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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-07-04 Daily Xml
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Davenport Community Council

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Can the minister outline what investment the state government is making to assist at-risk young people in the Port Augusta region?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in Aboriginal affairs. In the decade and a half or so that I have worked in Aboriginal affairs policy areas I have got to know the leadership at the Davenport community (outside Port Augusta) well. I pay tribute to them for their passion in improving the opportunities and outcomes for, particularly, young people. I know that's always been at the forefront of the decision-making of the leadership of Davenport and the Davenport Community Council.

Recently, I was pleased to be in Port Augusta to announce the Davenport Community Council as a successful recipient in this year's Crime Prevention and Community Safety Grants program. The Crime Prevention and Community Safety Grants program was established in 2006. Grants are provided annually to community-based organisations and local councils to fund once-off local crime prevention and community safety projects. Now in its 11th year, the grants program has provided more than $6 million in funding to support many grassroots initiatives across South Australia.

I am informed that, this year, 10 projects secured funding totalling over $735,000. The Davenport Community Council has been awarded $100,000 for its Growing Strong project. The Growing Strong project is a 12-month whole-of-community supported program providing the tools for young people to shift from being at risk of harmful behaviours to being empowered, connected and positively engaged in their decisions, life and future. The approach is to use established partnerships with key stakeholders and elders, providing participants with opportunities for mentoring and learning.

The project will bring culture back into the lives of young Aboriginal people, something that the community has said in many instances has been sadly lacking. The funding will enable Aboriginal youth in Port Augusta the opportunity to be part of an extensive training program and to receive mentoring provided by Aboriginal elders, with the aim of equipping them with the skills to gain employment and positive life skills.

One of the special things about this project is that one of the key drivers will be the participants themselves. Up to 15 participants will be recruited, in consultation with local Aboriginal elders. The initial part of the program will concentrate on the participants and providing them with tools to identify who they are, where they fit in and what their culture means. This will include cultural connection activities, including ceremonies and visits to sacred places, while the sharing of knowledge by the elders will support and empower young people to challenge current assumptions and accessing available supports to make better life choices and decisions going forward.

The participants will be involved in developing their life skills one day a week. The second day will have participants volunteering alongside elders in the community. This will provide valuable learning that will assist in overcoming some of the difficulties that many of the young people face in this area, while contributing to behavioural and safety issues confronting the community.

The grant funding for the Growing Strong project also complements other community and government initiatives in this region, signalling that the Davenport Community Council is committed to working with regional communities and local groups to provide support to create safer communities and prevent crime. I congratulate the Davenport Community Council for being successful in receiving this once-off funding as part of this year's Crime Prevention and Community Safety Grants, and I look forward to seeing how this program succeeds over the next 12 months.

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