“With a motion passing both Victorian Houses of Parliament, the same time as that passed by the Federal Parliament, we have reaffirmed our commitment to tolerance, multiculturalism and reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” said Rob Maclellan, Victorian Minister for Planning and Local Government. “We cannot have reconciliation without recognition.”
Rob Maclellan was speaking at the recent launch of ‘Building Relationships’, a report on initiatives in consultation and communication between Local Government and Aboriginal communities in Victoria. This is Victoria’s response to an April 1995 resolution by Commonwealth, State and Territory Local Government Ministers, to develop strategies for improving the delivery of Local Government services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Using a series of case studies, involving several Victorian Councils and their Koori communities, ‘Building Relationships’ is a useful tool for Councils and Aboriginal organisations wanting to work together to develop more effective relations and culturally relevant services.
The Working Party on the Provision of Local Government Services to Aboriginal Communities comprised representatives from ATSIC, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, Victorian Office of Local Government, National Office of Local Government, Victorian Grants Commission and the Municipal Association of Victoria. It commissioned Lewis and Coleman Consulting to undertake the project.
“The report has been written in a climate of major change for both Local Government and Aboriginal affairs,” said Anne Lewis, Director Lewis and Coleman Consulting. “With funding cuts, Aboriginal Cooperatives will need to rely more on mainstream funding and Local Government is mainstream.”
She said that, in Victoria, with a greater emphasis being placed on customer service, a Council must look closely at how its services are delivered. They have a responsibility to provide services for all residents, with every member of their community a customer or potential customer.
Karen Milward, Aboriginal Policy Officer with the Municipal Association of Victoria, said that cross cultural awareness training for staff and Councillors helps ensure services are culturally relevant.
“Over 2,000 Council staff in Victoria have undertaken such training over the last three years,” she said. “This has lead to greater understanding and awareness as well as a range of cooperative projects involving Councils and Aboriginal organisations around the State.”
For further information on ‘Building Relationships’ contact Karen Milward at the MAV, telephone (03) 9823 5555.
