Ceduna Aboriginal Support Services

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Will the minister inform the council about the ongoing work being done to improve the quality and coordination of Aboriginal support services in Ceduna?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question and interest in these matters. I also thank the honourable member behind me, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire, for the constant advice he gives me during most question times. In relation to the honourable member's question about improving the quality and coordination of Aboriginal support services in Ceduna, it is a fitting day to discuss this: as the Hon. Tammy Franks pointed out, it is Close the Gap Day.

Members would likely be aware that a high proportion of Aboriginal people access state government and other support services within the Ceduna region. It is imperative that everyone involved in these services works together to help break the cycle of poverty and support a strong and vibrant community on the West Coast. Creating and strengthening partnerships between community, government and Aboriginal organisations will assist to ensure that we are closing the gap. I do not think anybody doubts the genuine hard work, determination and effort put in by individual agencies and their staff.

However, it is clear that, while the effort is being put in, we are not seeing results quickly enough in the Ceduna area. There have been longstanding issues regarding the safety and wellbeing of groups of transient Aboriginal people, a large number from Yalata and Oak Valley, who congregate in a number of places in and around Ceduna, including near the highway. A number of complicated and interrelated health and social issues have arisen. As a result of these problems my predecessor as minister for Aboriginal affairs looked into and installed a new model of service delivery for Ceduna.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: He looked into lots of things.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: He did very well. I commend particularly Ms Jacky Costanzo for the work she has undertaken to make a real difference in her role as manager of Ceduna Service Reform. I understand that some members of the Aboriginal Lands Standing Committee had the opportunity to see first hand some of the good work that has been done.

The position of Manager, Ceduna Service Reform, was created to ensure that all the support services in Ceduna were working in a coordinated way. The position allows agencies delivering services to better communicate between each other, and it also allows problems in service collaboration to be sorted out swiftly, with the option of taking concerns directly to the chief executive of departments. While there is still a very long way to go to close the gap in Ceduna, this program, which has only been operating for a short period of time, has delivered some impressive early results. Some of the results include:

fewer Aboriginal people arriving at hospital emergency via SAPOL mobile assistance patrol or ambulance;

a reduced level of Aboriginal self-discharge from hospital and the sobering up unit;

reduced arrests for alcohol-related offences;

a reduction in SAPOL Public Intoxication Act arrests; and

a reduced number of people turned away from the transitional accommodation centre due to intoxication.

It is pleasing that multiple government departments, which have all recognised the need for a more coordinated model of service delivery, are all contributing to ensure this good work continues. I am hopeful that this new model of service provisioning for Ceduna will continue to improve the levels of support provided to at-risk individuals around the Ceduna area.