutrition Program Refers only to those schools which directly benefit from the services of an Australian Government funded School Nutrition Program provider.	No School Nutrition Program (SNP) being provided.	As at 30 June 2008, SNP provided at: 55 schools Employment outcomes: 59 Indigenous workers of a total of 69 workers	As at 30 June 2009, SNP provided at: 69 schools Employment outcomes: 149 local Indigenous workers of a total of 185 workers	As at 30 June 2010, SNP provided at: 69 schools Employment outcomes 161 local Indigenous workers of a total of 200 workers
Additional Teachers	The Australian Government committed to recruiting additional teachers commencing in 2008.	At 30 June 2008, a total of 24 additional teachers employed 19 teachers deployed by NT Department of Education and Training 5 teachers deployed by NT Catholic Education Office	At 30 June 2009, a total of 97 additional teachers employed 85 teachers deployed by NT Department of Education and Training 12 teachers deployed by NT Catholic Education Office	As at 30 June 2010 a total of 141.5 additional teachers employed: 127.5 teachers deployed by NT Department of Education and Training 12 teachers deployed by NT Catholic Education Office 2 teachers deployed by NT Independent Schools
Remote Area Health Corps		The RAHC was stablished in October 2008. RAHC is operated and managed under a funding agreement with Aspen Medical Pty Ltd and the first health professionals were eployed in December 2008.	As at 30 June 2009, 100 health professionals had been deployed throughout the NT on short to medium-term placements: 8 general practitioners 83 nurses 9 allied health professionals in NTER communities 0 dental personnel	Between 01 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, 378 health professionals had been deployed throughout the NT on short to medium-term placements 45 general practitioners 204 nurses 38 allied health professionals 91 dental personnel
Child Health Services	Between 1 July and 31 October 2007 there were 3,479 child health checks completed.	By 30 June 2008, 9,300 child health checks were completed. Follow-up services provided by 30 June 2008 included: 859 audiology checks provided to 790 children 1,155 Ear, Nose and Throat specialist outreach services and surgeries had been provided. 861 dental services provided to 748 children	Between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009, 1,306 child health checks were completed. Follow-up services provided between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009: 3,232 audiology checks provided to 2,636 children 1,306 Ear, Nose and Throat specialist outreach services and surgeries had been provided. 4,245 dental services provided to 2,788 children	Between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, follow-up services provided included: 1,781 audiology checks provided to 943 children 1,993 Ear, Nose and Throat specialist outreach services and surgeries provided to 1,545 children. 4,226 dental services provided to 2,165 children
NT Mobile Outreach Service Sexual Assault Referral Centre Mobile Outreach Service (MOS)	The NT MOS was yet to commence.	Implemented from April 2008 MOS provides counselling services to children, families and communities affected by child abuse. Between 28 April 2008 and 30 June 2008: 24 visits to 13 communities 33 case-related services to children and/or their family members 80 non-case related services Case related services include therapeutic counselling and /or medical examinations. Non case related services include community education and community meetings.	Between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 : 119 visits to 43 communities and town camps across the 245 case-related services to children and/or their family members 248 non-case related services	Between 01 July 2009 and 30 June 2010: 201 visits to 77 communities 313 case related services to children and/or their family members 818 non-case related services
Food Security and Community Stores	Stores licensing was yet to commence.	As at 30 June 2008: 62 licensed community stores	As at 24 June 2009: 85 licensed community stores	As at 30 June 2010: 90 licensed community stores 123 visits to community stores undertaken which included assessments of the stores for licensing and case management visits
Jobs Package Funded jobs filled by Indigenous Australians who were previously supporting government service delivery through the CDEP program	From 1 Aug 2007 to 31 Oct 2007 235 jobs were funded under the Job Package.	At 30 June 2008, a total of 1,300* jobs had been funded: 1,147 supporting Australian Government service delivery 153 supporting NT and local government service delivery	As at June 2009, a total of 2,090* jobs had been funded: 1683 jobs in Australian Government service delivery 407 in local government service delivery	As at June 2010 a total of 2,241* jobs had been funded; 1,755 jobs in Australian Government service delivery 486 in local government service delivery *Totals cumulative
Income Management	As at 23 November 2007: Income management in place in: 8 communities and associated outstations; 1408 income management customers.	At 30 June 2008: Income management in place in: 53 communities and associated outstations; 8 town camp regions; 13,305 income management customers.	As at 30 June 2009: Income management in place in: 73 communities 10 town camp regions 15,182 Income Management customers	As at 25 June 2010 Income management in place in: 73 communities 10 town camp regions 17,952 income management customers in the Northern Territory.
Language Literacy and Numeracy Program	Tender process for LLNP services commences.	At 30 June 2008: 809 referrals in NTER communities	As at 30 June 2009: 1,705* referrals in the NTER communities	As at 30 June 2010 2,058* referrals to the LLNP in the NTER communities * Totals cumulative
Police presence	As at 23 November 2007, 38 additional police had been deployed compared to the number prior to the NTER there was a new police presence in 10 communities.	As at 30 June 2008: 51 additional police had been deployed compared to the number prior to the NTER As at 13 June 2008: there was a new police presence in the 18 Themis communities.	As at 24 June 2009: 61 additional police deployed to communities compared to the number prior to the NTER 43 Australian Federal Police (AFP) 18 Northern Territory Police. Four permanent police station upgrades funded and 18 Themis Stations operational.	As at 30 June 2010: 62 additional police deployed to communities compared to the number prior to the NTER 43 Australian Federal Police (AFP) 19 Northern Territory Police. Five permanent police station upgrades funded and 18 Themis Stations operational. Four additional overnight facilities have been installed at Titjikala Milingimbi, Docker River and Umbakumba.
Mobile Child Protection Team	The Mobile Child Protection Team was not yet operational.	Mobile Child Protection Team established.	From 01 January to 30 June 2009: Mobile Child Protection team visited 40 prescribed communities investigated and provided follow up services in 236 matters	From 01 January to 30 June 2010: Mobile Child Protection team Visited 56 prescribed communities Investigated and provided follow up services in 666 matters
Remote Aboriginal Family and Community Workers	No Remote Aboriginal Family and Community Workers recruited.	As at 30 June 2008: 10 RAFCWs employed	As at June 2009: 10 RAFCWs employed 10 operational ommunities - Galiwin’ku, Borroloola, Elliot, Daly River, Oenpelli, Ti-Tree, Nguiu, Yuendumu, Papunya and Hermannsburg. (October 2009)	As at 30 June 2010: 10 full time, 5 part time and 1 casual RACFWs employed 12 operational communities - Borroloola, Daly River (Naiyu), Elliot, Galiwin’ku, Hermannsburg Ntaria), Kalkarindji, Nguiu, Oenpelli (Gunbalanya), Papunya, Santa Teresa, Ti-Tree and Yuendumu
Night Patrol	At 1 November 2007, there were 18 communities with an Australian government funded night patrol service.	As at 30 June 2008: 31 active night patrols 42 communities in consultation phase	As at 30 June 2009 80 active night patrols 330 Indigenous people employed	As at 30 June 2010: 80 active night patrols 354 Indigenous people employed
Safe Places	In November 2007, no additional safe places under the NTER were operational.	Between February and 30 June 2008: 10 safe houses were constructed from shipping containers in 8 communities 8 additional safe houses to be completed 65 potential safe house workers identified for 12 facilities in 9 remote	As at 30 June 2009: 19 of the 22 Safe Places operational	As at 30 June 2010: 22 operational Safe Places 15 communities with new or refurbished Safe House facilities 96 Safe House positions filled, 95 of these filled by Indigenous people From 01 January to 30 June 2010: 410 clients accessed the Safe 18 men who accessed Men’s Places 223 women who accessed Safe Houses 169 children, accompanying women, who accessed Safe Houses
Legal Services	At November 2007, no additional NTER funded legal services had been established.	As at March 2008, 285 NTER related matters had been handled by AGD funded legal service providers	From 01 January 2009 to 30 June 2009, legal service providers handled 625 NTER related matters and undertook 90 outreach visits to communities.	From 1 January and 30 June 2010, legal service providers handled approximately 1,037 NTER related matters and undertook 220 outreach visits to communities.
Government Business Managers	At 31 Oct 2007 there were 37 GBMs covering 60 communities.	At June 2008, 55 GBMs were deployed covering 72 communities and town camps in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Elliot.	As at 30 June 2009, there were 59 GBMs servicing 72 communities and town camps in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Elliot.	As at 30 June 2010, there were 56 GBMs servicing 73 NTER communities and town camps in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Elliot. Recruitment underway for three vacant positions currently being covered by neighbouring GBMs.
NT Aboriginal Interpreter Service	Interpreting services were available in November 2007.	In 12 months to end March 2008: 143 people sought access to an interpreter for NTER related matters, and 1363 hours of interpreting provided for NTER related matters.	During the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, 5,452 people sought access to an interpreter for NTER related matters; and 3,536 hours of interpreting for NTER related matters provided.	During the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010; 6,124 people sought access to an interpreter for NTER related; and 3037 hours of interpreting for NTER related matters provided.
Indigenous Engagement Officers	There was no provision for Indigenous engagement officers in November 2007.	Funding for Indigenous Engagement Officers commenced in July 2008.	As at 30 June 2009 there were 21 Indigenous Engagement Officers in 21 communities across the Northern Territory.	As at June 2010 there were 26 IEOs in 26 ommunities across the NT.