The dhari (headdress) represents Torres Strait Island people and the five pointed star represents the 5 major Island groups. The star also represents navigation, as a symbol of the seafaring culture of the Torres Strait. When using the Torres Strait Islander flag at Commission related meetings/conferences, please ensure that the flag is displayed in the correct manner. Facts and figures Face the Facts remains the Commission’s most requested publication. It was first published in 1997 and updated in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008. An updated version will be released in 2012. While the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) has provided important and necessary legal safeguards for victims of racism over the past 30 years, addressing racism needs to go beyond the legal framework. Publications like Face the Facts recognise the importance of education in addressing racism and the importance of ensuring that the prevailing attitudes within the community are constructed on a sound factual base. Face the Facts draws on information from a variety of sources. The information provided includes laws made by Australian Parliaments, government policies, statistics collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and academic research. The Commission’s aim is to bring all the major issues together and present reliable information in an easy-to-read publication. It is available at . The Commission’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was developed in 2011 and will be periodically updated and renewed. The current plan is available at . The RAP contains a number of targets to be met by all staff. The RAP is supported by a Committee of staff that can provide further information and guidance on the RAP. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice section of the Commission’s website () provides a range of news and information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice and native title issues. There are links to the annual Social Justice and Native Title reports, the latest news releases, statistics, speeches by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, publications and resources. There are also separate sub-sections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, the Bringing them home report and Stolen Generations, and International Indigenous rights, which provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the ways in which Indigenous human rights are protected and promoted at the international level.
Islander representative has been involved in and is comfortable with the arrangements. How should the Indigenous performers of the Welcome to Country ceremony be remunerated? In providing cultural services such as Welcome to Country, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are using their intellectual property and should be appropriately remunerated. Appropriate remuneration and/or assistance should be negotiated with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative and should take into consideration: Travel to and from the event Payment for performing the Welcome to Country Public profile of the event. The procedure for payment is as follows: Where possible, before payment is made, seek a tax invoice quoting an ABN number (from the Indigenous representative or their organisation, e.g. the Local Land Council). Where an ABN number cannot be provided: Pay them in cash / cheque / bank transfer; Have the Indigenous representative sign the attached receipt, acknowledging receipt of payment; and Have the Indigenous representative sign a “Statement by a Supplier” form (provided by the ATO), which declares they do not have an ABN number and that “the supply is done as a private recreational pursuit or hobby”. This will ensure the earnings are not taxed at the highest margin of 48%. The Statement by a Supplier Forms can be obtained by accessing the Australian Taxation Office website: . Where it is likely that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative who doesn’t have an ABN number is going to be invited to do the Welcome to Country for the Commission for more than one or two events per year, they should be encouraged to get an ABN. Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives may not have means of providing a receipt for the payment they receive. In these cases, the attached receipt form should be provided to the person to complete, sign and give back to the Commission. What should happen if for any reason a Welcome to Country ceremony is unable to be performed?
Others Gadigal Information Service (02) 9564 5090 (02) 9564 5450 PO Box 966 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Australian Indigenous Communications Association Incorporated (02) 6242 1358 (02) 6255 7932 PO Box 4235 Ainslie ACT 2602
The UN’s Development Group Guidelines highlight the importance of recognising Indigenous peoples’ collective rights. International human rights instruments are not enough to guarantee the survival, wellbeing and dignity of Indigenous peoples. Most international human rights instruments protect the rights of the individual. Indigenous peoples need the recognition of specific collective rights for their survival as human groups. These rights include: indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, territories and resources, right to maintain their cultures, right to recognition of their distinct identities, right to self-government and self - determination, and the right to be asked for their free, prior and informed consent in decisions that may affect them. Such rights are considered the minimum standards for the protection of their survival as distinct peoples and are intended to address the challenges most Indigenous peoples face around the world. The Guidelines go on to outline basic human rights norms and principles which underpin any human rights-based approach to community engagement. Those principles are: Non-discrimination Equality Gender equality Self-determination Collective rights Indigenous peoples and the right to define and decide their own development priorities. A very useful section of these Guidelines is the table and checklist of key issues and related Indigenous rights: TABLE 1: Key Issues and Related Rights Issue Basic Information Guiding Principles autonomy, The long traditions of indigenous have been interrupted, limited or denied by colonial or states. The re-establishment of mutually agreed upon relations between the State and indigenous peoples in which the people or community determines its own future in accordance with its own processes is the key principle in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Self-determination expressed in this form is vital for the continuing existence of indigenous peoples as distinct peoples. The principle of self-determination can be implemented in practice through a range of mechanisms including the following: Autonomy arrangements Self-government Self-management Control over or input into basic services such as education and health Recognition and maintenance of tradition political decision-making bodies and legal systems Full and effective participation in public life. These arrangements require that states and indigenous peoples agree on management
Contact information for Indigenous language services Organisation Phone Number Fax Number Email address Address Website The Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages The Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages 03 9602 4700 03 9602 4770 295 King Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Northern Territory The Aboriginal Interpreter Service Darwin Office (08) 8999 8353 24 Hour on-call service: 8999 8353 08 8999 8855 Ground Floor RCG House 83-85 Smith Street Darwin NT 0800 Alice Springs Office (08) 8951 5576 24 Hour on-call service: 8999 8353 08 8951 5244 Leichhardt Building 19-21 Gregory Terrace Alice Springs NT 0870 The Institute for Aboriginal Development Incorporated (IAD) Alice Springs Office 08 8951 1311 08 8953 1884 Street address: 3 South Terrace Alice Springs NT 0870 Tennant Creek Office 08 8962 4540 08 8962 4510 Katherine Region Aboriginal Language Centre (KRAL) 08 89711233 08 89710561 6 Pearce Street Katherine NT 0850 Wadeye Aboriginal Languages Centre 08 8978 2677 08 8978 2725 Wadeye Port Keats NT 0822 Papulu Apparr-Kari Aboriginal Corporation – Karan Hayward 08 89623270 08 89621380 17 Windley Street Tennant Creek Northern Territory 0860
Tasmania Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) 03 6234 0700 198 Elizabeth Street Hobart TAS 7001 South Australia Yaitya Warra Wodli Language Centre Inc 08 8269 3601 08 8269 6307 301 Churchill Road Prospect SA 5082 Queensland Wondunna Aboriginal Corporation 07 4125 7226 07 4125 7511 71 Maddever Rd Booral QLD 4650 Magani Malu Kes – Torres Strait Islander Language Consultative Committee 07 4771 5740 07 4772 6909 Unit 2, 458-468 Flinders Street Townsville QLD 4810 Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Cultures 07 3807 6155 07 3807 6144 Cnr Plantation Rd & Martens St Beenleigh QLD 4207 Djabugay Tribal Aboriginal Corporation 07 4093 7220 07 4093 7466 PO Box 26 Kuranda QLD 4872 Cape York Indigenous Language Program 07 4060 9260 07 4060 9209 c/- Guugu Yimithirr Warra Ltd Hope Vale QLD 4871 Birri-Gubba Wadja Bimbi Aboriginal Corporation – Renarta Prior 07 4721 0920 7/ 621 Flinders St Townsville QLD 4810 Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation – Victor Stefferson / Rhonda Henry 07 4060 3214 07 4060 3231 c/- Post Office Laura QLD 4871 New South Wales Yuwaalaraay/Gamilaraay Language Program, Walgett High School – Marianne Betts or Brother John Giacon at St Joseph 02 6828 1022 02 6828 1994 PO Box 228 Walgett NSW 2832 University Of New England, Department of Linguistics – Dr. Nicholas Reid 02 6773 3189, Dr. Nicholas Reid: 02 6773 3400 02 6773 3735, Dr. Nicholas Reid: 02 6773 3735 , c/- Linguistics, University of New England Armidale NSW 2351
NSW Board of Studies, Aboriginal Curriculum Unit – Connie Ahsee 02 9367 8140 02 9367 8435 GPO Box 5300 Sydney NSW 2001 Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-op 02 6569 4294 02 6569 4295 14 Bellwood Road Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 Many Rivers Aboriginal Language Centre 02 6568 5695 Mobile: 0404 456 992 02 6569 4295 C/- Muurrbay 14 Bellwood Road Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 Muda Aboriginal Corporation – Theresa Johnston 02 6872 1233 02 6872 1228 45 Mitchell Street Bourke NSW 2840 'Minimbah' Pre & Primary School Aboriginal Corporation – Carolyn Briggs 02 6772 4853 02 6772 2040 PO Box 356 Armidale NSW 2350 Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum 02 6839 2868 02 6839 2850 Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum Bathurst Street Brewarrina NSW 2839 Department of Linguistics, University of Sydney 02 9351 3566 02 9351 7572 Department of Linguistics, F12, University of Sydney NSW 2006 Boggabilla and Toomelah Gamilaraay Language Program – Bernadette Duncan 07 4676 2104 c/- Boggabilla Central School, South Street Boggabilla NSW 2409 Australian Capital Territory
Language Australia: The National Languages And Literacy Institute of Australia – Professor Joseph Lo Bianco AM 02 6230 4689 02 6230 6765 GPO Box 3175 Canberra ACT 2600 Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies AIATSIS 02 6246 1111 02 6261 4285 Lawson Cres, Acton; ACT AIATSIS GPO Box 553 Canberra ACT 2601