Regional Goal
Communities
- Safe, healthy, respectful and progressive communities, based on Ailan Kastom and Aboriginal traditions.
Social Services
- Strong families and safe and healthy communities that are guided by cultural and traditional lore.
Programme Goal
The programme goal is identical to the regional goal.
Programme Objectives
The Safe Communities Programme will contribute to the safety of communities by:
- contributing to the development of standards for the provision of all mainstream social services and facilities, including emergency response services, through engagement with responsible agencies
- undertaking a policy advocacy, monitoring and supporting role with respect to mainstream services, advocating and acting as a solution broker on behalf of communities and the region, using integrated service delivery forums
- providing direct funding and resource support for some social support services, and infrastructure, facilities and equipment, that contribute to improved safety and accessibility for communities and families (the TSRA will not provide mainstream social or community services).
Programme Deliverables
Social services initiatives:
- developing a service map of social support services in the Torres Strait
- funding contributions made to social service providers supporting Torres Strait communities
- contributing to the development of standards for the provision of services and facilities for safe communities through engagement with responsible agencies
Safe and accessible community initiatives:
- contributing towards capacity-building and training initiatives for social service providers, including emergency services
- funding contributions to services and facilities that contribute to community accessibility and safety standards
- monitoring and advocating for effective land and sea communications systems.
Programme Expenditure 2013 - 2014
Table 2-13 Safe Communities Programme Expenditure 2013 - 2014 (unaudited)
| Budget $'000 | Actual $'000 | Variance $'000 |
|---|---|---|
| 7,375 | 7,403 | -28 |
Torres Strait Development Plan Outcomes
- Effective community and social service support.
- Families and individuals are safe in home and community.
- Public areas are safe and accessible for community members.
Helicopter refuelling at Ugar.
Figure 2-8 Safe Communities Programme Map
| Safe Communities Programme projects and achievements |
| Project Name: Safe and accessible community initiatives / Safe communities infrastructure and equipment / Airstrips and marine transport infrastructure |
Project purpose To contribute towards improved safety of the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in the region through a contribution to the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS). TIDS is a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads programme which provides for the upgrade of community airstrips, roads and marine infrastructure in the region. |
Achievements for 2013 - 2014 A Memorandum of Understanding is in place between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the TSRA, outlining the schedule of works to be completed under the TIDS during 2013 - 2014. The following infrastructure projects were completed as at 30 June 2014:
The following infrastructure projects commenced under the TIDS in 2013 - 2014:
|
Project purpose Contribute towards capacity-building and training initiatives for social service providers, including emergency services. |
|
Achievements for 2013 - 2014 The TSRA supported 28 people who have either completed or are in the process of completing training in social services. Courses included Certificate III in Children's Services, Certificate III Aged Care, Certificate III and IV in Disability Work, Certificate and Associated Degree in Indigenous Health, Diploma In Education (Community Teaching), Certificate II in Workplace Practices, Domestic and Family Violence Awareness, and Senior First Aid Certificate. |
Warraber boat welcome, community procession.
Delivery of Benefits: Torres Strait Development Plan
| Short-term benefit description Appropriate and accessible proactive and reactive social services available for communities. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Benefit target | Progress | COAG target |
| Service map showing all social support services and identifying service delivery gaps in the Torres Strait presented to Integrated Service Delivery Steering Committee. | Since the after-school care programme delivered by the Port Kennedy Association commenced in 2010, the number of children participating has increased from 30 to 40. There are nine children on the waiting list. Three Indigenous staff are currently employed in the programme. The TSRA funded a two-day regional hub workshop, led by the Port Kennedy Association. The regional hub is established to ensure a coordinated approach to the provision of high-quality social services to all communities. The regional hub workshop was attended by 80 participants representing non-government organisations, government agencies, outer island and Northern Peninsula Area representatives and 11 local community organisations. The TSRA funded a joint governance workshop, hosted by the Port Kennedy Association, to provide specialised governance training to 16 participants, building the capacity of six local non-government organisations delivering social services to the region. The TSRA funded the 'We Feel Prapa Gud, We Feel Safe' project delivered by Relationships Australia (Queensland). The project included consultations in 10 Torres Strait outer islands communities. Stage 2 of this project will cover the remaining five communities. This project will help to develop responsive social programmes that provide information, education and counselling programmes that directly meet the needs of the community, particularly for outer island Torres Strait communities. The Mura Kazil Sagulau 'All Children Play' programme is an early intervention strategy which is managed by the Mura Kosker Sorority. The programme promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people through supporting parents by building understanding of child development and promoting positive parent-child interaction. Mura Kosker formed a partnership with the Centre for Child Development and Education (CCDE) in the Menzies School of Health Research and the Torres Strait Island Regional Council with support from James Cook University to implement the programme. During 2013 - 2014, 300 children across five communities participated in this programme. The programme provides a range of service activities that build on family, community and cultural strengths to enhance outcomes for children, young people and their families residing in the Torres Strait. It also promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people through the use of prevention and early intervention strategies. | COAG Target 1 –Close the life expectancy gap within a generation. COAG Target 2 – Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade. |
| Short-term benefit description Increased level of family and individual participation in family and community events and social support groups. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Benefit target | Progress | COAG target |
| Five per cent improvement in participation and two additional events supported, commencing in July 2010, to a maximum of six additional events by 2013. | A wide range of community events were supported through TSRA grant funding, including:
| COAG Target 1 –Close the life expectancy gap within a generation. COAG Target 2 – Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade. |
| Short-term benefit description Increased skills development and employment of community members supporting and delivering social support. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Benefit target | Progress | COAG target |
| Two community members provided with skills development training. Two community members provided with employment in the social services area, realised annually from 2010 to 2013. | The TSRA has exceeded targets for 2013 - 2014, as outlined in the Torres Strait Development Plan (2009 - 2013). The TSRA supported 19 individuals to undertake skills development training in the social services sector. Of the 19 individuals:
Training / courses reported are for current staff undertaking on-the-job training. | COAG Target 1 –Close the life expectancy gap within a generation. COAG Target 2 – Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade. |
| Short-term benefit description Improved telecommunication coverage:
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Benefit target | Progress | COAG target |
| Five per cent increase / improvement in coverage realised by 2013. | The TSRA Information Communications and Technology (ICT) team replaced the wireless radio data links between the TSRA offices on Thursday Island and six communities which previously had limited reception. The upgrades included new mast/antenna and Cel-Fi equipment. This equipment has created mobile hotspots that cater for both voice and data communications. Communications infrastructure has been upgraded at the TSRA ranger offices on Mabuiag and Warraber. Planning is complete to improve the level of service at the ranger offices on Poruma, Erub and Ugar. The TSRA, through the Corporate Services section, has started negotiations with Telstra for an upgrade of services to eliminate all communication black spots across the region. | COAG Target 1 –Close the life expectancy gap within a generation. COAG Target 2 – Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade. |
Poruma Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Service studio.
Case Study: Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre
The TSRA provided funding support to the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) to assist them in providing improved access to internet services at the Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
Aim
To provide a greater level of internet access at the Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre and increase community access and the use of online services by the residents of the Northern Peninsula Area communities. The project is designed to increase participation in the digital economy, assist in numeracy and literacy, promote parental engagement in children's education, and encourage participation by children of all ages.
Achievements
The local community has the opportunity to use an increased range of equipment such as computers, iPads and digital cameras to showcase their talent in song writing, singing, music production and video recording.
The Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre operating hours have been extended to meet the needs of local residents.
Community members are able to access the free internet service for internet banking, email, accessing and lodging online forms with other service providers, researching genealogy and local history, school projects, travel bookings, Skype, etc.
NPARC's aged care clients regularly visit the Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre to learn how to use the technology. Participants are able to share their experience with their grandchildren and great grandchildren at home.
The Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre coordinated a 'Culture Love' project that focused on the establishment of the Seisia community following the relocation of residents from Saibai to Seisia beginning in 1948. Residents from Seisia were able to interact with those in Saibai through Skype using iPads and computers. This activity helps to document the unique history of Seisia and celebrates the shared culture and traditions of both communities.
Ready for business: the internet kiosk at the Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre.