Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Meeting Date: Tuesday,
30 July, 2024
Location: Osprey
Training Room, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 5.00pm
Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice
permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings
of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is
taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be
recorded and broadcast to the public.
Agenda
1. Meeting Conduct Statement
2. Apologies
3 Acknowledgement of Country
4. A Minute Silence in Respect of Aboriginal
Elders, Past and Present
5. Confirmation of Minutes
· Aboriginal
Advisory Committee - 7 May 2024........................................ 1
6. Declarations of Interest
7. Presentations
AA24.5......... Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme
Mr Michael Newman of the National
Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) will present on the Territories Stolen
Generations Redress Scheme.
The scheme provides support to Stolen
Generations survivors who were removed from their families or communities, and
whose removal took place in the Northern Territory, Australian Capital
Territory or Jervis Bay Territory.
The NIAA is looking for opportunities to
raise awareness about the Scheme.
8. Reports
AA24.6......... Adoption of a Standard Acknowledgement of
Country for Council...................................................................................... 5
AA24.12....... Aboriginal Advisory Committee - Action Table
Report July 2024.......................................................................................... 8
9. General Business
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Aboriginal
Advisory Committee – Tuesday 30 July 2024
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Membership
Chairperson - Ms Natalie Lloyd
All Councillors
Chief
Executive Officer or nominee
Ms Janet Atkins
Ms Sylvia Timbery
Mr Shane Brown
Mr Paul McLeod
Mr Charlie Ashby
Ms Nicole Moore
Ms Caryn Carpenter
Ms Sharlene Cruickshank
Mr David Blakeney
Ms Belinda Little
Mr Uncle Sonny Henry - Nowra LALC
Mr Alfred Wellington - Jerrinja LALC
Ms Karen Tronier - Ulladulla LALC
Quorum – Five (5) local Aboriginal community members
Purpose
To provide appropriate and
considered advice to Council on all relevant issues affecting Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people within the Shoalhaven LGA, and to influence
Council’s support & intent in achieving their objectives for the current
Statement of Commitment 2010 (SoC) and the Shoalhaven City Council Community Strategic
Plan 2027 (SCCSP) and endorsement of the Uluru Statement of the Heart June
2020.
Role of the Committee
All members are encouraged to become actively involved in
the business of the AAC and to be an advocate between community and Council.
The role of the Committee is:-
·
To advise Shoalhaven City Council
on necessary issues relating to Aboriginal communities in the LGA.
·
Promote and increase knowledge
& understanding of Aboriginal society, history & culture in the LGA.
·
Facilitate access and accessibility to services and facilities
for Aboriginal people.
·
Advise on the development and implementation of the Shoalhaven
City Council Community Strategic Plan.
·
Develop strong collaborative partnerships between Aboriginal
communities and Shoalhaven City Council.
·
Maintain strong links between
Council and Aboriginal communities throughout the Shoalhaven to accomplish the
relationships and outcomes required for genuine reconciliation.
·
Foster and safeguard a spirit of mutual trust and respect which
allows the AAC and Shoalhaven City Council to work together in their commitment
towards intelligent, well informed decision making processes that are sensitive
to all Aboriginal issues.
·
Recognise, support & uphold past and present local cultural
heritage and its place in future Council directions.
·
Remain a meaningful ‘place’ for the communication of
messages and information from Aboriginal community voices that identify local
needs for services, facilities and activities.
·
Support and promote significant celebrations and events within
the Shoalhaven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
·
Provide specialist advice to other Committees of Council.
Ordinary Meeting 21
December 2009 – Item 43 – MIN19.1808
STATEMENT OF
COMMITMENT
This Statement commits Shoalhaven City Council to continue building
mutually respectful relationships with the Aboriginal Communities of the
Shoalhaven.
Shoalhaven City Council values its culturally diverse communities and
lifestyles and is deeply committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal
people of the Shoalhaven. This Partnership will be based on mutual respect and
equality to further employment, social, cultural and economic community
development.
Shoalhaven City Council recognizes and acknowledges the history and
treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia and supports the Council for
Aboriginal Reconciliation’s vision and values.
Shoalhaven City Council recognises Aboriginal people’s valuable
contribution made in strengthening and enriching our communities and the
heritage of all Australians.
Shoalhaven City Council Acknowledges and Recognises:
·
Aboriginal people as
the first people of Australia
·
Past practices and
policies that impacted on Aboriginal people’s lives, cultures and society
·
The customs and
traditions of Aboriginal people and their spiritual relationship with the land
·
The rights of
Aboriginal people to live according to their own beliefs, values and customs,
and
·
The significant
contribution made by Aboriginal people in the past, present and future.
Shoalhaven City Council commits itself to:
·
Ensuring local
Aboriginal involvement in events and celebrations of significance which respect
the dignity and protocols of the local Aboriginal communities
·
The ongoing development
of strategies to improve and increase the level of participation of local
Aboriginal people in the local Government decision making processes
·
Undertake holistic
community planning to address wellbeing, employment and social economic or
cultural disadvantage experienced by local Aboriginal people in the Shoalhaven
·
Ensuring all council
staff and Councillors are exposed to ongoing education and cultural training
and development programs to increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation
of Aboriginal Cultural heritage and the needs of the Aboriginal communities
·
Celebrate and support
significant Aboriginal ceremonies and events, e.g. NAIDOC week, Sorry Day,
Reconciliation Week and Survival Day
·
To continue to fly the
Aboriginal flag in places such as City Administrative Centre, Council Chambers,
Reception room and in other prominent Council locations.
Minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Meeting Date: Tuesday,
7 May 2024
Location: Jervis
Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 5.08pm
The following members
were present:
Ms Natalie Lloyd –
Chairperson
Clr Matthew Norris
Clr Gillian Boyd
Clr Patricia White
– Left at 7.16pm
Clr John Kotlash
(Remotely) – Left at 6.07pm
Clr Tonia Gray
Mr Shane Brown
Mr Paul McLeod –
Joined at 5.47pm
Ms Caryn Carpenter
(Remotely) – Left at 6.06pm
Ms Sharlene Cruickshank
– Joined at 5.12pm
Ms Belinda Little
Mr David Blakeney
(Remotely)
Mr Uncle Sonny Henry -
Nowra LALC
Mr Michael Paine -
Manager - Community Connections
Others present:
Ms Carly McWalters - Lead
- Community Capacity Building
Mr Allen Bloxsome -
Community Capacity Builder
Mr Gordon Clark - Section
Manager - Strategic Planning – Left at 7.16pm
Mr Ryan Jameson -
Coordinator - Local Planning Team - Left at 7.16pm
Ms Melissa Halloran -
Strategic Planner - Left at 7.16pm
Ms Caitlin Lewis –
Manager - Media & Communications - Joined at 5.14pm and left at 6.28pm
Ms Alix Gillet –
Coordinator - Marketing & Community Engagement – Left at 6.28pm
Mr Dan Farrugia –
TfNSW (Remotely) – Left at 6.08pm
Ms Cheyenne Noble tovehi
– TfNSW (Remotely) - Left at 6.08pm
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Apologies / Leave of
Absence
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Apologies
were received from Ms Janet Atkins, Ms Karen Tronier, Ms Nicole Moore, Ms
Amanda Findley and Ms Sylvia Timbery.
The meeting was opened
with a Welcome to Country provided by Uncle Sonny Simms, the Committee than
observed a Minute of Silence in respect of Aboriginal Edlers, Past and
Present.
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Confirmation of the
Minutes
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RESOLVED (Natalie Lloyd /
Sharlene Cruickshank)
That the Minutes of the
Aboriginal Advisory Committee held on Tuesday 06 February 2024 be confirmed.
CARRIED
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Nil
Presentations
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AA24.7 Nowra Bridge
Project - Aboriginal Interpretive Signage
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HPERM Ref: D24/145063
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Mr Dan Farrugia –
TfNSW presented to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee on the Nowra Bridge
Project – Aboriginal Interpretive Signage. The following topics were
discussed:
· Background
· The Shoalhaven
River
· Living by the
Shoalhaven River
· Nundle and the
Shoalhaven River
· Example of
installation at Mount Pleasant
· Potential
location
· Questions
The Committee engaged in
discussion on the potential location of the Aboriginal Interpretative Panels
and provided their feedback.
Ms Natalie Lloyd
formally noted her concerns with TfNSW regarding one of the images of the
Jerrinja Tribal Group being displayed in a Nowra LALC area/location.
The AAC suggested an
additional panel be developed by TfNSW regarding the Aboriginal People of the
Nowra / Bomaderry area.
The presentation is
attached to the Minutes.
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AA24.8 Community
Engagement Framework
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HPERM Ref: D24/60221
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Ms Alix
Gillet - Coordinator - Marketing & Community Engagement presented to the
Committee on the development of the Community Engagement Framework.
The
following topics were discussed:
· What and How
· When / Community Consultation
· The Importance of Committees
· Engagement Examples
An activity
was undertaken with the Committee via an online survey. The Committee was
asked the following questions:
1. What is the best way to reach you and
other people in the Aboriginal community?
2. How should we be receiving feedback from
the Aboriginal community?
The presentation is attached to the Minutes.
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AA24.9 Aboriginal
Cultural Heritage Planning - Possible Toolkit and Mapping
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HPERM Ref: D24/166128
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Mr Gordon Clark - Section Manager - Strategic
Planning, Mr Ryan Jameson – Coordinator – Local Planning Team and
Ms Melissa Halloran – Strategic Planner presented to the Committee on a
possible/proposed project to introduce new planning tools to help improve the
assessment and consideration of Aboriginal cultural heritage in new projects
and developments in Shoalhaven.
The following topics were
discussed:
· Proposed Project
Overview and Possible Objectives
· Current
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Requirements / Practices
· Benefits of the
Proposed Project
· Initial Council
Staff Response
· Examples of How
Other Councils are Approaching
· Opportunities to
Improve Council Practices
· Challenges and
Considerations
· Suggested Next
Steps
The presentation is attached to the Minutes.
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AA24.10 Local Government Regional
NAIDOC Awards 2024 Update
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HPERM Ref: D24/134992
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The
Community Connections Team provided an update on the progress for the Local
Government Regional NAIDOC Awards 2024 to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.
The
following topics were discussed:
· Background
· Theme: Blak, Loud And Proud
· Celebrating Culture & Being
Respectful
· Award Categories
· Nominations
· Funding Sources
· Sponsorship and Sponsors
· Promotion and Engagement
· Event Details
· Ticket Sales
The presentation is attached to the Minutes.
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General Business
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AA24.11 Update on Reconciliation
Action Plan
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HPERM Ref: D24/137888
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The
Community Connections Team will provide an update to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee
via email following the meeting on the progress of the Reconciliation Action
Plan.
It was noted that Ms Natalie Lloyd is unable to be a
representative on the Reconciliation
Action Plan. Natalie and staff encouraged any representatives to volunteer.
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AA24.12 Additional
Item - Provide a Report Back - Status Update on Comberton Grange Rd Comberton
- Road Closure
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Ms Natalie Lloyd raised
concerns regarding the status on the Comberton Grange Rd, Comberton road
closure. Natalie advised the Committee were adamant they did not want this
road closure to proceed and an update was to be provided back to the
Committee once staff had followed up with the Development Application.
It was noted the
Committee were yet to receive a status update on the matter.
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RESOLVED (By consent)
That the Aboriginal
Advisory Committee receive a report back on the status of the Comberton
Grange Rd, Comberton road closure.
CARRIED
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AA24.13 Additional
Item - Sorry Day 24 May 2024 - Nowra LALC
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Mr David Blakeney
provided an update on the Sorry Day event to the Committee. Sorry Day is on
24 May 2024 and a bridge walk is commencing after 9.00am. The meeting
location will be at the Nowra Administration Building. Brochures have been
distributed to organisations and information has been posted to social media
platforms.
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There being no further
business, the meeting concluded, the time being 7.40pm.
Ms Natalie Lloyd
CHAIRPERSON
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Aboriginal
Advisory Committee – Tuesday 30 July 2024
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AA24.6 Adoption
of a Standard Acknowledgement of Country for Council
HPERM Ref: D24/272592
Department: Community
Connections
Approver: Jane
Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles
Reason for Report
The purpose of this report is to
seek support from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for Council to endorse a
standard written Acknowledgement of Country.
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Recommendation
That the Aboriginal Advisory
Committee:
1. Support
and endorse the Acknowledgement of Country developed by Aboriginal staff as
the standard written Acknowledgment that Council utilises:
Walawaani
(welcome),
Shoalhaven City
Council recognises the First Peoples of the Shoalhaven and their ongoing
connection to culture and country. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the
Traditional Owners, Custodians and Lore Keepers of the world’s oldest
living culture and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Walawanni njindiwan
(safe journey to you all)
2. Support
and endorse the Acknowledgement of Country to be used for the below purposes:
· Digital
and print document templates.
· Shoalhaven
City Council websites, including Shoalhaven Swim Sport and Fitness,
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Shoalhaven Libraries, Shoalhaven Regional
Gallery, Shoalwater, Holiday Haven, Tourism, Bereavement Services (new),
Councillor Portal and Get Involved pages.
· Regular
Council and Committee meeting agendas.
3. Support
and endorse the use of the Dhurga language within the Acknowledgement of
Country.
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Options
1. That the
Aboriginal Advisory Committee adopt the recommendation as written.
Implications: The Acknowledgement of Country is
endorsed as Shoalhaven City Council’s standard written acknowledgement
and referred onto Council.
2. That Aboriginal
Advisory Committee do not support the recommendation as written.
Implications: The recommendations are not
supported, and the committee provide an alternative option and referred onto
Council as appropriate.
Background
As part of the development of an internal staff resource, an
Acknowledgement of Country has been created by a dedicated Aboriginal staff
working group. This group, comprising of a staff from diverse Aboriginal
backgrounds, aimed to develop a resource that enhanced the knowledge and confidence
of all Council staff in engaging with local Aboriginal communities in a
culturally appropriate manner.
The working group, through several meetings, developed an
Acknowledgement of Country that reflects the collective input and perspectives
of its members.
Proposed Acknowledgement of Country
Walawaani (welcome),
Shoalhaven City Council recognises the First Peoples of
the Shoalhaven and their ongoing connection to culture and country. We
acknowledge Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Lore
Keepers of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respects to their
Elders past, present and emerging.
Walawanni njindiwan (safe journey to you all)
During consultation with the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Yarning Group (YG) on the acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians and
guidance on Acknowledgement of Country, the RAP Working Group received the
following advice from the YG about suitable wording for an Acknowledgement of
Country.
· The Yarning
Group advised on 19 March 2024 that “templates for Acknowledgement of
Country are contained in the Aboriginal Protocol Guide (APG)”, in
response to a request for advice on how to develop a generic Acknowledgement of
Country specific to our local area.
· The Yarning
Group advised on 16 April 2024 that “Council should be referring to the
APG” and that “the APG should be a guide to inform Council teams to
ensure a consistent approach across Council”.
· The Yarning
Group suggested “the Acknowledgement of Country in the APG could be sent
to Council’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee for endorsement for use across
Council as the Council standard”.
· The YG
advised that this Acknowledgement should be for written forms only as this
would not apply to other spoken contexts such as events.
The Communications and Media Team have advised that the
proposed Acknowledgement of Country to be utilised for the below written forms:
· Digital
and print document templates.
· Shoalhaven
City Council websites, including Shoalhaven Swim Sport and Fitness, Shoalhaven
Entertainment Centre, Shoalhaven Libraries, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery,
Shoalwater, Holiday Haven, Tourism, Bereavement Services (new), Councillor
Portal and Get Involved pages.
· Regular
Council and Committee meeting agendas.
It is also important to note that if endorsed,
‘Shoalhaven City Council’ would sometimes be interchanged with the
word ‘We’, to personalise the acknowledgement of Country as
required.
Internal Consultations
A diverse group of Aboriginal staff developed the
Acknowledgement of Country through collaborative efforts over several meetings.
The Communications and Media Team were consulted on the
proposed applications of the acknowledgment and advised on the appropriate uses
as outlined above.
The Holiday Haven Marketing and Business Development Manager
has been consulted about the above proposal and is supportive of using the Council
acknowledgement on the Holiday Haven website and in its visitor information
packs.
Councils’ Tourism and
Economic Development Manager has been consulted and is supportive of the above
proposal and the Acknowledgement of Country’s inclusion on the Tourism
website.
External Consultations
The RAP YG, made up of Aboriginal
Council staff, Aboriginal community representatives and Aboriginal service
providers recommended that the acknowledgment developed by Aboriginal staff be
taken to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for support and subsequently
presented to the Council for endorsement.
Policy Implications
There are no known policy
implications.
Financial Implications
There are no known policy
implications.
Risk Implications
Implications of not having a standard Acknowledgement of
Country:
· Staff
confidence: staff may lack confidence in knowing how to acknowledge Country
consistently or correctly in documents.
· Inconsistency:
lack of endorsement could lead to inconsistent practices across the
organisation.
· Community
trust: by not demonstrating respect and value for the Shoalhaven’s
culture and heritage Council will fail to build trust with community.
Implications of endorsing a standard Acknowledgement of
Country:
· Community
satisfaction: by demonstrating respect and consistency in Council
practices, the community will have an improved trust in Council.
· Community
dissatisfaction: some community members may not be satisfied that the
Acknowledgement of Country developed adequately represents their perspectives.
· Mitigation:
a diverse group of Aboriginal staff collaborated on the Acknowledgement of
Country to ensure representation and respect.
· Staff
confidence: having a standard Acknowledgement gives clear guidance to Council
staff on expected behaviour and how to demonstrate respect, improving staff
confidence and knowledge and ensuring consistency across the organisation.
There is a risk that
community members may not be satisfied with the use of only Dhurga language
within the Acknowledgement to Country as there is no consensus in community
regarding the language boundaries within the Shoalhaven.
There is also a risk that
Council using language in such a way could be seen as not cultural respectful.
Council is seeking advice
from the Committee on the use of language and whether it should be included as
presented, removed, or whether the Dharawal language should also be used.
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Aboriginal
Advisory Committee – Tuesday 30 July 2024
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AA24.12 Aboriginal
Advisory Committee - Action Table Report July 2024
HPERM Ref: D24/24423
Department: Community
Connections
Approver: Jane
Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles
Attachments: 1. Action
Table Report July 2024 ⇩
Reason for Report
The purpose of this report is to provide the Aboriginal
Advisory Committee (AAC) with a progress report on outstanding actions.
Options
1. Adopt the
recommendation as written.
Implications: The Aboriginal
Advisory Committee is updated on the progress of actions and recommendations
made at previous meetings.
2. Request more
information.
Implications: Members of the
Aboriginal Advisory Committee request further information.
Background
This report is to update the Aboriginal
Advisory Committee on outstanding and completed actions from previous meetings.
Attachment 1 provides information regarding the status of actions and
resolutions made at previous meetings.
Subject to the Committee concurring that
satisfactory progress has been made to complete the items in the July 2024
Action Table Report, the Group is requested to adopt the Recommendation to note
completion of:
a. AA23.34
- Additional Item Presentation Invitation - Cultural Community Engagement -
Invitation Manager Design Services - February 2024 Meeting
b. AA24.1
– Proposed Road Closer – Part Comberton Grange Road.
c. AA24.11-Update
on Reconciliation Action Plan
d. AA24.4
-Standing Apology Request-Nicole Moore
e. AA24.5-Aboriginal
Advisory Committee-Action Table Report May 2024-Defer Item to Next meeting.
Should AAC members require further
information on the status of the actions in the table attached, Council staff
will provide as requested.
External
Consultations
It is important that the members of the
AAC are kept informed on progress towards the completion of actions and
projects. This report provides a structured approach to facilitate this
information.
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Aboriginal
Advisory Committee – Tuesday 30 July 2024
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