indigenous

This week the Standing Committee on Social Issues released the interim report of its inquiry into overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in NSW.

Next week the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (at Redfern Legal Centre) will be holding an information session about family and domestic violence for Indigenous women in the Redfern Community.

The Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (WDVCAS) provides help to women experiencing domestic violence. The scheme assists women with AVOs, safety, explaining the court process, after court support and help with the police.

Today I attended a talk by Pat Dodson and Jack Waterford on the federal government's "intervention" in the NT. Held in Parliament House by the Centre of an Ethical Society, Pat Dodson yet again reminded the audience in a powerful way that non indigenous Australia was yet to have the conversation with Aborignal people about the terms of of our settlement here. Jack Waterford tried to find some positives of what is happening in the NT and was really only able to come up with better atttention on schools and a Minister who thinks he is doing the right thing.

I just attended a forum put on by ReconciliACTION. This is a group of indigenous and non indigenous people aged 16 - 29.

The energy, commitment and passion of these young people is something that all of our parliaments could benefit from.

The forum is part of a series being put on by ANTAR, the NSW Reconciliation Council, ReconciliACTION and the Friends of Myall Creek.

Under John Howard, reconciliation has been shelved, we now talk about paternalism and not self determination and there will never be an apology to our indigenous people's.