Commissioner calls for human rights for NT women and children

While International Women’s Day is seen by many as a day to celebrate the milestones of gender equality, for far too many Northern Territory women discrimination remains a frightening fact of life.

The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers says equality is not being achieved in the Territory, particularly when women and children are deprived of the fundamental right to be safe and free from violence.

“Violence against women is the worst form of discrimination against women,” Ms Sievers said.

“Hospital and crime statistics paint a gruesome picture of domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory, and it is not just women that are suffering. Territory children often witness family violence which impacts their childhood development and results in long term consequences for their health.”

In Australia a woman is killed by a current or former partner each week.*

One in three Australia women have experienced violence since the age of 15 and almost one in five have experienced sexual violence. (ABS 2012)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) statistics from 2010 reveal in 2009/2010 that 27 non-indigenous women in the Northern Territory were admitted to hospital for treatment after being assaulted. In the same period and for same reason over 840 Aboriginal women were admitted, Territory Aboriginal women are 80 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of assault.

Homicide rates in the Northern Territory show that 61% of homicides occur in a domestic context. The Territory homicide rate is also starkly higher than other jurisdictions, with 8.2 per 100 000 compared to the national rate of 1.2 per 100 000 people.

“The solutions need to be long term and day to day,” Ms Sievers said.

“The NT Government is currently working on a Domestic and Family Violence Reduction Strategy to meet its national obligations and arrive at a multi-facet approach to meet the needs of our diverse community.

“It is crucial that this plan includes and expands the reach of programs that are known to work in the NT, such as the Outreach Program at the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter -providing early intervention and support for women and their children.

“Domestic and family violence is a community problem and needs the whole community to be involved in the solutions. We must look at a number of ways to prevent this situation, we need to educate people of respectful relationships right from our school children through to our leaders.

“As we approach International Women’s Day let’s reflect on what we as individuals and as a community can do to ensure all women and children are afforded this basic human right to be safe and free from violence.”

The Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner will speak at the Working Women’s Centre showing of the film Girl Rising on Friday 7 March 2014 and the International Women’s Day Walk – Saturday 8 March 2014 at Parliament House.

For further information on International Women’s Day activities in the Northern Territory go to https://www.facebook.com/#!/OfficeOfWomensAdvancement

*Chan, A and Payne, J (2013). Homicide in Australia: 2008 -09 to 2009-10 National Homicide Monitoring Program annual report. Canberra. Australian Institute of Criminology. <http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/mr/21/mr21.pdf>

Mission Australia NT celebrates program success

Mission Australia is celebrating the success of threeyoung Indigenous women who secured fulltime employment after graduating from the Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program (IYCP) last year.

Deanne Kenyon, Shinade Djerrkura and Lateesha Barlow are the first IYCP graduates in the Northern Territory to gain fulltime work after completing the program.

“We’re very proud to see our first graduates now working fulltime and making a difference in their community,” Mission Australia NT State Leader Sue Kendrick said.

“These girls are shining examples of how the Indigenous Youth Career Pathways can help young people transition into work or study after school.”

Deanne Kenyon, who is now working fulltime as a tour guide in her family-owned Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours on the outskirts of Darwin, said the program helped her stay on track and achieve her goals.

“Doing the IYCP program with Mission Australia was great,” Ms Kenyon said.

“It was that outside encouragement. Not someone from the school or family telling you what to do but someone to help you see the big picture.

“I wanted to be like my Dad, he’s a Park Ranger, so I followed him and studied Conservation and Land Management.”

Deanne enrolled in the IYCP program with Mission Australia in July 2012 and studied a Certificate Two in Conservation Land Management and Certificate Three in Tourism over eighteen months.

But she readily admits she wasn’t always this dedicated.

 
“You could say that I went through a phase of being a rebel and not seeing the point in school,” Deanne said.
 
“I started wagging classes and told my Dad that I didn’t want school. I didn’t want peer pressure and I didn’t want to put up with fights. Friends where you fight one week and are friends the next, only to do it all over again next month,” she explains.

“I tried home schooling for a while and only wanted to go back to school if I could do something to help me with work and that’s when Mum told me about the Mission Australia program.

“I’m so glad that I did it. I now have qualifications and the courses helped me step out of my comfort zone and get used to talking to thousands of tourists a week.

“While I’ve always grown up knowing my bushtucker and culture, it improved my customer skills and taught me how to deal with conflict situations or confronting questions.”

Mission Australia’s Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program began in Darwin in June 2012 with the vision to increase the number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in fulltime work or study after school.

“Every student in the Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program has a dedicated mentor who will support them through the program,” Ms Kendrick said.

“It’s similar to a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship in that participants will learn a trade or gain a Certification Two, Three or Four in their chosen field while they complete school.”

IYCP is a federally funded program open to Indigenous students from Years 10 to 12.

For more information visit www.missionaustralia.com.au

Get to know your Neighbours this March

Relationships Australia NT is encouraging Territorians to get to know the people around them and living in their street this Neighbour Day.

Neighbour Day is an annual celebration of community held on the last Sunday of March, falling on Sunday 30 March this year.

The Day was founded by Australia Day Ambassador Andrew Heslop in 2003 after the lonely death of Mrs Elise Brown, who was left unfound by family, neighbours and friends for up two years after passing away in her home.

“Neighbour Day is a timely reminder for us all to get know the people living next door, across the street or working in the same building,” Relationships Australia NT CEO Marie Morrison said.

“We can’t underestimate the value of community and a simple hello.

“As we age and build online communities, our connections with the people around us are lessening.

“On this Neighbour Day make sure you take the opportunity to say hi to your neighbours, host a get together for the people in your street or offer to give one of them a hand with something.”

Relationships Australia was handed the baton from Andew Heslop on 1 January 2014 to grow and manage Neighbour Day in Australia after a national expression of interest process late last year.

“We plan to build upon the strong legacy of Mr Heslop, who has carefully grown and developed this wonderful event over the past ten years,” Ms Morrison said.

“Relationships Australia shares the vision and values of Neighbour Day and firmly believes that our communities are only as strong as the people who live in them.

“Helping individuals, couples and families build stronger relationships has been the fundamental aim of Relationships Australia for 60 years.”

Darwin Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim and local Alice Springs resident Jonathan Pilbrow will help spread the message of Neighbour Day in the NT after signing on as Ambassadors.

Mr Pilbrow, a long-term  social worker and Territorian, said he will celebrate Neighbour Day with an open barbeque in his front yard.

“Neighbour Day is important because it encourages neighbours to take a break from their busy lives, and take the time to connect and reconnect, with each other," Mr Pilbrow said.

"I think that good neighbours and good neighbourhoods are one of the keys for a healthy and happy society.

“Good neighbourhoods can help break down social isolation, and improve public safety, with people keeping an eye out for each other, and they can also help to address local issues and problems."

Mr Pilbrow and others have been hosting fortnightly get-togethers with friends and people that haven’t yet met, in Larapinta Park since 2012 and more recently added a street Christmas Party.

People can connect with Jonathan on the ‘Friends of Larapinta’ Facebook group.

For more information on Neighbour Day visit www.nt.relationships.org.au or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

NT Badminton appeals to property owners for interim accommodation

NT Badminton Association has issued a letter to Darwin and Palmerston real estate agents, builders and developers asking if they are aware of any warehouses that may be available and suitable for the sport to move into as a short term solution to their housing needs.

The sporting association has been passionately campaigning for a replacement venue since it received an eviction notice from the NT Government to vacate Sports House in Fannie Bay in May 2013.

Their tenancy has been extended to 31 March 2014, but beyond that the future is not looking good for the sport.

“Unfortunately the options to date have just not been suitable,” association member and player Dr Di Symonds said.

“We need a dedicated venue where our members can train regularly and uninterrupted. We outgrew school halls, where access is often interrupted, back in the late 1970s. To be told to go back to this is very frustrating and possibly marks the end of our sport in the NT.”

In light of their current tenancy uncertainty, NT Badminton Association seeks an interim accommodation solution with the following key elements:

·              a three year lease

·              located in Darwin, Winnellie, Berrimah or East Arm areas

 ·              warehouse with minimum floor area of 1,000 sqm
 ·              minimum ceiling height of 7 metres
 ·              internal or external male and female toilets
 ·              internal or external offices and storage room, minimum area 40 sqm
 ·              car parking

NT Badminton continues to discuss their accommodation needs with the Northern Territory Government and ideally would like to see a long term solution of a dedicated facility in Marrara similar to most other Territory sports.

“In the meantime, if someone has a spare shed we can use we would love to talk to you,” said Dr Symonds.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

Badminton juniors win GOLD!

Junior NT badminton players won gold at the Under 13 Interstate Series & Regional Teams Challenge/ Australian National Championships in Melbourne over the weekend.

It’s the first time an NT junior team has come away with victory at the championships.

The team, made up of James Delosa, Bernadete Aniceto, Elysia Viravong and Romy Puhalovich from Darwin and Palmerston, defeated the Victoria Combo Roos in the Final  to win Gold in the Under 13 Australian Regional Teams Challenge (11 matches won to 1 match lost).

NT Junior Coach Saidina Pawero said the kids were really determined to play their best as a team and lifted themselves to a whole new level for the occasion.

“They believed they had the talent to take on the strong regional teams from the more favoured states of Victoria and NSW,” Mr Pawero said.

In the National Championships, Romy Puhalovich (Boys Singles Event) and Bernadete Aniceto (Girls Singles Event) finished in the top eight after making the quarter finals.

Romy was defeated by Marcus Kong of Victoria 31-18.  Bernadete lost to the No. 1 seed and eventual winner Victoria He of NSW, 30-15.

In another display of NT junior talent, Romy Puhalovich (NT) and Pascal Souksavat (ACT) paired-up in the Boys Doubles Event and finished equal third.

They lost in the semi-finals to the No.1 seeding pair and eventual winners Ross Audley and Ryan Venpin from Victoria.

It was the first time a NT junior has made the semi-final of a national championships.

“We’re all so very proud of all of our kids’ efforts,” Mr Saidina Pawero said. “To have coaches from other states notice the talent we have in the NT is fantastic. With James, Bernadete and Elysia still able to play Under 13s next year, it’s exciting to see how they will use this experience as a stepping stone for next year’s tournament. The future looks really bright for badminton in the NT!”

“As an organization, we’ve worked very hard to build and develop our junior players. Sports House has been critical for us, as it provides the dedicated playing venue that we’ve needed so that our kids train regularly and uninterrupted,” NT Badminton Association President Rodney Pearce said.

NT Badminton is still in negotiation with the Northern Territory Government to identify a suitable replacement venue for when its current tenancy at Sports House expires on 31 March 2014.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT

 

 

Time to dress up for Australia Day celebrations

Whether you’re donning a ball gown, lacing up your running shoes, dressing up the ute or dancing in traditional dress there are plenty of options for Top Enders to dress up, get involved and celebrate our national day.

With less than two weeks to go, Northern Territory Australia Day Council Executive Director Kiya Gill says that she expects thousands of Territorians to participate in a range of activities celebrating all the things that make our country great.

“From Alice Springs to the Tiwi Islands community groups, families and friends have organised everything from flag raising ceremonies to special events, sporting activities and bar-be-ques in honour of our special day and lifestyle.”

“In Darwin alone we have the Gala Ball, a Fun Run, the Ute Run and an amazing multicultural event,” she said.

 “Australia Day offers something for everyone and gives us a chance to reflect on our national journey and to commit to making our country even better in the future.”

Darwin Australia Day activities include:

The 2014 Australia Day Gala Ball

The Gala Ball is back and will be held at the new SKYCITY Beachside Pavilion on Saturday, 25 January 2014. Join us for a night of celebration and fun with entertainment by The Kicks featuring Natalie Pellegrino and master of ceremonies Robert Smith from ABC Tales from the Tinny. Tickets are still available so don’t miss out on the first Ball for the new year, contact the Australia Day Council on 8924 4204.

Fun Run

This year’s Fun Run will start and finish at the Darwin Waterfront, there will be a 2.5km and 5km option. All entries go into a draw to win a pendant valued at $1,000. Come along to this great family event with fun and entertainment for all ages including a free sausage sizzle. Enter online at nt.australiaday.org.au

Oz Fusion

Celebrate Darwin's cultural diversity on our national day by sharing and enjoying each other’s cultural differences. Family friendly entertainment and activities in air-conditioned comfort on Sunday 26 January at the Cyprus Community Centre, Batten Road, Marrara from 4:00pm til 8:00pm. Gold coin donation on arrival.

Ute Run

Grab the family and dog, dress up the car and head down to the 2014 Australia Day Ute Run.
Gates open at 10:30am at Hidden Valley Raceway with the convoy departing at 12:30pm to the Winnellie Park Greyhound Club. Entry via a $10 donation per vehicle. Family fun, entertainment and competitions on the day including a licenced bar and food facilities.

Australia Day Ambassadors Program
Award-winning actor Jeremy Kewley is looking forward to spending Australia Day in Darwin and sharing his love of Australia and Australian humour and language.

Fans of the undercover cop show Stinger will recognise Jeremy as Detective Senior Sergeant Bryan Gray. You might also remember his familiar face from the seven years he spent playing Mt Thomas journalist Tony Timms in Blue Heelers and his portrayal of Senior Sergeant Graeme Collins in Underbelly Flies: Tell them Lucifer was Here in 2011.

As well as his dramatic acting roles, Kewley has also been writing and performing comedy for the past 30 years at some of Melbourne’s leading comedy venues and has been the audience “warm-up comedian” for the AFL version of The Footy Show since it began in 1994.

For more information on Australia Day in the Northern Territory go to nt.australiaday.org.au or visit the Australia Day NT Facebook page.

Vista Gold partners with Landcare for river projects

Funding for two environmental projects aimed at improving land management in the Katherine River catchment area has been given a substantial boost by Vista Gold.

The two projects, initiated by the Katherine Landcare Group, deal with the management of weeds by landowners in the Katherine River catchment and improving degraded sites throughout the Katherine region.

Landcare Project Manager Jamie Lewis said the $5,000 funding could not have come at a better time.

“We have had an overwhelming response to these projects, with initial funding now complete the Vista Gold support will enable us to continue to engage with local landowners to improve the river catchment.”

Vista Gold’s funding will support Landcare’s “Need help with weeds” and “Protecting the biodiversity of the Katherine, Edith, Cullen and Ferguson river catchments” projects.

The “Need help with weeds” project provides herbicide, loan equipment and advice to landholders in the Katherine River catchment to enable them to identify and treat infestations of invasive woody weeds on their properties and adjacent crown lands.

“In the past 12 months this project engaged nearly 70 rural landholders and managed woody weeds over 260 hectares. Vista Gold’s contribution will enable this project to continue and expand,” Mr Lewis said.

“Through the additional funding we will also be able to grow several thousand native seedlings for revegetation under the biodiversity project.”

Vista Gold Australia General Manager Brent Murdoch said that the company was pleased to assist and welcomed the partnership with Landcare.

“Looking after the environment in which we operate is our highest priority,” he said.

“Working with Landcare to build a better future for the Edith and Katherine Rivers will benefit the whole of the community. This partnership gives us an opportunity to share information we have gathered through our water monitoring program and contribute to community based activities.”

The Katherine Landcare projects are also generously supported by the Katherine Town Council, Landmark, Territory NRM and the Department of Land Resource Management.

Media enquiries: Jeannette Button on 8941 9169, 0407 727 080

TIO helps shape next generation of leaders

TIO has opened its doors to two young achievers from Alice Springs to help build leaders of the future.

For first time the company extended its sponsorship of the Alice Springs Desert Leadership program and invited Monica Quan and Nathan McAuliffe to participate in its three-day leadership program in Darwin.

TIO Chief Executive Richard Harding said the company wanted to build confidence in the community and support its future leaders.

 “Desert Knowledge Australia presents us with a new and unique opportunity to engage future leaders and encourage them to make a difference in the Territory,” Mr Harding said.

“The program aims to help them foster their development and capabilities.”

Monica Quan, who is a Camera Person and Editor at Imparja Television, said the TIO leadership program encouraged her to face her fears.

“I learnt you that can make meaningful change in small steps,” Ms Quan said.

“TIO has cultivated a culture that questions itself, the way it does things and to challenge the status quo, which is important for any leader.”

Nathan, who is a plumber with Ingkerreke Commercial, added that the skills he learnt during the program relate to all areas of life.

“You can relate and apply leadership to your family situation, your footy team or your workplace and make a choice to make it a good environment – it’s about the positive role we play,” he said.

Monica and Nathan are both part-way through their one-year intensive leadership program with ASDL.

The Alice Springs Desert Leadership program aims to build the next generation of leaders by equipping participants with the knowledge to make.

TIO has been a sponsor of the program since April 2013

**Ends**

For further information please contact:

Tracy Jones, Creative Territory 89 461694

Young Territorians least likely to finish studies

 

Mission Australia’s 2013 National Youth Survey has found one in seven Territory teens don’t intend to complete year twelve.

The alarming figure is more than three times the national average and coupled with the finding that less than two-thirds of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their school studies.

The Youth Survey, which is the country’s biggest annual stocktake on the views of young people, was completed by 109 Territorians aged between 15 and 19 years.   

When asked to nominate the most important issues for Australia, young people in the NT rated alcohol and drugs at the top of the list for the second year in a row.

In a new concerning trend, mental health jumped from eighth spot in 2012 to second among young Territorians.

The top three personal concerns for young people in the NT continued to be school or study problems, coping with stress, and body image.

Other survey highlights include:

·         Around 1 in 5 young people in the NT indicated their family’s ability to get along was poor – more than twice the national average

·         Almost one in five young people in the NT were negative or very negative in their outlook for the future (compared to 8 per cent nationally)

·         More than one third of young people in the NT aged 15-19 are currently looking for work (including part-time/casual)

·         Only 35 per cent of young people in the NT plan to go to university (compared with 65 per cent nationally)

·         The internet is the number one source of information for young people in the NT, with 40 per cent of respondents spending at least 20 hours a week on social networking sites

 

Mission Australia’s 12th national Youth Survey not only asked young people about their personal and national concerns, it also surveyed what young people value, who they turn to for advice, what activities they engage in, their views on employment and how they feel about the future.

Sue Kendrick said the fact almost 15 per cent of young people surveyed in the NT said they didn’t intend to complete year twelve – more than three times the national average – is a serious concern, coupled with the low rate of young people planning to go on to university, TAFE or college.

“We need greater investment in youth education, training and employment, particularly in communities where there is entrenched disadvantage,” Ms Kendrick said.

“There are significant economic and social benefits that flow over many years from improving the participation of young people.

“Encouraging our young people to not only complete their schooling, but also to pursue higher education and training will be crucial to meeting their career needs as well as the needs of our future workforce.”

Ms Kendrick said it was also concerning that young people in the NT are becoming increasingly concerned about mental health issues.

“When asked how positive they felt about the future, almost one in five respondents in the NT was negative or very negative in their outlook - this compares to 8 per cent nationally,” she said.

“We need to ensure that young adults in the NT have the support they need, so they can look to the future with confidence and do not fall through the cracks while trying to make the journey from adolescence into adulthood.

“If we take this opportunity to listen to their voices and act on their concerns, we can provide hope for the future of our state and the next generation of NT youth who will lead it.”

Mission Australia is a leading community organisation, focused on standing together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. We want to support our young people to gain independence and lead productive, fulfilling lives.

Thousands of Territorians sign on to save badminton

The Northern Territory Badminton Association will tomorrow submit the single largest petition in NT Parliament history.

The petition, which calls on NT Government to “defer the eviction of badminton from the Sports House facility and agree to allocate funds for and facilitate construction of a new multi-purpose facility for badminton, table tennis and judo at Marrara during the 2014-2015 financial year as detailed in the NT Badminton Association New Venue Proposal September 2013”, has been signed by more than 12 300 Territorians in the past five weeks.

The petition will be presented to the Hon Gerry Wood MLA on the steps of Parliament House at 9:30am for submission to Parliament later that day.

And to make sure their plight is heard, a group of local badminton players have planned a “Badminton Flashmob” at the handover.

“People we meet are very surprised to hear that we’re being thrown out on to the street and that the NT Government is not proposing a replacement facility - they say that it’s very unfair,” NT Badminton volunteer Monica Beadman said.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed with support from the people of Darwin, Palmerston and Rural Areas,” volunteer Helena Gibbons said.

“People have been incredibly sympathetic to our plight and we thank everyone for their fantastic support!”

The NTBA said it calls on the NT Government to listen to overwhelming community opinion and “give our sport a fair go and support our proposal for a replacement facility”.

 
For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT