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In recent years a mutual obligation approach has been adopted to reform public policy on welfare and employment issues. There has been much discussion about the applicability of this approach within an Indigenous policy context. It is seen by many as consistent with Indigenous cultural values such as reciprocity and an emphasis on community, as well as suggesting an antidote to the damage caused by intergenerational poverty, of which long-term welfare dependency and a crippling short-term local cash economy are often features.

A recent decision of the full Federal Court in Bropho v State of Western Australia[1] has created the opportunity to reconsider the operation of s 10 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Section 10(1) of the RDA is unique in discrimination law around the country. It is concerned with the operation and effect of laws rather than with making the actions of individuals unlawful.

Significant amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), which came into effect on 5 August 2009, clarify its operation in many areas, align some of its key definitions with other federal discrimination Acts and represent a significant improvement in the protection of the rights of people with disability.[1] This article will examine some of the most important changes, namely the:

On Friday 3 April 2009, the Australian Government will make a statement in support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This will reverse Australia’s previous opposition to the Declaration. Under the Coalition Government, Australia was one of four countries that voted against the Declaration when it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007.

This report provides an investigation of early intervention and diversionary practices aimed at preventing offending behaviour in Indigenous young people with a cognitive disability[1] and/ or a mental health problem. It builds on our previous report, Indigenous young people with cognitive disabilities and the Australian juvenile justice system.[2] Specifically, it examines what is available for these young people, identifies systemic service delivery gaps and points to promising interventions that have the capacity to prevent offending behaviour.

This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Requests and inquiries concerning the reproduction of materials should be directed to the Executive Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW, 2001.

Preventing Crime and Promoting Rights for Indigenous Young People with Cognitive Disabilities and Mental Health Issues Appendix 3: Government Responses Back to Contents Download Complete report PDF [4.22 MB] Complete report Word [805 KB] Ms Robyn McKerihan General Manager Access and Equity Department of Education and Training- NSW Ms Margaret Banks Chief Executive Department of Employment ...

The Australian Government has signalled that economic development is a central focus for the Indigenous Affairs portfolio this term. The Ministerial Taskforce on Indigenous Affairs, created in May 2004 to drive and coordinate the federal Government’s Indigenous policies,1 identified as one of three key areas2 for priority action:

Preventing Crime and Promoting Rights for Indigenous Young People with Cognitive Disabilities and Mental Health Issues Appendix 1: List of Consultations Back to Contents Download Complete report PDF [4.22 MB] Complete report Word [805 KB] Dr Eileen Baldry School of Social Work, University of NSW Linda Bamblett Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Les Bamblett Victorian Aboriginal ...