Indigenous JPs needed

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are being encouraged to become justices of the peace, especially in rural and remote areas.

Damien Mealey, Registrar and manager of the state government’s Justices of the Peace Branch, said he was continually seeking competent people to become either JPs or commissioners for declarations.

JPs’ services range from witnessing signatures to hearing matters in court while C.decs often witness documents like statutory declarations, affidavits and land title documents.

“JPs are volunteers in Queensland’s justice system and are highly respected members of the community,” Damien said.

Anita Lee Hong went through the qualification process and recommends it. Anita, the associate professor who manages Queensland University of Technology’s Oodgeroo Unit, said she did it for her students.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were coming into the office, looking for a JP,” she said. “We had to send them to JPs in other parts of the university, who were happy to help them but were usually only available at certain hours.

“I made the decision to find someone who could come out and do group training for us.”

In the end, about 15 Indigenous staff members enrolled in the training in two intakes. Anita is now a justice of the peace (qualified) and can help students with any manner of inquiries – signing proof of Aboriginality forms, witnessing academic transcripts and even statutory declarations.

The JP Branch offers preliminary courses for people thinking about becoming JPs, as well as formal training for people who decide to take on the role. For more information, visit: www.justice.qld.gov.au or phone the JP Branch on 1300 301 147.

Torres airfare down

One-way airfares will be cut to $99 on some Torres Strait and Cape York routes from 1 January.

The Queensland Government will subsidise the airfares on the main scheduled routes, leaving users to pay the $99 price.

The scheme will be open to all community members with proof of residence, but will not apply to non-residents, government agencies or businesses.

At first, the fares will only be available through a local agent in Cape York and through phone bookings in Torres Strait. The fares will be available on Skytrans and West Wing Aviation flights but will be limited to about five seats on most Cape York services and about two on most Torres Strait services.

“The government recognises Cape York and Torres Strait residents rely heavily on air travel to access health, education and employment opportunities,” a government spokeswoman said. “Affordable travel is not a luxury in far north Queensland; it is essential.”

The scheme will run for two years, with the government contributing $2.8 million a year. For further information, visit: www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Language program dollars

The Queensland Government has committed $685,000 to continue special education, language and cultural programs at the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy.

The programs will serve the dual purposes of preserving local dialects and improving educational outcomes in general.

“By studying their own culture and history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students feel a greater sense of belonging at school and this leads to improved performance rates,” a government spokesman said.

Writing fellowships

Writers have until the end of January to apply for the 2012 kuril dhagun Indigenous Writing Fellowships. There are two on offer, each worth $10,000, open to all writers (published and unpublished) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

The fellowships are part of the national black&write! project to encourage Indigenous writers and editors.

They are named after the kuril dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre, at the State Library of Queensland, which is part of the 21-strong network of Indigenous knowledge centres in Cherbourg, Palm Island, Cape York and Torres Strait.

For more, visit: www.slq.qld.gov.au

Arts industry grants

People working in the Indigenous arts industry have until 3 February to apply for grants from the federal government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) fund.

IVAIS provides about $10.5 million each year to Indigenous art centres and allied industry organisations, to build a stronger Indigenous visual arts industry.

The government’s Office for the Arts recommends that people applying for 2012–13 IVAIS funding phone 1800 006 992 to discuss their proposal prior to submitting it.

For further information, visit: www.arts.gov.au/indigenous

Baby health care

Queensland has five of 20 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander baby health care services across Australia. The services are funded by the Australian Government.

A spokesman said they would provide antenatal and postnatal care, baby care information, practical advice and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting.

“We know these services are vital to deliver health support to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums and their babies get the best head start in life,” he said.

The new Queensland services are at: Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (North Lakes); Ipswich West Moreton Division of General Practice; Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service; Townsville General Practice Network; and Wuchopperen Health Services Ltd (Cairns).

Toowoomba carnival

The Warriors knockout rugby league carnival will be held at Brothers Rugby League Club, Hursley Rd, Toowoomba, on 28 January.

Aside from the football, there will be stalls, kids’ rides and cultural activities.

Team nominations closed on 16 December. For further information, contact the Warriors Committee Inc – Tom Clevin (bclevin6@bigpond) or Kev Edwards (kevedwards@westnet.com.au).

NQ native title

Two more north Queensland native title claims have been recognised by the Federal Court of Australia.

The Wanyurr Majay People’s Native Title rights and interests were recognised over 200 square kilometres of land near Babinda, south of Cairns. The claim, first made in September 2008, covered 15 parcels of reserves, areas of unallocated state land and part of the Woonoorooran National Park.

The Wanyurr Majay People, the Wanyurr Majay Aboriginal Corporation, the Queensland Government and the Wet Tropics Management Authority have entered an Indigenous land use agreement on the park’s management. It allows the Wanyurr Majay to camp and hunt in the park and use it to teach about the area’s physical and spiritual attributes.

Further north, the Djiru People were recognised as native title holders of 9440 hectares of land and water around Mission Beach. The Federal Court made two consent determinations, finalising claims that the Djiru People lodged in 2003.

They have exclusive native title rights to about 540 hectares of land, and non-exclusive native title rights over about 8900 hectares of land and waters. The non-exclusive rights include access, hunting, fishing and gathering on the land and water for personal, domestic, and non-commercial communal purposes, and to maintain places of importance and areas of signifycance to their traditional laws and customs.

QATSIAC appointment

Elverina Johnson has been appointed to the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council for a two-year term.

She joins 10 other members on a council that is a direct link between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the state government.

Ms Johnson is a Kunganji woman and a respected community leader in Yarrabah. She has worked in drug and alcohol rehabilitation for 25 years and chairs the Yarrabah Police Citizens Youth Club.

She was the first Indigenous person to receive a scholarship from Swinburne Melbourne University of Technology and undertook a graduate certificate on social impact and entrepreneurial approaches to social issues.

The council was formed in 2008 to advise the Queensland Government. Its major focus is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Strategy, the Reconciliation Action Plan and Closing the Gap strategies. It is also working to ensure better education, training and employment for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Rockhampton carnival

The 2012 Reconciliation Carnival will be held in Rockhampton 27–29 January.

The carnival has been expanded to 32 men’s teams and eight women’s teams. They’ll be competing for $50,000 in prize money. For further information, visit: www.cqid.com.au

Want to do a good turn?

Indigenous Community Volunteers is seeking volunteers from the Cherbourg area and the Sunshine Coast.

ICV is an independent, non government organisation. It works with Indigenous communities on projects that have been identified as part of each community’s vision for the future.

If you are interested in helping, phone 1800 819 542 or visit: www.icv.com.au/volunteers

CIAF roundup

September’s 2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair generated $580,000 of sales. More than 13,000 visitors viewed works from 150 Queensland Indigenous artists over three days.

“This year’s event produced strong sales outcomes despite current economic conditions, with the Queensland Art Gallery and Queensland Museum making important acquisitions,” said CIAF artistic director, Avril Quaill.

“Emerging artist Irene Namok, from Lockhart River Art Centre, sold every piece and the intricate … work of printmakers Joel Sam and Brian Robinson were in high demand.”

Avril and CIAF general manager Alison Copley have been reappointed for the 2012 fair.

Mapoon men’s shed

A new men’s shed has opened in Mapoon to service five local communities – Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia and Umagico.

The shed is tipped to become a cultural hub, providing men with social support and camaraderie to relieve feelings of isolation and loneliness that many experience.

The Australian Government chipped in $60,000 to the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council to construct the building with Men’s Sheds; the Queensland Government is investing a further $200,000 over two years to employ a coordination officer and deliver support services like men’s advice, health and wellbeing services and recreational activities.

Link-Up moves

Link-Up (QLD) Aboriginal Corporation has a new home: 3–5 Reid Street, Woolloongabba. Its freecall phone number will remain as 1800 200 855.

Link-Up helps reunite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experienced enforced separation from their families and communities through adoption, fostering, removal and institutionalisation.

For more information, visit: www.link-upqld.org.au

Drug and alcohol directions

Queenslanders head the list of keynote speakers for next year’s National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference.

Dr Noel Hayman, Clinical Director of Inala Indigenous Health Service, and Linda Forrest, from Queensland Health’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Services, were named in the fi rst round of speakers.

The conference is run by the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee and will be held 6 - 8 June 2012 at the Esplanade Hotel Fremantle, Western Australia.

For further information, email: nidac@eventcorp.com.au

Strait stories in Canberra

The National Museum of Australia is hosting a year-long exhibition about life in Torres Strait.

Bipotaim: Stories from the Torres Strait is an exhibition of photographic portraits, complemented by objects from the museum’s Torres Strait collections. It deals with the lives, culture and identity of Torres Strait Islanders.

The exhibition was developed between the museum and the Gab Titui Cultural Centre on Thursday Island.

It is on show at the museum in Canberra until next September.

TAIMA turns 30

Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association, operator of Indigenous radio station 4KIG, celebrated 30 years of operations in September.

TAIMA traces its roots to the late 1970s when locals first formed the concept of a radio station with Indigenous-specific programming.

TAIMA was formed in 1981 and incorporated in 1982 when staff began producing a one-hour program that was broadcast on local community radio 4TTT-FM. It won its own radio licence in 1991.

Radio 4K1G (Kwangi) Too Deadly now broadcasts seven days a week.

Station manager Linda Saltner, a former member of TAIMA’s board of directors, has been with the organisation for 25 years. “(I) commenced in 1986 as a volunteer, doing some programs which were broadcast at 4TTT in those days, walking down from Sturt Street to Walker Street with the old vinyls,” she recalled.

TAIMA marked its anniversary with a gala dinner and ball at Jupiters Hotel Casino on 23 September, and followed up the next day with a community concert and family event at The Strand Park.