Page 2623 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 August 2019
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career progression within the ACTPS. The 2019-20 ACT budget also invests in several initiatives set out in the government response.
Recommendation 12, to the Community Services Directorate, calls on the ACT government to implement all the recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way steering committee. The work that the Our Booris, Our Way steering committee is doing is leading to real improvements for both children and young people in the child protection system and the system as a whole. I thank the steering committee and the wider team for their ongoing commitment and hard work, which is clearly underpinned by the principle of self-determination.
Through this year’s ACT budget, the government will invest $1.74 million to continue implementing recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way review. Specifically, the investment will support training and workforce development to increase the cultural proficiency of staff and the implementation of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child placement principles within policy, practice and training. It will also support the continuation of family group conferencing through cultural support and mentoring. As a further recognition of the importance of strong families and the principles of self-determination, the ACT government will also establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and practice co-design forum to develop early support measures for families and children, developed and led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The 2019-20 ACT budget also invested $300,000 for the development of a culturally appropriate residential service supporting drug and alcohol rehabilitation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT to complement the existing services, including the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm. This investment is in line with recommendation 23, to the ACT Health Directorate, which recommended that the directorate develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific clinical drug and alcohol rehabilitation services that are culturally appropriate and responsive to individual, family and community needs.
The ACT government will fund Winnunga Nimmityjah to co-design the delivery of the dedicated Aboriginal residential rehabilitation facility, in partnership with a specialist Aboriginal alcohol and drug service provider. ACT Health will partner in this work, including identifying potential locations that provide access to other health and emergency services.
Finally, I highlight the work being progressed which responds to recommendation 6, to the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. The elected body recommended that CMTEDD take all steps necessary to ensure that the Boomanulla Oval development is expedited and that the oval is returned to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control and management. The ACT government remains committed to working with community to return Boomanulla Oval to community control. An important part of this will be a project on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led governance in the ACT. This work, instigated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, will look at future options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander management and governance, including for Boomanulla Oval and the cultural centre.
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