The South Australian Government is committed to improving the opportunities and services available to Aboriginal South Australians.
To achieve this ambition, the government has developed the Aboriginal Affairs Action Plan that outlines a series of initiatives and actions for completion by agencies during 2019-20.
South Australian Government Aboriginal Affairs Action Plan 2019-2020 (PDF, 15.3 MB).
These actions will:
- Lead to more Aboriginal people working in government
- Increase the number of Aboriginal owned businesses
- Lead to more regional and remote jobs for Aboriginal people.
Action and responsible agency | Deliverables | Status as at 30 June 2020 |
|---|---|---|
Governor’s Aboriginal Employment Industry Cluster Program – Apprenticeship and Traineeship Strategy Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment | To connect a minimum of 100 Aboriginal people to two-year traineeships followed by ongoing employment | ON TRACK Program has employed 64 Aboriginal people into traineeships |
Aboriginal Ranger Employment Pathways Department for Environment and Water | Increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal rangers | ON TRACK Six new Aboriginal rangers recruited since January 2019. 3 further positions to be finalised in 2020. |
Statewide Aboriginal Fishing and Aquaculture Program Primary Industries and Regions South Australia | Aboriginal Nations will assist Primary Industries and Regions South Australia to support and manage South Australia’s fisheries | ON TRACK Four trainees previously recruited are now fully authorised fisheries officers. Further 2 female trainees employed. Traditional Fishing Agreement discussions underway with 2 Traditional Owner groups and interest from 2 others. |
Aboriginal Employment in South Australia Police South Australia Police | Increase the proportion of Aboriginal people working in South Australia Police to 2% | ON TRACK Two Aboriginal administration trainees commenced and 1 applicant approved for general duties police officer. 31 Aboriginal people have been engaged in mentoring/support during this reporting period. |
Aboriginal Business Strategy Office of the Industry Advocate | Develop an Aboriginal Business Strategy | NOT ON TRACK/ AT RISK COVID-19 has impacted community engagement. Alternative online engagement measures are being used to progress the strategy. |
Far-North Aboriginal Economic Collective (FNAEC) Office of the Industry Advocate | Develop a commercial framework to increase employment and business growth for Aboriginal people in South Australia’s Far North | ON TRACK FNAEC is now an incorporated body and several members have won contracts as a result of being part of the collective. |
North-West Indigenous Pastoral Project Primary Industries and Regions South Australia | To support Aboriginal pastoral business operations | ON TRACK Program has shifted to a focus on productivity by directing funding to properties where stocking capacity can be increased. Progress on APY Lands where significant infrastructure has been installed to increase holding and mustering capacity. |
Stronger Partners Stronger Futures Department for Energy and Mining | Facilitating economic development on Aboriginal land | ON TRACK Stronger Partners, Stronger Futures discussion paper: Summary of submissions report released. Draft Regulations have been developed to support the proposed enactment of the Statutes Amendment (Mineral Resources) Act on 1 January 2021. |
These actions will:
- Improve the accessibility of government services
- Deliver better services through a place-based approach
- Enable collaboration between government and Aboriginal people.
Action and responsible agency | Deliverables | Status as at 30 June 2020 |
|---|---|---|
Multi-agency Facility – Umuwa South Australia Police | Establish a multi-agency facility at Umuwa (South Australia Police, Department of Human Services, Department of Child Protection) | NOT ON TRACK / AT RISK Planning and concept designs complete and final APY Board approval to be sought. Tender documents are being drafted and a submission to the Public Works Committee is underway. |
Aboriginal Interpreter Service Department of the Premier and Cabinet | Establish an Aboriginal language interpreter service | NOT ON TRACK / AT RISK COVID-19-related delays have limited consultation opportunities. Negotiations underway to enable the Interpreting and Translating Centre to employ Aboriginal staff to implement the new model in the first half of 2021. |
Ceduna Services Collaboration Department of Human Services | Extend the Ceduna Services Collaboration | ON TRACK The Ceduna Child and Family Safety Network commenced. The Ceduna Safety and Wellbeing Transport Service is now being operated by Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation. |
Municipal Services to Aboriginal Communities Strategy Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure | New service model from 2020 for the delivery of municipal services to Aboriginal communities outside of the APY | ON TRACK Audit of municipal services assets and infrastructure on non-APY Aboriginal communities completed. Preparation of a formal proposal to implement a new Municipal Services Strategy. |
Tika Tirka Remote Student Housing South Australian Housing Authority | New 20-bed facility in the Adelaide CBD | ON TRACK Eleven students residing in the facility. |
Improving Government Communication with Aboriginal Communities Attorney-General’s Department | Materials to be provided in Aboriginal languages to improve consumer protection and improve information access | COMPLETED |
Prison to Work Action Plan Department for Correctional Services
| To create positive transitions from prison to break the cycle of re-offending | NOT ON TRACK / AT RISK Suspended temporarily due to COVID-19. Negotiations underway with Commonwealth government. |
Violence Prevention Program – Aboriginal Males Department for Correctional Services | High-intensity (250 hour) custodial program for Aboriginal prisoners to reduce violent offending | COMPLETED |
Connected Youth Justice Strategy Department of Human Services | A focus on culturally appropriate supports and programs for vulnerable young people | ON TRACK Adelaide Youth Training Centre formally renamed Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre. Young People Connected, Communities Protected: South Australia’s Youth Justice State Plan 2020 – 2023 launched in June 2020. |
One Stop Screening Shop Department for Health and Wellbeing | Multiple cancer screening and chronic disease testing | ON TRACK Three One Stop Screening Shops held in Mt Gambier (2 for women and 1 for men). Community consultations completed for Murray Bridge and Raukkan. |
Partnership Response to Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Blood Borne Viruses in Aboriginal Communities Department for Health and Wellbeing | Develop and implement an Aboriginal Sexually Transmissible Infection and Blood Borne Viruses Action Plan for 2019-2024 | ON TRACK Final plan is complete and will be launched by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. |
Rural Health Workforce Strategy Department for Health and Wellbeing
| Develop and implement an Aboriginal Rural Health Workforce Strategy | ON TRACK Five current employees continue to study the Certificate IV in Aboriginal Primary Health Care Practice with the Aboriginal Health Council SA. |
South Australian Museum Aboriginal Collection Store Department of the Premier and Cabinet
| Develop a storage facility for the state’s Aboriginal cultural material | ON TRACK In conjunction with Artlab, tenders being evaluated for the building works and storage system. |
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) Department of the Premier and Cabinet | Government agencies to have a current RAP by mid-2019; an SA Government RAP will also be developed by mid-2019 | ON TRACK Fifteen agencies have a current RAP. 1 agency is drafting a new RAP. Proposed SA Government RAP reviewed by Reconciliation Australia and revised draft underway. |
These actions will:
- Improve outcomes for Aboriginal South Australians
- Enable greater collaboration between government and Aboriginal people
- Ensure policies, programs and services are culturally-appropriate and community-driven
Pilot new and innovative activities for implementation across the state.
Action and responsible agency | Deliverables | Status as at 30 June 2020 |
|---|---|---|
Aboriginal Education Strategy Department for Education | Delivery of the Aboriginal Education Strategy | COMPLETED |
Aboriginal Engagement Reform Department of the Premier and Cabinet | A new engagement process to enhance the government’s relationship with Aboriginal people | NOT ON TRACK / AT RISK COVID-19-related delays have limited consultation opportunities. Work ongoing with the Electoral Commission SA and Surveyor General on election processes. |
Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre Department of the Premier and Cabinet
| Construct an Aboriginal Art and Cultures Gallery on the Lot Fourteen site | ON TRACK Executive project control group established to provide strategic direction. Refinement of the project scope and business case. |
Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Department for Education | Appointment of Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People | COMPLETED |
Clontarf Foundation – South Australian Pilot Program Department for Education | Pilot implementation of Clontarf for three years in six South Australian schools | ON TRACK Currently 224 students involved in the Clontarf Program. Four additional staff employed due to growth in program. Seven of 10 graduates are currently working or in full-time study. |
South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy (SAASTA) Department for Education
| An additional 100 students will be able to access SAASTA each year | ON TRACK Successful VET Training Block at the end of Term 2 where over 100 students completed practical competencies of their VET course qualifications. |
Community Transition and Learning Centre Department for Correctional Services
| The centre will provide an immersive cultural and learning experience to reduce re-offending in Coober Pedy | ON TRACK COVID-19-related delays have limited consultation opportunities. |
Narungga Buthera Agreement Department of the Premier and Cabinet | Work with the Narungga Nation to deliver the commitments of the Buthera Agreement | ON TRACK Twenty-three projects, SA Government agencies reported 3 complete; 16 on track; and 4 not on track / at risk. Two not on track projects have been deferred by mutual agreement and two have been delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
Aboriginal Housing Strategy South Australian Housing Authority | Develop, in consultation with Aboriginal people, a housing strategy that includes home ownership, affordable housing and social housing | ON TRACK PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting currently consulting on Aboriginal Housing Strategy and due to deliver engagement report by end October 2020. |
Aboriginal Arts Strategy Department of the Premier and Cabinet | Aboriginal Arts Strategy is a significant part of the Arts Plan (2019-2024) | NOT ON TRACK / AT RISK Recruitment currently underway to engage Aboriginal employee to lead the strategy’s development. |