THE HON JENNY MACKLIN MP
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery
Member for Lingiari
18 June 2010
Indigenous men who are working to tackle family violence in their communities are receiving almost $550,000 from the Australian Government to support their efforts.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said projects across Australia would share the funding for community-based intervention programs to tackle family violence.
“Many Aboriginal men have already demonstrated their willingness to speak out against violence and their determination to be positive role models for other boys and men. Through this funding, we are encouraging more Aboriginal men to reject violence in their families and communities”, Ms Macklin said.
Speaking at the opening of the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference in Adelaide, the Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said the Government was committed to supporting Aboriginal men who were inspiring others to reclaim their roles as strong and caring fathers, partners, sons and brothers.
“The Rudd Government is supporting men’s leadership to target the underlying causes of violence and alcohol abuse and break the cycle,” Mr Snowdon said.
“Taking ownership of these problems is no easy task for communities, especially when people are already living in tough conditions. But we all have the power to reject violence.”
The funding includes support for:
-
$73,000 for the Spirited Men’s Project to conduct an Aboriginal Men’s Gathering across South Australia and to purchase a bus to transport their regular program participants from Coorong, Kalparrin and Murray Bridge.
-
$25,000 for an off-road camping trailer and equipment for the NPY Cross Border Project to help reach men in very remote communities in the cross border region of SA, WA and NT.
-
$200,000 for the Tribal Warriors Association in Sydney to boost mentoring for young men and women to break the cycle of violence, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and crime.
-
$ 161,000 for the Men’s Yarning Project to build community awareness and leadership against violence in the Langford area of WA.
-
$40,000 to further develop a leadership program for young Aboriginal men in Victoria’s east Gippsland region.
-
$50,000 for the Meenah Mienne Mentor program in Northern Tasmania to run new training for community mentors working on alcohol, drug and family violence issues– including skills in conflict resolution.
The funding announced today is in addition to the $130,000 provided to support male leaders who attended the Stop the Violence Workshop in Ross River in the Northern Territory so they can educate and lead others in their home communities.
Media contact: Alice Plate (Snowdon) 0400 045 999
Jessica Walker (Macklin) 0430 166633