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.
Program Goal
The Program Goal is identical to the Regional Goal.
Program Objectives
This program component 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, and 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 does not provide mainstream social or community services).
Jetty maintenance and replacement.
Program 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
Program Expenditure 2012 - 2013
Table 2-12 Safe Communities Program Expenditure 2012 - 2013
| Budget $'000's | Actual $'000's | Variance $'000's |
|---|---|---|
| 4,317 | 4,277 | -40 |
Torres Strait Development Plan Program 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
Safe Communities Program Projects and Achievements
Project Name: Support for the Provision of Mainstream Social Services and Facilities
Project purpose
Develop a service map of social support services in the Torres Strait.
Achievements for 2012 - 2013
The service mapping has been completed by the Integrated Service Delivery Project, under the Governance and Leadership Program.
The Mura Kosker Sorority has been funded by the TSRA to complete a Regional Community Safety Referral Plan. The implementation of the plan is scheduled for completion in 2013 - 2014.
Project purpose
Fund organisations and monitor their performance against outcomes that contribute to ensuring safe, healthy, respectful and progressive communities based on Ailan Kastom and Aboriginal traditions.
Achievements for 2012 - 2013
The TSRA supported a number of local non-government organisations such as Port Kennedy Association Incorporated and Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated to successfully deliver social support services to Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people in the region.
Port Kennedy Association Incorporated provides a number of programs for the community. These programs include: Vacation Care Services; the Mura Kaimel Playgroup; an After-school Child Care Program; Flexible Respite Care and Day Service Program; a Disability Support Service; a Family Support Program; a Recognised Entity Service under the Child Protection Act 1999 (Cth); and the development and coordination of community events.
Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated delivers a range of social service programs including: the Indigenous Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service; Child and Family Support Services; the Emergency Relief Program; the Old People's Action Program; the Torres Strait Healthy Ageing Program (Warraber, Moa, Dauan and Masig); and Broadband for Seniors.
The TSRA provides funding support and works closely with the Attorney-General's Department in order to provide legal aid for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal residents in the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area region via the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service.
Safe Communities Program Projects and Achievements
Project Name: Safe and Accessible Community Initiatives / Safe Communities Infrastructure and Equipment / Airstrips and Marine Transport Infrastructure
Project purpose
Contribute towards improved safety of the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people of the region through a contribution to the Transport Infrastructure Development (TIDS) Scheme. TIDS is a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads program which provides for the upgrade of community airstrips, roads and marine infrastructure in the region.
Achievements for 2012 - 2013
Marine infrastructure projects have been completed as follows:
- New berthing dolphins were installed at Boigu and a test pile at Saibai Island.
- New navigational aids have been placed at all islands with new dolphins, including Stephens Island, Moa, Badu, Boigu and Mabuiag.
- A new jetty has been erected on Ugar Island.
- Airport lighting has been installed at Iama, Erub, Badu, Poruma, Boigu, Moa, Mabuiag, Warraber, Masig and Saibai. Lighting at the Mer Islands is under construction.
- Seisia Jetty repairs have commenced, including the replacement of the fender system and the removal of an old dolphin to enable the new passengers access to the jetty.
- The Badu airstrip drainage project has commenced
In May 2013 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) and the TSRA, finalising the schedule of works to be completed under TIDS during the 2013 calendar year.
The following projects commenced in 2012 - 2013:
- improving drainage and sealing roads between Kubin and St Pauls on Moa Island
- improving drainage and sealing roads on Hammond Island
- repairing barge ramps at Badu, Erub, Kubin and Masig.
Project purpose
Contribute towards capacity-building and training initiatives for social service providers, including emergency services.
Achievements for 2012 - 2013
TSRA supported 29 people who have either completed or are in the process of completing training initiatives for social services. Training courses included Certificate III in Children's Services, Certificate III in Aged Care, Certificate III in Disability, Advanced Diploma of Community Management and Certificate III in Business Administration and Case Management.
Safe Communities Program Projects and Achievements
Project Name: Safe and Accessible Community Initiatives / Safe Communities Infrastructure and Equipment / Airstrips and Marine Transport Infrastructure continued
Project purpose
Monitor and advocate for effective land and sea communications systems.
Achievements for 2012 - 2013
The TSRA advocates for effective land and sea communications systems. Through funding support to the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program, the TSRA has supported a number of initiatives including:
- provision of funding to the Land and Sea Support Group Project for a Charter Vessel (through Community Enterprises Australia)
- delivery of Traditional Inhabitant Boat coxswain's Certificate of Competency courses on Mer, Erub, Masig, Iama, Kubin/St Pauls and Badu, with training provided to 129 Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal residents
- provision of Safety Grab Bags for distribution to communities
- continuation of activities to promote the EPIRB exchange scheme.
The TSRA works closely with telecommunications providers to ensure that internet and other communications infrastructure is comparable to that of mainland communities.
Key Performance Indicators – Portfolio Budget Statements
Measured change in the number of social support services active in the Torres Strait
The TSRA provides funding to support the delivery of a range of social support services in the Torres Strait, including Mura Kosker Sorority Incorporated, Port Kennedy Association Incorporated, Kaziw Asesered Le Association, the Torres Strait Islanders' Regional Education Council and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service. These organisations deliver programs including after-school care, child care, aged and disability care, domestic violence projects, child and family support and legal aid services.
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. | Community Booklets detailing the services provided by government and the baseline progress against each of the COAG Building Blocks for each community in the region were published and distributed to all communities in the region. This work is part of the Integrated Service Delivery Initiative delivered through a partnership between the TSRA, local government and the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. | COAG Target 1 – |
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. | TSRA has exceeded targets for 2012 - 2013, as outlined in the Torres Strait Development Plan 2009 - 2013. The TSRA supported 29 individuals to undertake skills development training in the social services sector. Of the 29 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 telecommunications coverage:
- increased mobile phone coverage
- increased broadband connection
- increased availability and operability of public phones.
| Benefit target | Progress | COAG target |
|---|---|---|
| Five per cent increase / improvement in coverage realised by 2013. | The TSRA will continue to negotiate with telecommunications providers for improved broadband and mobile phone coverage across the region. Thursday Island residents have access to broadband internet services over fixed line (ADSL), wireless (Next G) and satellite services. Broadband and mobile telephone services for the outer islands are limited by the capacity of the Next G and satellite links. The National Broadband Network will not include the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area. The TSRA has engaged with regional telecommunications providers in order to assess the feasibility of expanding telecommunications coverage in the region and develop options to do so. | 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. |
The benefit achievements above are fully aligned to the Torres Strait Development Plan benefit targets.