Published Tuesday, 15 July, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
FIRST REFERRALS RECEIVED BY FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION
In the first 14 days of its operation the Family Responsibilities Commission has received 11 notifications. Established as part of the Welfare Reform Trial the Commission is tasked with ensuring parents ensure their children are being safely housed, sent to school and living in a secure environment.
Under the leadership of former magistrate, David Glasgow the Commission (FRC) will hold its first formal sitting in Coen on Tuesday August 12.
“The Commission is part of a wider trial in four indigenous communities trying to bring an end to the dysfunction and violence which plague the lives of children,” the Premier said.
“Over the next four years, supported by new health and drug and alcohol and community services the trial is about giving children a chance at a better life.
“The FRC and its local commissioners have a massive task before them, there will be ups and downs but I urge all four communities to give the trial a chance to work,” Ms Bligh said.
The FRC will sit in Aurukun on August 13 and 14; Hope Vale on the 19th and 20th and Mossman Gorge on the 21st.
Notifications to the FRC as of 14 July:
Community No. Type of Notification
Aurukun 5 Child Safety
Hope Vale 1 Child Safety
Coen 3 Child Safety
Mossman Gorge 2 Magistrates Court
People can also be notified for their failure to send children to school or for breaching tenancy agreements.
During each of the sittings the Commission will comprise former magistrate Glasgow and local commissioners drawn from respected locals including elders and community justice groups.
The FRC is part of the welfare reform trial – a partnership between the State and Federal Governments and the Cape York Institute.
As well as the trial, reforms to tackle alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities are well underway.
Earlier this month the legislation to remove canteen licenses from councils and to tighten the supply of alcohol in communities came into affect.
Mornington Island and Napranum are now without a canteen and Woorabinda has gone dry. Other councils will lose their licenses before the end of the year:
1 November – Aurukun, Kownanyama and Lockhart River
1 December – Palm Island and Pormpuraaw; and
31 December 2008 – Northern Peninsula Area
These reforms are being supported by a massive increase in funds to support enforcement and provide drug and alcohol services, health, family support and diversionary services. (list attached)
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Tuesday July 14, 2008
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au
Additional support for Alcohol Reforms
The State Government’s $66.352 million plan over four years to tackle alcohol abuse in Queensland’s Indigenous communities includes a significant commitment for new services and support.
This is the biggest single boost to drug and alcohol funding in Indigenous communities in Qld’s history.
Each community is receiving a support package crafted for its level of need and the commitment to tightening alcohol restrictions.
Detoxification – total funding $29.6M (over four years) for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services
• New medically supervised detoxification services are now available in Cooktown, Mossman, Weipa and Bamaga. Service further enhanced in September 2008, when additional nursing staff are recruited.
• To coincide with the community going dry on 1 July 2008, a new medically supervised detoxification service commenced in Woorabinda. Funding of $560,000 over four years has been provided for additional nursing staff at Woorabinda Multi-Purpose Health Centre for detoxification services.
• Funding for other detoxification services is as follows:
- Weipa (servicing Old Mapoon, Lockhart River, Napranum, Aurukun, Coen, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama) - funding of $620,000 over four years. (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Weipa Hospital for detoxification services).
- Cooktown (Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal) - funding of $620,000 over four years. (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Cooktown Hospital for detoxification services).
- Mossman (Mossman Gorge) - funding of $620,000 over four years. ( will be provided for additional nursing staff at Mossman Hospital for detoxification services).
- Bamaga (NPA) - funding of $620,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Bamaga Hospital for detoxification services).
- Townsville (for Palm Island) - funding of $625,000 over four years will be provided for additional nursing staff at Townsville for a day detoxification facility.
- Cherbourg - funding of $625,000 over four years ( will be provided for additional nursing staff at Cherbourg Hospital for a day detoxification facility).
• From March 2009, medically supervised detoxification services (will also be available in Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Normanton).
- Mornington Island - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Mornington Island Hospital for detoxification services)
- Doomadgee - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Doomadgee Hospital for detoxification services)
- Normanton - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Normanton Hospital for detoxification services).
Diversionary Services – total funding $22.6M (over four years)
• Diversionary Services will assist Indigenous Communities to take up activities other than drinking. These services will be offered for young people and adults across all communities and include:
- Funding of $7.6million over four years has been provided to progressively roll-out the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Community Activity Programs through Education (CAPE) program to the communities of Woorabinda, Bamaga, Aurukun and Kowanyama. Approximately $1.9M over four years.
- Men’s Support Groups will be rolled-out to the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Mapoon, the Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal, Yarrabah, Doomadgee and Mornington Island - $4M over four years.
- Women’s Support Groups will be established in Aurukun, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah. $2.5M will be provided over four years to support these services.
- An additional $5.9M over four years has been allocated to establish Community Patrol and sobering up services in the Communities of Napranum, Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Woorabinda.
Under the leadership of former magistrate, David Glasgow the Commission (FRC) will hold its first formal sitting in Coen on Tuesday August 12.
“The Commission is part of a wider trial in four indigenous communities trying to bring an end to the dysfunction and violence which plague the lives of children,” the Premier said.
“Over the next four years, supported by new health and drug and alcohol and community services the trial is about giving children a chance at a better life.
“The FRC and its local commissioners have a massive task before them, there will be ups and downs but I urge all four communities to give the trial a chance to work,” Ms Bligh said.
The FRC will sit in Aurukun on August 13 and 14; Hope Vale on the 19th and 20th and Mossman Gorge on the 21st.
Notifications to the FRC as of 14 July:
Community No. Type of Notification
Aurukun 5 Child Safety
Hope Vale 1 Child Safety
Coen 3 Child Safety
Mossman Gorge 2 Magistrates Court
People can also be notified for their failure to send children to school or for breaching tenancy agreements.
During each of the sittings the Commission will comprise former magistrate Glasgow and local commissioners drawn from respected locals including elders and community justice groups.
The FRC is part of the welfare reform trial – a partnership between the State and Federal Governments and the Cape York Institute.
As well as the trial, reforms to tackle alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities are well underway.
Earlier this month the legislation to remove canteen licenses from councils and to tighten the supply of alcohol in communities came into affect.
Mornington Island and Napranum are now without a canteen and Woorabinda has gone dry. Other councils will lose their licenses before the end of the year:
1 November – Aurukun, Kownanyama and Lockhart River
1 December – Palm Island and Pormpuraaw; and
31 December 2008 – Northern Peninsula Area
These reforms are being supported by a massive increase in funds to support enforcement and provide drug and alcohol services, health, family support and diversionary services. (list attached)
Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Tuesday July 14, 2008
http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au
Additional support for Alcohol Reforms
The State Government’s $66.352 million plan over four years to tackle alcohol abuse in Queensland’s Indigenous communities includes a significant commitment for new services and support.
This is the biggest single boost to drug and alcohol funding in Indigenous communities in Qld’s history.
Each community is receiving a support package crafted for its level of need and the commitment to tightening alcohol restrictions.
Detoxification – total funding $29.6M (over four years) for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services
• New medically supervised detoxification services are now available in Cooktown, Mossman, Weipa and Bamaga. Service further enhanced in September 2008, when additional nursing staff are recruited.
• To coincide with the community going dry on 1 July 2008, a new medically supervised detoxification service commenced in Woorabinda. Funding of $560,000 over four years has been provided for additional nursing staff at Woorabinda Multi-Purpose Health Centre for detoxification services.
• Funding for other detoxification services is as follows:
- Weipa (servicing Old Mapoon, Lockhart River, Napranum, Aurukun, Coen, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama) - funding of $620,000 over four years. (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Weipa Hospital for detoxification services).
- Cooktown (Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal) - funding of $620,000 over four years. (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Cooktown Hospital for detoxification services).
- Mossman (Mossman Gorge) - funding of $620,000 over four years. ( will be provided for additional nursing staff at Mossman Hospital for detoxification services).
- Bamaga (NPA) - funding of $620,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Bamaga Hospital for detoxification services).
- Townsville (for Palm Island) - funding of $625,000 over four years will be provided for additional nursing staff at Townsville for a day detoxification facility.
- Cherbourg - funding of $625,000 over four years ( will be provided for additional nursing staff at Cherbourg Hospital for a day detoxification facility).
• From March 2009, medically supervised detoxification services (will also be available in Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Normanton).
- Mornington Island - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Mornington Island Hospital for detoxification services)
- Doomadgee - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Doomadgee Hospital for detoxification services)
- Normanton - funding of $515,000 over four years (will be provided for additional nursing staff at Normanton Hospital for detoxification services).
Diversionary Services – total funding $22.6M (over four years)
• Diversionary Services will assist Indigenous Communities to take up activities other than drinking. These services will be offered for young people and adults across all communities and include:
- Funding of $7.6million over four years has been provided to progressively roll-out the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Community Activity Programs through Education (CAPE) program to the communities of Woorabinda, Bamaga, Aurukun and Kowanyama. Approximately $1.9M over four years.
- Men’s Support Groups will be rolled-out to the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Mapoon, the Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal, Yarrabah, Doomadgee and Mornington Island - $4M over four years.
- Women’s Support Groups will be established in Aurukun, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah. $2.5M will be provided over four years to support these services.
- An additional $5.9M over four years has been allocated to establish Community Patrol and sobering up services in the Communities of Napranum, Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Woorabinda.