Contents Note: To
enable people to go to sections of interest we have produced an electronic contents
menu. This contents list has greater detail than the original RWA contents as
we have included all five sub-heading levels in the submission rather than just
the three levels used in the initial RWA Table of Contents. On an electronic
index there is no need for page numbers. In quoting the RWA report please use
the original submission and its page numbers.
Submission by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to the
Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into Closing
the Gap – Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage, Sydney 30 November 2007
Contents
Sale of Surplus Government Lands
Aboriginal Housing Company Land –
Eveleigh Street Precinct (including the Block)
2.2 Proposed Stage Two of the Plan
2B Management of Australian
Technology Park
Improved Financial Performance
Commercial Development of the Park
3.0 Training,
Enterprise & Employment
3.1 Jobs, Opportunity, Prosperity
3.2 Developing a Culture of Work in
the Aboriginal Community
3.3 Employment and Enterprise
Strategies
3.3.1 Aboriginal Employment Model
for Construction
3.3.2 Yaama Dhiyaan Training Centre
3.3.3 Aboriginal Enterprise Strategy
3.3.4 Aboriginal Business Service
3.3.5 Vocational education programs
for local Aboriginal school students
3.3.6 Business Enterprise training
for Aboriginal school students
3.3.7 Development of RWA area into
Aboriginal cultural precinct
4.1.1 Services for Aboriginal people
Improving the health and well-being
of children
Lift local school numeracy and
literacy levels to at least the State average
Lift local school attendance and
retention rates to at least the State average
Improve support for vulnerable
people
Reduce the incidence of Family
Violence
Increase participation and
involvement of young people in the community
Increase numbers of young people
accessing employment and training issues
Reduce Drug and Alcohol misuse
Reduce offending and recidivism
4.1.2 Review and Evaluation of the
progress of the Human Services Plan Phase One.
4.2 Draft Phase Two- Human Services
Plan
A. RWA’s Built Environment Plan
(Stage One)
B. RWA’s Employment and Enterprise
Plan
C. RWA’s Human Services Plan (Phase
One)
D. RWA’s Human Services Plan (Phase
Two) Draft
1.0 Introduction
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority (RWA) was established on 17
January 2005.
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004 sets out the
organisation’s aims and objectives. It contains a number of provisions which
are specifically directed towards overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in the
RWA’s operational area.
Whilst not formally expressed as seeking to close the
lifetime expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, the RWA’s
activities under the Act are targeted at issues which include health and
wellbeing, education, employment, housing, incarceration and the criminal
justice system, cultural identity, self-determination and economic development.
The RWA regards these issues as going to the core of Indigenous disadvantage
and has developed strategies which seek to tackle root causes of problems.
Indeed, the Terms of Reference for the Standing Committee’s Inquiry acknowledge
these as key issues which may impact on lifetime expectancy.
This submission therefore seeks to set out some of the
major activities and achievements of the RWA over nearly three years of
operation as part of the New South Wales Government’s ten year Redfern-Waterloo
Plan. It is submitted that a solid foundation is being laid for substantial and
sustainable progress towards overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in the
Redfern-Waterloo area.
The RWA has defined its strategic planning and operations
into three broad areas:
* Built Environment – the creation of new planning
controls on key strategic urban renewal sites to stimulate economic growth and
investment thereby facilitating employment and training opportunities,
encouraging new residents and affordable housing, improving public housing,
establishing new community and cultural facilities, and fostering a safer, more
balanced and therefore sustainable community, including through improved urban
design.
* Employment and Enterprise – the creation of essential
linkages between the area’s economic growth and local employment, education and
training needs –particularly for the Indigenous community, seeking partnerships
to broaden opportunities for locals beyond the area’s boundary, fostering
Indigenous enterprise in key areas such as tourism, arts and hospitality and
promoting advancement through sustainable self-determination.
* Human Services – the creation of a comprehensive reform
agenda for the delivery of essential human services including seeking new or
improved services to match the local community’s real needs, advocating
culturally-appropriate programs and enhanced social justice for the area’s most
disadvantaged, creating partnerships with key agencies and non-government
organisations to develop solutions to entrenched social problems and ensuring
that human services issues are relevantly reflected in the overall planning for
the area’s urban renewal.
Some of the key initiatives since the RWA’s commencement
include:
- more than $600 million has been earmarked for
urban renewal in Redfern-Waterloo – this will rise to more than $1 billion by
end 2008 - new planning controls have been introduced on
Government lands and other strategic sites as an incentive to investment and
economic growth - important new community facilities such as a
health centre and a national Indigenous centre of excellence are being
established - the RWA has achieved returns to Government of
more than $25 million from sale of surplus lands for urban renewal and
employment creation and this will increase by a further $100-120 million in
2008. - more than 2600 new jobs will have been created
(by the end of 2009), which represents a greater than 20% increase in
employment numbers for the whole of Redfern-Waterloo - 209 construction jobs have been created under
the RWA’s innovative Indigenous Employment Model. - an Indigenous training college has been
established with more than 70% of graduates obtaining employment - the RWA-managed
Australian Technology
Park (ATP) will achieve
normalised profits totalling $16.73 million, which are being reinvested in the
Park’s future growth - the market value of the ATP will have increased
by $43.15 million as a direct result of the RWA’s development activities - the built floor space at the ATP will have
increased from 44,000 square metres in 2006 to about 100,000 square metres by
2009 - a major reform to human services delivery has
been achieved at no net increase in cost to Government
2.0 Built Environment Plan
2.1 Stage One of the Plan
The Built Environment Plan (Stage One) encourages an
employment and investment based revitalisation of the area by developing new
planning controls on key strategic sites. These controls have been enacted in
the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005.
Stage One was publicly released on 30 August 2006
following an extensive process of community consultation. The key strategic
sites, which total about 35 hectares, are mostly owned by the State Government
and/or located near the Redfern Railway Station and the Redfern Town Centre.
The Plan also identifies strategies for associated
transport and traffic management, heritage preservation/adaptive reuse, open
space and public domain improvements, new infrastructure and community
facilities, enhanced connectivity through pedestrian and cycle access and
provisions for the achievement of a safer and more sustainable community.
It is envisaged that Stage One of the Plan will generate
about 440,000 square metres of employment space which in turn could create up
to 18,000 new jobs in the area. Although it is still only early days in the
context of a ten year strategy, development projects already facilitated by the
RWA will create about 2600 new jobs in the area which translates to more than a
20% increase in jobs in Redfern-Waterloo.
About 2000 new dwellings could also be developed under
Stage One.
Chapter 3 of this submission outlines in more detail the
beneficial employment, enterprise and training impacts on the Indigenous
community flowing from the RWA’s overall built environment strategy.
Achievements to date
In the Built Environment context, more than $600 million
has been earmarked for Redfern-Waterloo’s urban renewal from the date of the
RWA’s commencement in January 2005. This is expected to increase to more than
$1.1 billion by the end of 2008. The State Government will have been directly
responsible for facilitating about $1 billion of this current and future
investment.
Most of the construction or other projects detailed below
have a direct beneficial impact for the Indigenous community through jobs and
training or cultural activities and some also provide new or improved
facilities which further strengthen cultural resilience. Quantifiable
Indigenous impacts have been highlighted in bold.
The projects are:
- $123 million being invested by ATP Partnership
in constructing a new 43,500 sqm state-of-the-art media centre at the RWA-owned Australian Technology
Park (ATP). Works
currently underway and due for completion in September 2009 (60 Indigenous construction jobs to be
created). - Concept planning and sale by the RWA to allow
redevelopment of the former Rachel
Forster Hospital
site for a 150 dwelling residential development valued at $70 million upon
completion. Sale
is currently being finalised following conclusion of tender process in November
2007. - $47 million invested by the RWA in developing a
new research building at the ATP to house National ICT Australia and the
Defence, Science and Technology Organisation. Building due for completion at
end of 2007 (29 Indigenous construction
jobs). - $40 million invested by Arts NSW for a new
contemporary performing arts space through adaptive reuse of the heritage CarriageWorks at North Eveleigh.
Project completed in January 2007 (24
Indigenous construction jobs). - $45
million being invested by the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC)
in purchasing and transforming the former Redfern Public School into a new
National Indigenous Development Centre. Project approval for the new sports,
education, community and cultural centre of excellence given by Minister for
Planning in October 2007 with works expected to commence in early 2008 (20
Indigenous construction jobs). - $37 million to be delivered over the next 10
years for public amenities and works through the RWA’s Contributions Plan. Plan
approved by the Minister for Planning in May 2007. - $35 million to be delivered over the next 10
years for affordable housing through the RWA’s Affordable Housing Contributions
Plan (including $16 million in
affordable housing for Aboriginal residents). Plan approved by the Minister
for Planning in May 2007. - $23 million to be delivered over the next 10
years for affordable housing through the RWAs Affordable Housing Planning
Agreement resulting from the redevelopment of the former CUB site in Broadway.
The Agreement was finalised in January 2007. - $27 million being invested by the Department of
Housing (DoH) in the redevelopment of public housing in Redfern’s Elizabeth
Street. This will deliver 106 new dwellings which
will replace the existing homes on the site (RWA’s Indigenous Employment Model to be applied to the construction
contract – job numbers to be determined). - Development approval and sale by DoH of land
adjacent to the Elizabeth Street
redevelopment to allow construction of 158 new private dwellings with a completion
value estimated at $70-80 million. - $20 million invested by the City of Sydney on the upgrade to
Redfern and Regent Streets. Project completed in 2007 (25 Indigenous construction jobs in the City’s urban improvements
programs –including redevelopment of Redfern Park and the upgrading of three
parks). - $20 million being invested by the City of Sydney for the redevelopment of Redfern Park.
Works currently underway. - $19 million being invested by South Sydney Leagues Club in a major upgrade of its Chalmers Street
building and facilities. Works underway. In conjunction with the City’s Redfern Park upgrade, it signals the
“Return to Redfern” of the Rabbitohs football club, which has always
played a significant role in providing opportunities for the local Indigenous
community. Works currently underway. (5 Indigenous construction jobs). - $10
million to be invested by NSW Health in transforming the heritage former
Redfern Courthouse and Police Station into a major new community health
facility. Works to commence in 2008 and to be completed in August 2009
(Indigenous job numbers to be determined). - $8
million being invested by the Indigenous Land Corporation in the redevelopment
of the vacant former Black Theatre site in Cope Street. Works currently underway (7 Indigenous
construction jobs). - $6 million to be invested by the RWA in
constructing the Eveleigh Heritage Walk, a pedestrian/cycle bridge connecting North Eveleigh and the ATP. Detailed deign work underway (Indigenous job numbers to be determined). - $7.2 million invested by the RWA and ATP in new
roads and infrastructure to facilitate the Technology Park’s
future development. Works completed (6
Indigenous construction jobs). - $4.2 million invested by the NSW Police Service
in March 2005 in establishing a new police station opposite Redfern Railway
Station. - $3 million being invested by the RWA for the
adaptive re-use of the heritage Blacksmiths Workshop at North
Eveleigh to create community markets. Development approval
expected by early December 2007 and completion expected in second half of 2008
(Indigenous job numbers to be determined). - $1
million invested by the City of Sydney in upgrading three parks in the Eveleigh
Street precinct – Yellowmundee, Hugo Street Reserve and Pemulwuy Park. Works
completed. - $850,000 invested by the RWA in
developing the new Yaama Dhiyaan Indigenous training centre at North Eveleigh,
incorporating the Les Tobler Construction Training Centre. Accredited training
in the hospitality industry commenced in October 2006 and Koori Job Ready Courses in Construction commenced in early
2007. Training funds are mainly provided by the NSW Department of Education and
Training along with some additional Commonwealth funding ( a total of 209
Indigenous construction jobs to date and over 70% of hospitality graduates have
obtained work). - More than $1 million being invested by the City
of Sydney in the upgrade of the skate-park and
youth facilities at Waterloo
Park. - $1.25 million in total allocated by the RailCorp
and RWA for a concept design study for the upgrade of Redfern Railway station
($250K) and by RailCorp ($1 M) for further feasibility work in 2007-08 on the
upgrade.
Sale of Surplus Government Lands
In 2006 the RWA brokered the sale of the former Redfern Public School for $14.8 million to the
Commonwealth Government’s Indigenous Land Corporation. The ILC paid the sale
price to DET. This followed the RWA’s rezoning blueprint for the site under
Stage One of the BEP, which was given effect in the SEPP. The ILC has
subsequently received planning approval for construction of a $30 million
National Indigenous Development Centre on the site.
The SEPP also rezoned the former Rachel Forster
Hospital site in
accordance with the RWA’s blueprint in the BEP. Following this, the RWA concept
planned the site and put it to market. The sale tender process closed on 20
November 2007. Sale
proceeds will be used to build a $10 million community health centre at the
former Redfern Courthouse/Police Station. The completion value of the proposed
residential development on the former Hospital site is estimated to be about
$70 million.
The RWA is also currently concept planning surplus
RailCorp lands at North Eveleigh to take to
the market for sale in mid 2008, subject to approval. Once again this land was
rezoned by the RWA under its BEP. It is expected that the Concept Plan
application will be lodged in February 2008. The estimated commercial and
residential construction cost on this 10.5 hectare site is $466 million.
These projects are expected to be significant local
employment generators, in the construction phase and beyond. The RWA will be
seeking to apply its Indigenous Employment Model to these projects.
Aboriginal Housing
Company Land – Eveleigh
Street Precinct (including the Block)
The new planning controls developed by the RWA in Stage
One of the Built Environment Plan for the Eveleigh Street precinct, which
includes 7752 square metres of land owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company
(AHC), have considerably increased the value and development potential of AHC land.
AHC land that was formerly zoned residential or open space
has been rezoned as ‘Mixed Use’ with increased heights and floor space ratios.
Indeed under the RWA’s new planning controls, the development potential of AHC
land in the Eveleigh Street precinct has nearly doubled from that which existed
under the former City of Sydney planning controls – an increase of 6715 sqm
from 7752 sqm to 14467 sqm of development potential.
The new ‘Mixed Use’ zone provides for a range of land uses
within close proximity to Redfern Railway Station. It allows for employment
activity and job creation within a range of enterprises including businesses,
cultural, recreation and community services. The zone also allows housing.
On 24 October 2007, the AHC lodged a Concept Plan
application with the Department of Planning for redevelopment of its land in
the Eveleigh Street
precinct. It is understood that the application seeks to take advantage of the
significant opportunities provided by the new planning controls.
Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Agreement between the
Commonwealth and New South Wales – Indigenous Community
On 1 June 2006 the Commonwealth and NSW Governments
entered into a formal partnership agreement for cooperation “on enhancing
the economic and social revitalisation of Redfern-Waterloo in relation to the
Indigenous community”.
The Partnership Agreement states that the two governments
will work closely together on key areas including employment and enterprise,
education, Indigenous housing and the Block and human services.
The mutual aim of the Agreement is to address social and
economic disadvantage, to reduce welfare dependency through wealth creation and
to improve the delivery of services.
The terms of the agreement were negotiated by the RWA.
2.2 Proposed Stage Two of the Plan
The RWA is currently working in partnership with the
Department of Housing to ascertain the options that may exist for
revitalisation of existing public housing stock and the opportunities that this
may create to enhance the availability of affordable housing in
Redfern-Waterloo. The aim is to facilitate a comprehensive social housing
improvement strategy for the area.
Options may include:
- improving the public domain
- renewing public housing
- improving the mix of housing types and tenures
- encouraging sustainable communities and
enhancing social mix - facilitating the provision of affordable housing
through consideration of various financial models, including a shared equity
model of home ownership
The RWA and DoH will build on community strengths and
recognise in particular that high rise public housing is home to significant
communities. It is critical that the future built environment matches the
community’s needs.
The NSW Government has made the following public
commitments in respect to the future of public housing in Redfern-Waterloo:
- there will be no cuts to the amount of public
housing - current residents will not be disadvantaged
- all public tenancies are secure
The Redfern-Waterloo community and public housing tenants
in particular will be extensively consulted on any proposals for public housing
renewal.
The RWA expects that there may be significant potential
for Aboriginal employment arising from the implementation of public housing
renewal under Stage Two.
At this stage, the RWA anticipates that a draft of Stage
Two of the Built Environment Plan may be available for public exhibition by
March 2008.
2B Management of Australian Technology
Park
Improved Financial Performance
The RWA assumed ownership of the Australian Technology
Park on 17 January 2005
by virtue of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act 2004. However, the RWA did not
assume formal management of the ATP from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
until 1 April 2005. Upon assuming management control, the RWA immediately set
about a restructure of the company’s operations. A new business plan was
introduced and stricter financial disciplines were introduced.
Since 2004-2005, the ATP has recorded normalised profits
totalling $16.73 million.
The profits that the ATP company is generating will be
critical to financing the significant costs necessary to fund the future
development of residual land at the Park over the next five years or so.
Available funds may also be responsibly utilised towards reducing debt (up to
$47 million) incurred through the RWA’s Treasury borrowings to fund the
development of the NICTA building.
The table below provides a year to year comparison of the
company’s strong performance over the past three financial years. It
illustrates strong revenue and profit growth over the period whilst operating
costs and employee related expenses have been reduced.
ATP Year to Year comparison [please see original for graph
page 11 of submission – link No.
11, Redfern-Waterloo Authority]
Commercial Development of the Park
On 1 April 2005, the ATP was comprised of about 44,000
square metres of employment space, most of which was in heritage former
railways buildings which had been adaptively reused. Indeed, there had been no
new commercial development at the ATP in the previous five years. About 1000
employees worked at the Park.
Since assuming ownership and control, the RWA has built an
additional 12,000 square metres of employment space in the form of a new
research facility to house National ICT Australia and the Defence Science and
Technology Organisation. The RWA’s $47 million development will be completed at
the end of 2007.
In October 2007, the RWA also completed its $7.2 million
Roads and Infrastructure Project, which has built new infrastructure critical
to the Park’s future commercial development.
In November 2007, early works also commenced on the $123
million development of a 43,500 square metre media hub to house the Seven
Network, Pacific Magazines and Global Television in the first instance.
Probably the biggest single private sector investment in Redfern’s history, the
development negotiated by the RWA with ATP Partnership Limited is scheduled for
completion in September 2009.
The above developments alone will see the ATP’s employment
floor space increase from 44,000 in 2005 to almost 100,000 square metres by
2009. Total jobs at the Park will have increased from 1000 to about 3600. This
also represents about a 20% increase in jobs for the entire Redfern-Waterloo
area, reversing a decades-long decline in employment numbers.
Current projects have created a total 95 Indigenous
construction jobs at the ATP. The agreement for the development of the Seven
Network is also intended to generate further Indigenous jobs in the media
businesses establishing at the Park.
Other development projects currently under negotiation are
expected to see the ATP develop its full potential of 200,000 square metres of
employment space over the next five or so years, which will result in about
8000 jobs at the Park. This means that the ATP will be the key employment
generator under Stage One of the Built Environment Plan.
It is important to note that the market value of the ATP
has increased by $43.15 million as a result of the RWA’s development activities
over the past two years.
3.0 Training, Enterprise & Employment
3.1 Jobs, Opportunity,
Prosperity
The RWA’s employment and enterprise development strategy
aims to directly challenge the area’s social and economic disadvantage by
fostering jobs, educational and life opportunities and a higher standard of
living.
The RWA sees wealth creation as an antidote to welfare
dependency. The path to wealth creation through well-paid employment is education
– whether this is through vocational education or tertiary education.
Urban renewal will mean enhancing employment and
enterprise opportunities for the local and wider metropolitan community, as
well as revitalising the area with new residents and economic activity. The
Redfern-Waterloo Plan encompasses the three inter-linked elements of renewal of
the built environment, facilitation of employment and enterprise development
and reform of human services delivery by Government and Non-Government Organisations.
The Built Environment Plan proposes to create 440,000
square metres of net employment floor space that will be developed over future
years through commercial development on sites currently designated as State
Significant within the Redfern-Waterloo area. This translates to about 18,000
jobs.
There are currently about 12,500 jobs in the area, which
is more than the resident workforce, yet local Aboriginal unemployment is a
major issue. It would seem therefore that local unemployment is more about local
job seekers needing greater training and skills to secure and maintain jobs in
either the local area or from the adjoining CBD, rather than simply a lack of
job opportunities.
Whilst there have been previous attempts to address
Aboriginal employment issues in the area, what is needed is a comprehensive
training and employment strategy that delivers skilled job seekers to meet the
specific employment needs of the market, taking into account future growth
potential.
The Aboriginal community has a high rate of unemployment
amongst those who are in the labour force (31 %). There are an extremely high
percentage of local Aboriginal people not in the labour force (62%). This
widespread non-engagement with the workforce is a major factor contributing to
the social and economic disadvantages facing the community.
Youth unemployment in the Aboriginal community has
long-term consequences because it occurs at the beginning of a person’s working
life. Not only does the person suffer from a lack of income, but joblessness at
this age also means they miss out on opportunities for skill development that
results from on-the-job training and subsequent work experience.
Aboriginal people who experience unemployment early have a
higher probability of experiencing joblessness and lower earnings in the
future.
Studies (such as by the Smith Family 2003) have shown that
the youth most at risk of unemployment live in disadvantaged communities
characterised by low socio-economic levels; that have a higher level of early
school leavers with associated low levels of literacy and numeracy skills and
associated low levels of workforce participation.
Addressing the root causes of social disadvantage is a
major part of addressing unemployment in the area. The Human Services Plan for
Redfern-Waterloo, finalised by the RWA in December 2005, seeks to do this.
Phase One of the Human Services Plan addresses reforming and integrating local
services for Aboriginal people. (Refer to Chapter 4 for further details of the
Human Services Plan)
Providing opportunities for wealth creation is an
important element of the RWA’s employment strategy. Empowering Aboriginal
people to create their own wealth (through meaningful employment or starting
their own enterprise) is one aspect of addressing the root causes of social
disadvantage experienced in sectors of the community.
3.2 Developing a Culture of Work in the Aboriginal
Community
The reasons for 31% of the Aboriginal Community being
unemployed and 62% of the Aboriginal community not being in the labour force
will vary from person to person, but will include: lack of skills and
opportunity, physical and mental disabilities; family caring arrangements which
prohibit ‘traditional’ work and generations of family members being unemployed.
The RWA wants to identify ways to motivate people who are
able to work but for various reasons currently do not want to. Some people have
lost motivation to work or look for work after many years facing lack of
available opportunities, discrimination, stereo-typing, training course after
training course that has not led to employment and even through not knowing how
to apply for jobs.
Many Aboriginal people have grown up in an environment
where their parents and role models are unemployed and they therefore have much
less familiarity with a culture of work.
A large number of young people in the area have grown up
in an environment where their parents and role models are unemployed. This can
have a large impact on attitudes to working when, for example, a young person
may not live in a home where any adults are engaged in the workforce. Young
Aboriginal people in these households are markedly disadvantaged in terms of
exposure to working skills, the realities of working life and the simple
household rhythms of getting ready to go to work in the mornings.
Workplace technologies are changing rapidly and Aboriginal
people from households where family members are not in the workforce suffer
from a lack of skills and exposure to modern workplace approaches and
processes, particularly in relationship to the computerisation of complex tasks
and the changes in the composition of work.
Achievements to date
During 2006 and early 2007 the RWA commissioned a
specialised project to work with the local Aboriginal community to gain an
understanding of the factors that impact on how a community develops a culture
of work. The project focused on identifying current programs and initiatives
that work and developing strategies that are applicable to Aboriginal people.
RWA has found the best way to create a culture of work is
to create the opportunity for Aboriginal people to become employed in
mainstream jobs.
3.3 Employment and Enterprise Strategies
The RWA has developed several major strategies that are
being progressively implemented over the next ten years.
The Built Environment Plan (Stage One) has been finalised
and is currently being implemented. Initial projections estimate that up to
18,000 jobs can be created in future years through commercial development on
the nine sites currently designated as State Significant by the
Redfern-Waterloo Authority
Achievements to date
600 jobs alone will be created at the Australian Technology
Park by 2008 with the
RWA’s decision to develop a $47 million new building to house the National ICT
Australia and the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation and due for
completion in late 2007. A number of other significant building projects at the
ATP have commenced demonstrating the huge employment generating potential of
this site alone.
The largest project underway is the $123 million
development of the corporate headquarters of the Seven Network and Pacific
Magazines at ATP. This development is expected to generate 2,000 permanent
jobs. The RWA has negotiated for 60 jobs for Aboriginal people during the
construction phase and is identifying job opportunities for Aboriginal people
once operations have commenced.
The RWA has identified several major strategies that
support the development of employment and enterprise opportunities for both
local Aboriginal residents as well as the broader metropolitan Aboriginal
community. These opportunities are located in walking distance to Sydney’s second most
accessible railway station; thereby ensuring jobs for Aboriginal people are
located close to public transport services.
In addition to the above projects, the RWA’s Employment
Plan had identified further employment opportunities for Aboriginal people from
the construction and long term developments at Rachel
Foster Hospital
site, Redfern Street Community Health Centre, National Indigenous Development
Centre, the North Eveleigh precinct, the Redfern Station-Regent Street
precinct and the redevelopment of Elizabeth Street.
3.3.1 Aboriginal Employment Model for Construction
In urban renewal projects on Government land the RWA creates
jobs for Aboriginal people through implementing Aboriginal Participation
principles. It is essential to the RWA’s urban renewal vision that the local
Aboriginal community are direct and substantial beneficiaries of the area’s
social and economic revitalisation.
Only tenders that include an Aboriginal Participation Plan
are accepted for major construction works on Government land.
The RWA is negotiating with other Government agencies to
do likewise, and is facilitating the training of a supply of skilled Aboriginal
people to take up these opportunities in Government contracts outside of
Redfern-Waterloo.
Achievements to date
The RWA’s Indigenous Employment Model was developed to
ensure that the creation of employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in
the construction industry would be successful. Without such a model employment
opportunities for Aboriginal people have historically not been successful. The
model makes it easy for employers to employ Aboriginal trainees and
apprentices, through the RWA recruiting, providing pre-apprenticeship training
and valuable mentoring support. .
The success of the RWA’s ground breaking Indigenous
Employment Model continues as other sectors of Government are now using it to
employ Aboriginal people on their construction projects. The Indigenous
Employment Model has created significant numbers of jobs for Indigenous
workers.
The RWA has applied the Indigenous Employment Model to all
government projects in the area resulting in 24 jobs for Aboriginal people
being created during the refurbishment of the Carriageworks Arts Centre and
associated infrastructure works at North Eveleigh.
6 positions created on the refurbishment of Yaama Dhiyaan
Training Centre; 29 positions created during the construction of the NICTA
building at ATP; 6 positions created on the roadwork contract at ATP and 60
positions to be created during the construction of the Channel 7 Headquarters
at ATP.
The RWA provides the model to the City of Sydney which has resulted in the creation of
more than 25 employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in the City’s urban
improvement programs. The RWA provides the full resources of its Indigenous
Employment Model to ensure the employment of Aboriginal people is successful.
To date the model has been used on a number of the City’s
projects such as the Glebe Point Road Upgrade, Redfern-Regent Street upgrade and the Redfern Park redevelopment.
The Commonwealth Government – through the Indigenous Land
Corporation – is working with the RWA to employ 7 Aboriginal people during the
construction work on the Black Theatre site on Cope Street. The Indigenous Employment
Model is also being used to create over 20 positions for Aboriginal people on
the construction of the National Indigenous Development Centre on the site of
the former Redfern
Public School.
Since the RWA commenced implementing the Indigenous
Employment Model in mid 2005 approximately 209 jobs for Aboriginal people have
been brokered in the construction industry in the Redfern Waterloo area.
Of these 209 positions, 97 people have been employed to
date with another 112 positions to come on line in 2008-2009.
An analysis of the jobs filled to date identified
positions across 24 trades, the major ones as follows:
- Skilled labourers 30%;
- Metal trades 9%
- Painters 8%
- Apprentice carpenters 7%
- Apprentice electricians 7%
- Apprentice plumbers 7%
- Bricklayers 5%
- Civil trainees 4%
- Form work trainees 4%
- Traffic controllers 3%
- Apprentice landscapers 3%
Three Aboriginal apprentices and trainees employed under
the model received industry awards for excellence during 2007.
Future directions
The RWA aims to have the State, Federal and local
government sectors adopt the highly successful Indigenous Employment Model on
capital programs across NSW in areas of high Aboriginal populations. Other
State Government agencies are expected to use the RWA’s model in the near
future, including the Departments of Commerce and Housing, and the Transport,
Infrastructure and Development Corporation (TIDC).
The RWA is also negotiating for the City of Sydney to use the model
on infrastructure projects across the whole of the City as well as negotiating
with the local government park representative body to expand the model across
local government projects throughout NSW.
The RWA has commenced offering the model to the private
sector outside of the RWA area to increase the number of jobs available for
Aboriginal people. This area has been targeted by the RWA as offering unlimited
potential following on from the successful program run in 2007.
3.3.2 Yaama Dhiyaan Training Centre
Achievements to date
The Yaama Dhiyaan Training &
Hospitality College
opened its doors at Darlington in October 2006
to offer a unique learning experience. An initiative of the RWA in partnership
with Aboriginal elder Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo
and young Aboriginal chef, Matthew Cribb, the Centre offers an accredited
hospitality training course with a strong focus on getting a job at its
conclusion.
The NSW Government through the RWA committed $750,000 in
capital works and establishment costs to establish this centre in 2006, with a
further $100,000 committed in 2007. NSW Department of Education and Training
has also provided support through training funds along with the Commonwealth
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The course teaches a nationally accredited 8 week
Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations), with a focus on Indigenous culture
& cuisine. Graduates also receive certification in Barista, Responsible
Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gaming (RCG). The quality
and scope of the training provides graduates with the qualifications and
experience necessary for employment in the restaurant and café sectors, tourism
operations, clubs, hotels and catering enterprises.
“There’s a real feeling of pride amongst the local
community that the Centre has been established here in Redfern” says Aunty
Beryl Van Oploo.
Yaama Dhiyaan also provides function and catering
services, which are an invaluable source of work opportunities for students.
Significant on the job training and employment opportunities are also
anticipated when the RWA commences operation of a commercial café and function
centre in early 2008.
Training is offered to a minimum of 60 students over four
courses delivered annually. More than 57 students have already graduated since
Yaama Dhiyaan opened in October 2006.
The RWA has developed partnerships with major hospitality
employers Compass Group, Accor Hotels and Spotless. Students are interviewed
for jobs with these companies towards the end of their training.
Of the last hospitality courses, over 70% of students
found employment within a month of graduating, including some who have never
been in the workforce previously. Jobs
include housekeeping, working in banquets and functions and as kitchen stewards
at Accor Hotels around Sydney;
Human Resources at Qantas; and catering work with Compass Group. In addition to
this, some graduates have found jobs in other industries or have gone back to
complete further study. They have been able to do this after they have
increased their self confidence at Yaama
The Authority has developed partnerships with major
hospitality companies including presentations to the students about employment
opportunities with their companies, structured site visits to expose the
students to the industry, programmed interviews and work experience.
This exposure to the industry is invaluable along with the
work experience gained on Yaama Dhiyaan functions and catering events.
Students who have graduated over the last year have found
employment or otherwise in the following areas:
- Employed in hospitality industry 45%
- Employed in industries other than hospitality 21%
- Undertaking further education 8%
- Custody issues preventing ability to work 8%
- Parenthood 6%
- Looking for work 6%
- Travel 1%
- No contact 5%
Located beneath Yaama Dhiyaan is the Les Tobler
Construction Training Centre where the Koori Job
Ready Course in Construction is taught.
A partnership of the RWA and TAFE NSW, the Centre is named
in honour of the Aboriginal elder Les Tobler, who was instrumental in
establishing the first Koori Job
Ready Program and involved in recruiting unemployed Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders for pre-employment programs.
In April 2007, 15 indigenous students took part in what
was the first of the three 8-week Koori Job
Ready Courses in Construction scheduled for 2007. On completing the courses,
graduates are offered employment on various Redfern-Waterloo building projects
through the RWA’s Indigenous Employment Model. Since this programme was
established in 2006, the number of students who have graduated is more than 60
with another 15 expected to graduate in December 2007.
The on-site training program operating out of the centre
provides invaluable experience for students wishing to enter the construction
industry. The benefits of on-site training are substantial, particularly for
Aboriginal students as Aboriginal teachers can teach them within a workplace
context, where successful Aboriginal tradespeople are employed on the major
projects.
3.3.3 Aboriginal Enterprise Strategy
Achievements to date
The RWA delivers business workshops for Aboriginal
enterprises, focusing on key business topics. These workshops are targeted at
Aboriginal people interested in expanding their own construction based
businesses, as well as identifying opportunities for enterprise development.
The workshops have enhanced the business skills of
existing enterprises as well as informed Aboriginal people who are considering
expanding enterprises about business planning and financing.
The Aboriginal Enterprise Service also links private
sector companies to Aboriginal businesses that support the growth of Aboriginal
enterprises. This is achieved by providing an easily accessible point of
contact and up to date information on Aboriginal enterprises via the RWA web
site and through direct marketing to major construction companies.
Future directions
Enterprise Development opportunities for Aboriginal people
in the Service industries
The Authority has identified the service industries as
offering employment and enterprise development opportunities for local people.
The Authority has developed a partnership with the
Indigenous Land Corporation to develop a training, enterprise and employment
strategy to ensure Aboriginal people are able to take up the future employment
and contracting services that will be required to service the National
Indigenous Development Centre, including hospitality cleaning, property
maintenance, security and landscape maintenance services.
3.3.4 Aboriginal Business Service
Achievements to date
The RWA has set up an Aboriginal Business Service, in
partnership with the Department of State and Regional Development, to encourage
and cuitivate successful indigenous businesses. Small business is a growing
sector within the Redfern-Waterloo community and one where there are employment
opportunities for local Aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal Enterprise Service has operated out of the
RWA’s office in Redfern since October 2005. The consultants located at the RWA
provide information on business start-up and business development. Aboriginal
people benefit from a one to one approach with an experienced business advisor
who can provide strategic business information and guidance. Making the service
accessible locally provides greater support to the Aboriginal business
community.
To date, the service has advised on a wide range of
business initiatives from cafes to driving schools. The RWA is committed to
expanding this service in line with future demand and sees a role in
identifying business opportunities and working with the community to encourage
local people to take up the emerging opportunities.
Over the 2 years that the service has been operating, the
business consultant has assisted over 70 potential or existing enterprises and
is seen by the local Aboriginal community as a significant support specifically
available for Aboriginal people.
Future directions
The continuation of this service is invaluable to enable
Aboriginal people access to professional business support. The Authority will
negotiate with the Department of State and Regional Development to continue to
jointly fund this initiative
3.3.5 Vocational education programs for local
Aboriginal school students
The education and employment training systems play a key
role in preparing Aboriginal young people for employment. Completing Year 12
provides a significant buffer against unemployment (particularly amongst
Aboriginal youth where high school retention rates are half that of non-Indigenous
youth).
Phase one of the Human Services Plan for Redfern-Waterloo
has prioritised lifting the local school attendance and retention rates and
local school numeracy and literacy levels to at least the state average. These
factors alone have a large impact on a person’s employability.
Through teaching local Aboriginal children vocational and
enterprise skills and exposing them to community based employment experiences,
they have an increased chance of successfully transitioning from school to
employment or further education and training.
Vocational learning is appropriate for all years of
schooling and includes general employability skills, enterprise education,
career education, community and work based learning.
Vocational learning should provide basic skills and
knowledge relevant to a range of workplace settings. There should also be a
strong focus on commencing pathways to employment and further vocational
programs. Assisting students to set goals that lead to future employment and
providing employment experiences is also important.
Achievements to date
The RWA delivers vocational educational opportunities to Alexandria Park Community
School in construction
and hospitality.
Students are offered work experience at Yaama Dhiyaan
function centre throughout the year. In addition, the Authority delivers a
practical building program each year, aimed at students at risk of disengaging
with school. Both programs have proven highly successful.
In addition, through Yaama Dhiyaan, the Authority is able
to provide vocational training for young Aboriginal people in the Juvenile
Justice system that historically have been excluded from achieving vocational
based outcomes.
3.3.6 Business Enterprise training for Aboriginal school students
Achievements to date
In 2006 the RWA delivered a business skills program for
Aboriginal students at Alexandria
Park School
through the successful school based Young Achievers Australia program.
This program taught school students through experiential
learning techniques to: develop, finance, produce, market and sell the product
they developed. The practical experience gained through this initiative has
benefited those students wishing to pursue a career in business, as well as
expose others to potential job opportunities in their community through
enterprise development.
As the RWA’s work progresses, it will:
- Work with the local community to ensure that the
opportunities for Aboriginal people through cadetships are maximised for young
Aboriginal people in the area. - Expand cultural enterprises through design
production linked to the tourist industry as well as support connections to
international markets. - Support Aboriginal cultural enterprises to
create a cultural experience in Redfern targeted at the growing cultural
tourism industry. - Facilitate the commercial development of
cultural enterprises. - Work with other programs that support
entrepreneurial development in young people.
3.3.7 Development of RWA area into Aboriginal
cultural precinct
Achievements to date
The RWA is implementing a number of strategies to
reposition Redfern-Waterloo as a major cultural precinct in Sydney. Opportunities for cultural enterprise
development are expected to grow commensurate with the success of the
revitalisation program.
The CarriageWorks
Contemporary Performing Arts Centre currently operating at the North Eveleigh provides a unique opportunity to develop a
cultural industry precinct within the RWA operational area. To facilitate this,
the RWA-owned Australian Technology
Park is providing
sponsorship support of $125,000 over four years to help bring the Sydney
Festival to the CarrriageWorks each January.
The North Eveleigh
cultural precinct has become the creative heart of the RWA urban renewal
program; an evolving and dynamic urban area offering a unique environment for
residential and commercial development.
The RWA has identified the opportunity for a significant
Aboriginal Arts Centre to be developed in the North
Eveleigh precinct. The centre would showcase Aboriginal arts as
well as provide the opportunity for cultural industry development. This would
include Indigenous design, textile printing and clothing manufacturing sold
through the Arts Centre and retail outlets.
Through the development of local markets at North Eveleigh, a number of other enterprise
opportunities will arise through food stalls, craft and art stalls and
entertainment. Involvement of Aboriginal people in these markets will be a key
element in their success and will be what differentiates them from other
markets across Sydney.
The North Eveleigh
cultural precinct, along with the development of Indigenous cultural tourism in
the area, will create employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.
To support and sustain a cultural industry sector, the RWA
in partnership with the Department of State and Regional Development, will hold
cultural industries business development workshops in 2008. The workshops will
focus on market and arts development opportunities for Aboriginal people in the
Redfern-Waterloo area.
3.3.8 Cultural resilience
The RWA is committed to strengthening Aboriginal cultural
resilience through the development of enterprises that celebrate Aboriginal
culture.
Achievements to date
Yaama Dhiyaan has provided Aboriginal people with a place
in their community where they are proud to be Aboriginal. Yaama celebrates
Aboriginal culture through its cuisine. It is a show case for Aboriginal art,
showing pieces from the Boomali Aboriginal Artist collection.
The management and staff at Yaama is Aboriginal and the
Aboriginal community expresses its support by choosing to have their weddings,
wakes, birthday parties, elder’s events and policy launches at Yaama.
Aunty Beryl Van Oploo teaches the non Aboriginal community
about the culture of Aboriginal Australians. Aunty Beryl embodies cultural
resilience. Yaama hosts cultural awareness and appreciation events for schools,
businesses, universities and the private sector.
Over 100 students graduate from Yaama Dhiyaan and the Les
Tobler Training Centre annually. At the completion of each course a formal
graduation ceremony allows the family and friends of the students to come
together to celebrate the success of their child, parent or relative in a
joyous public event. These events celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal
people and Aboriginal culture in an Aboriginal environment and provide positive
role models of successful Aboriginal people.
Cultural resilience is the ability to withstand the
pressure that main stream society places on marginalised communities. The
Authority’s position is to maximise the number of Aboriginal people who
successfully complete their education and move into employment or enterprise
development thereby achieving economic independence. Economic independence
facilitates self determination.
Future Direction
The Authority’s is committed to work with Aboriginal
people to cement the positive initiatives in the Redfern Waterloo area and to
facilitate the ongoing celebration of Aboriginal culture through the
development of an Aboriginal Arts Centre and Aboriginal cultural industries.
4.0 Human Services Plan
A review of human services in Redfern and Waterloo conducted in 2004
concluded that many services in the area were poorly coordinated and
integrated. In some instances, the review found that there were also administrative
inefficiencies, poor governance and there was service duplication. It was noted
that services could offer better value for money if enhanced integration was
achieved.
The Redfern Waterloo Authority developed the
Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan in partnership with Commonwealth, State
and Local government agencies, service providers and the local community. The
Plan aims to improve the coordination, quality and access to health, education,
disability, transport, employment and other human services in Redfern and Waterloo.
The Human Services Plan was developed in Phases. Phase One
focuses on improving services delivered to children and families, Aboriginal
people and young people. It also identifies priorities and actions to address
improvements to the delivery of health services.
Phase Two looks at improvements to service delivery for
older people, people with disabilities, migrant communities and homeless
people.
Along with improvements to service delivery the Plan also
sets out to improve the capacity of non-government organisations (NGOs)
operating in the area to deliver better services.
Overall, the Human Services Plan is premised on delivering
positive outcomes for the Redfern-Waterloo community, to be achieved through
reforms to service delivery within existing resources.
4.1 Phase One
On 13 December 2005 the NSW State Cabinet endorsed the
release of the Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan (Phase One).
The Phase One priorities are:
- Improve the health and well being of children;
- Lift local school numeracy and literacy levels
to at least the state average; - Lift local school attendance and retention rates
to at least the state average; - Improve support for vulnerable people;
- Reduce the incidence of family violence;
- Increase participation and involvement of young
people in the community; - Increase numbers of young people accessing
employment and training opportunities; - Reduce drug and alcohol misuse;
- Reduce offending and recidivism; and
- Build community capacity.
4.1.1 Services for Aboriginal people
As part of the development of the Human Service Plan, NSW
Government agencies have worked with Aboriginal and other service providers to
ensure the strategies and actions in the plan deliver positive outcomes for the
Aboriginal community.
NSW Government agencies and non-government organisations
are also required as part of the Plan to provide services in a culturally
appropriate manner and in ways that are relevant to the needs of the Aboriginal
community.
The Plan also creates opportunities for the Aboriginal
community to find ways forward and for Elders to pass on heritage to children
and young people in a positive way. Where appropriate actions in the Plan have
also been linked to Two Ways Together, the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Affairs
Plan 2003-2012.
Achievements to date
There has been much progress of the Human Services Plan
Phase One to date. Reports on the implementation of actions by Government
agencies have been collected by the RWA on a quarterly basis and base line data
relating to the priority areas has also been recorded and will continue to be
recorded until 2010 to track the anticipated changes over time.
Actions by agencies that have already been achieved in the
priority areas and that will specifically assist in closing the gap to overcome
indigenous disadvantage include the following:
Improving the health and well-being of children
- The Aboriginal Teenage mothers’ sustained home
visiting project is in place in Redfern and Waterloo. - A Pathways Project that documents service
delivery pathways to care from maternity hospitals in the Eastern Zone for
pregnant women and family with young children has been completed. - Early Childhood Action team formed by NSW
Department of Community Service to support playgroups - Connect Redfern
is providing support to programs such as the Inner
City Mobile Playbus
and Playgroups in the Parks incorporating targeted early literacy and numeracy
activities as well as facilitating network and support forums for childcare
workers. - Redfern Occasional Care
has provided an additional 10 baby places.
Lift local school numeracy and literacy levels to
at least the State average
- Plans that have explicit literacy and numeracy
goals to meet Department of Education and Training targets for Aboriginal
students are in place at Alexandria Park Community School (APCS) and Darlington
Public School
(Aboriginal students make up a significant proportion of these school
communities). - The Exodus Foundation Tutorial Centre to improve
literacy among disadvantaged children is in operation. - Early intervention approaches to literacy e.g.
Reading Recovery is being implemented by APCS and Darlington Public School.
Lift local school attendance and retention rates to
at least the State average
- Targeted leadership programs for Aboriginal
students are in place at APCS, Green Square School
and Darlington
Public School. - Regional student welfare consultant and regional
consultant Aboriginal education are acting as initial mentors for Aboriginal
students. - Restorative Justice Practices with a strong
emphasis on Aboriginal students and involving Aboriginal mentors being trialled
at APCS - Mentor
training for Aboriginal Education Aides, Aboriginal tutors and community
members offered. - All Aboriginal Department of Community Services
(DoCS) workers have been trained in Family Decision Making practices. - All Aboriginal DoCS workers have committed to
participating in a Family Conferencing model. - Redfern Waterloo Case Co-ordination Project
targets school attendance for at risk children and young people. - Plan-it-Youth (youth mentoring program)
Coordinator appointed and program is being rolled out at APCS.
Improve support for vulnerable people
- DoCS Early Intervention Team established to
support improved access to and coordination of services to families in need of
assistance and improved case management – this includes increased staff numbers
at Yallamundi the Aboriginal Intensive Family Based service run by DoCS.
Reduce the incidence of Family Violence
- Family Violence Taskforce established. This
Taskforce has representation from local Aboriginal organisations. - Family Violence position established at
Mudgin-gal (funded by FACSIA) - RWA have supported the ‘Black out Violence’
campaign (resource development and support of local activities). - Two additional Police Aboriginal Community
Liaison Officers have been employed in the Local Area Command - RWA have sponsored the Mudgin-gal Chairperson to
attend interstate conference
Increase participation and involvement of young
people in the community
- RWA have supported the establishment of Midnight
Basketball program in Redfern - The City of Sydney
has supported young people from Redfern and Waterloo to participate in the Nura Mani
Athletic Carnival and in the ATSI Basketball Nationals. - Establishment of the Koori Toastmasters Youth
Leadership Program - Horse Whispering Program with NSW Police Horse
for young people - Police Youth mentoring program
- Commencement of Police Aboriginal Youth Advisory
Committee - RWA Aboriginal Boy and Men’s Fishing Mentoring
Clinic - Youthblock Health Service have developed two
programs specifically targeting Aboriginal youth — Rediscovering Native
Ancestry & Photo U & Me — creative arts program reconnecting Aboriginal
young people to their communities and health services.
Increase numbers of young people accessing
employment and training issues
See Chapter 3 on Training, Enterprise and Employment
Reduce Drug and Alcohol misuse
- RWA and City of Sydney have developed a proposal for a Dry
Alcohol Facility in Redfern that will cater specifically for Aboriginal men.
This project has attained support from the NSW Department of Housing in the
provision of a facility with the RWA allocating funding for the refurbishment
of the building. Funding is being sought from the Commonwealth to operate the
service. - Aboriginal organisations have been consulted
regarding the establishment of the Redfern Waterloo Drug & Alcohol
Taskforce - The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment
(MERIT) program is providing high percentages of referrals for Aboriginal
people in Redfern and Waterloo
with 66% of Aboriginal referrals completing the program. - Holistic Healing practices offered in Redfern
& Waterloo - Aboriginal school community consulted regarding
the delivery of culturally appropriate drug and alcohol educations to young
Aboriginal people in schools. - Increase in Aboriginal baby birth weights,
reduction in neonatal deaths and reduced the risks of associated domestic
violence and child protection issues through increased numbers of women
accessing the South West Area Health Service Perinatal and Family Drug Health
Service. - Development and implementation of a range of
actions through the Waterloo Green Action Plan to address the health needs of
street drinkers
Reduce offending and recidivism
- Increased use of Youth Justice Conferencing —
Police implementing young
offenders legal referrals in partnership with
the Aboriginal Legal Service - The Start Again Mentoring Program (StAMP) links
local residents (trained as mentors) to people who have exited custody and are
now living in or connected to the City of Sydney
Local Government Area. It is in place as part of the
Redfern Waterloo Community Safety Action Plan.
Building community capacity
- The RWA with NSW TAFE provided cross cultural
awareness training to NGO’s and Government agencies . - The RWA in partnership with NSW TAFE provided
Governance training to the Aboriginal NGO’s within the RWAs operational area. - A Sticky-Beak Tour of government agencies roles
and responsibilities was offered to all NGO’s. - Babana Men’s Group — the RWA have provided
resources and support to this group since it’s inception in February 2006. This
100 strong group of men meet on a monthly basis to promote positive involvement
of Aboriginal men in the local community in a variety of activities and
programs. - The RWA support and participate in the local
Women’s group, the Koori Interagency and HACC Koori Advisory Group. - RWA have supported a number of NAIDOC week
activities in 2005, 2006 and 2007. - RWA have supported the Koori Knockout
competition in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
4.1.2 Review and Evaluation of the progress of the
Human Services Plan Phase One.
An independent qualified consultant has been contracted to
undertake the review and evaluation of the progress of the Human Services Plan
Phase One to date.
An Evaluation Framework for the Human Services Plan has
been developed and was endorsed by the relevant stakeholders in June 2006.
This framework consists of a hierarchy of outcome,
intermediate and process indicators covering the ten key priority areas.
Key tasks in developing the Evaluation report will
include:
- Review of relevant plans and policies including
the State Plan 2006 and Two Ways Together for Aboriginal people. - Assembly and interpretation of 12 month data on
outcome indicators compared to baseline data. - Assembly and interpretation of 12 month data on
service output and intermediate indicators compared to baseline data. - Assembly and assessment of agency performance in
implementing key actions and strategies, and - Consultation with key stakeholders including
government agencies, non government agencies and community.
The draft evaluation report will be prepared for
circulation to the Human Services Plan Implementation Senior Officers Group for
comment in early March 2008. The Human Services Plan will continue to be
reviewed and evaluated on a biennial basis to monitor progress and achievement
of anticipated outcomes for the community of Redfern and Waterloo.
4.2 Draft Phase Two- Human Services Plan
The draft Phase Two of the Human Services Plan has been
the subject of a community consultation process. The draft Plan proposes to
continue the implementation of Phase One and ensure consistency and
complementarity between actions in the two phases. The draft Plan is currently
awaiting formal Government endorsement.
The draft Phase Two of the Plan is intended to help
achieve three major priorities under the State Plan: Strengthening Aboriginal
Communities, Opportunity and support for the most vulnerable and early
intervention to tackle disadvantage.
The eight draft priority areas are:
- Improving dementia support;
- Improving service quality for migrant
communities; - Improving access to aged care and health
services by Aboriginal people 45 years and older; - Reducing homelessness;
- Improving identification of need and access to
services for people with a disability; - Reducing social isolation;
- Improving access to local and community
transport for people who are transport disadvantaged; and - Improving safety and amenity.
Key draft actions arising from the priorities are to:
- Make it easier for older people to access
dementia services by improving hours of operation; - Involve general practitioners in diagnosis, care
and case management; - Increase respite services for carers;
- Improve access to information through community
language radio and newspapers; - Improve access to English classes for new
migrants; - Establish a Redfern Community Health Centre to
improve the delivery and coordination of health services to the local
community; - Examine the extension of the Seniors Card to
Aboriginal people aged 45 or older; - Examine the need for an aged care facility for
Aboriginal people; - Increase the number of Aboriginal people working
in local services; - Develop a support service for homeless people
that is culturally appropriate and addresses the needs of ‘transient’ homeless
people; - Pilot housing models that lead to sustainable
accommodation; - Develop an affordable housing strategy;
- Ensure modifications to Redfern Railway Station,
and other infrastructure, cater to people with disability; - Undertake community safety audits in public
housing estates with the support and assistance of tenants; - Give greater consideration to current tenants’
needs in the allocation of new tenancies; - Introduce an ongoing audit of maintenance in
public housing such as repairing lights, doors and removal of graffiti; - Involve older people in classroom and school
activities; - Examine the need for enhanced community
facilities in the Redfern-Waterloo area; - Trial projects that improve transport access for
older people, people with disability, transient people and people with low
incomes; - Improve transport connections to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
and shopping venues; - Actively engage older people in planning and
implementing urban renewal strategies and improving the use of public space; - Review current and future Department of Housing
maintenance work plans; - Improve access to community facilities such as
libraries, computer rooms, meeting rooms and community kitchens; and - Examine the need for additional aged care
facilities in the Redfern-Waterloo area.
4.2.1 Phase Two Evaluation
Subject to endorsement by Government, the Human Services
Plan Phase Two will also have a specific evaluation framework developed to
review and evaluate progress. The Evaluation Framework contains a hierarchy of
outcome indicators, service output or intermediate indicators and process
indicators representing the core priority areas within the Human Services Plan
Phase Two enabling performance to be monitored.
The Evaluation Framework will be developed in conjunction
with agencies following endorsement of the Plan.
5. 0 Conclusion
The experience of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority in its
relatively short period of operation is that there are no quick fix solutions
to the problems of entrenched social and economic disadvantage.
The NSW Government’s decision to establish an urban
renewal authority with a clearly-defined purpose – to prepare and implement a
long-term strategic plan for the area’s revitalisation – has laid a solid
foundation for future growth and prosperity. Essential linkages are being
created to ensure that the benefits of urban renewal are shared by those in
most need. However, positive change to the status quo is invariably
incremental.
It is crucial that all tiers of government continue to
engage with the local community and contribute significantly towards finding
solutions to endemic social problems. The local community must also accept its
share of responsibility and play a major role.
The Indigenous community of Redfern-Waterloo has suffered
social and economic disadvantage over a sustained period of time. While there
are many success stories which regrettably do not receive due recognition,
there is no denying that poverty, lack of opportunity, unemployment, inadequate
training and skills, crime, substance abuse and poor health are factors which
continue to confront the local Indigenous community. These necessarily
contribute to the lifetime expectancy gap.
Within its available resources, the RWA has deliberately
targeted its strategies towards addressing the root causes of Indigenous
disadvantage. A major effort is being made to leverage off the employment
opportunities created by Redfern-Waterloo’s new economic growth.
As the Employment and Enterprise Plan states:
The RWA’s employment and enterprise development strategy
aims to directly challenge the area’s social and economic disadvantage by
fostering jobs, educational and life opportunities and a higher standard of
living.
The RWA sees wealth creation as an antidote to welfare
dependency. The path to wealth creation through well-paid employment is
education – whether this be education at university or through vocational
education
The early signs are that these innovative strategies have
not only been successful, but in some respects they have been life-changing.
In the Redfern-Waterloo context, every forward incremental
step must be regarded as critically important.
6.0 Appendices
The RWA submission contained as Appendices the various
Plans produced by the RWA. We have provided links to those plans on the RWA
website for convenience
A. RWA’s Built Environment Plan (Stage One)
Built Environment Plan (pdf~13mb) Please note that this is
a very large file. If your PC does not have the capacity to open it please see
below the Plan broken up into its various components or alternatively open the
plain text file and the Plan diagrams separately.
Cover (pdf ~678kb)
Table of contents (pdf ~81kb)
Section 1 Introduction (pdf ~821kb)
Section 2 The Redfern-Waterloo area (pdf ~1.6mb)
Section 3 Strategies (pdf ~5.5mb)
Section 4.1 – 4.3 Land Use and Design concepts (pdf ~2.1mb)
Section 4.4 – 4.5 Land Use and Design concepts continued
(pdf ~1.4mb)
Section 4.6 – 4.8 Land Use and Design concepts continued
(pdf ~1.4kb)
Section 5 & 6 future Tasks (pdf ~300kb)
Click here for plain text file (pdf ~741kb)
B. RWA’s Employment and Enterprise Plan
Redfern-Waterloo Employment & Enterprise Plan (pdf
~154kb)
C. RWA’s Human Services Plan (Phase One)
Redfern-Waterloo Human Services Plan (Phase 1) (pdf ~298kb)
D. RWA’s Human Services Plan (Phase Two) Draft
Draft Redfern Waterloo Phase 2 Human Services Plan (pdf
~126kb)
[Source: This is an OCR Text version of the Body of the Submission
by the Redfern-Waterloo Authority to the Legislative Council Standing Committee
on Social Issues Inquiry into Closing the Gap – Overcoming Indigenous
Disadvantage, Sydney 30 November 2007. The Original Submission is not in text
form and can be downloaded from the Inquiry website from the following link No.
11, Redfern-Waterloo Authority.]
IMPORTANT NOTE ON
OCR TEXT: As this text version is produced by OCR, it is possible that it
contains some errors. REDWatch can not guarantee it is 100% accurate. You
should check the original scan to to satisfy yourself the text is correct. This
version is to enable people to electronically search the submission which is impossible
in its original scan form.