Social justice and equity

The department practises the social justice and equity principles detailed in the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society. We use publications, websites, CD‑ROMs, meetings and advisory panels to promote those principles. We ensure that we are always accessible and fair when working with our clients.

The following highlights of our activities to promote social justice and equity are arranged according to the four key performance areas of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Access and equity report 2006–08.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness is a measure of the extent to which programs and services are accessible, fair and responsive to the individual needs of clients.

We have developed fair programs and services based on a sound knowledge of the needs, circumstances and cultural and other characteristics of clients. For example:

The Community Networks and Capacity Building component of Australia’s Farming Future seeks to increase the leadership and representative capacity of equity-seeking groups to strengthen primary industry productivity and build rural, regional and remote community resilience to a changing climate. Equity-seeking groups include women, young people, Indigenous Australians and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The FarmReady program in Australia’s Farming Future tackles inequity of access to approved climate change training by primary producers and Indigenous land managers. The program reimburses training costs up to $1500 per financial year and supports training-related travel, accommodation and child care up to $500 per financial year.

Service providers funded under the Rural Financial Counselling Service program are required to promote their services to Indigenous clients and those from non‑English-speaking backgrounds.

We are working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs to ensure that they are sensitive to the cultural needs of all Australians. For example, funding under Community Networks and Capacity Building for a Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association mentoring and pre-vocational skills project will help promote agriculture as a viable career path and boost the participation of Indigenous people in the pastoral industry.

We have engaged in a study that will help develop a better understanding of the contribution made by people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to agriculture, fisheries and forestry in Australia. This study will inform the development of social policy for the department.

The Australian Government Land and Coasts Team (a cross-department DAFF/Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) group) includes an Indigenous team that supports the involvement of Indigenous communities in the delivery of natural resource management (NRM) projects and programs—for example, Indigenous access and activities under the Caring for our Country initiative. The Land and Coasts Team has Indigenous land management facilitators based in each state and the Northern Territory to ensure effective communication and engagement with Indigenous stakeholders.

The Partnering Indigenous Communities project under Caring for our Country funded 13 Indigenous projects in 2008–09 to support emerging groups to develop Land and Sea Country plans or Caring for Country plans. These projects have provided an opportunity for Indigenous groups to:

• identify their aspirations for the use and management of land and sea areas for which they have direct responsibility or in which they have an ongoing interest
• identify management actions and opportunities for implementing them.

This approach is helping to build capacity to access funding opportunities through initiatives such as Caring for our Country, and to put forward a community position on land use and management.

AQIS continued to recruit Indigenous Australians through entry‑level and graduate programs. Employees in the far north took part in men’s and women’s community leadership programs during the year.

Communication

The communication performance area assesses how open and effective our channels of communication are.

The department provided information in appropriate media, publications, formats and languages. For example, opportunities to apply for funding through the Recognising Women Farmers and the Next Gen Farmers grant rounds were published in national media and communicated through other means, such as letters distributed through industry, women’s, young people’s and Indigenous networks and on other Australian Government websites.

Project plans incorporated communication strategies to disseminate results to stakeholders during and following projects.

Where necessary, our programs used translation services to ensure that benefits were available to people from non‑English-speaking backgrounds. To assist groups with their applications, programs run through Caring for our Country usually provide:

• call centre support
• access to a translation service
• staff to assist with applications for callers with disabilities or from non-English-speaking backgrounds
• access for people with poor or no internet facilities.

We consulted with diverse stakeholder groups about policy development, legislation development, program implementation and service delivery. This included:

• consultations with the Indigenous Policy Leadership Working Group led by DEWHA; the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy led by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA); and the Australian Economic Covenant led by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• working with the Office for Youth to ensure that young people from rural, regional and remote Australia, particularly those interested in primary industries, are engaged in the Australian Youth Forum (see below under ‘Accountability’)
• working with the Office for Women on whole-of-portfolio and whole-of-government issues affecting women in rural, regional and remote Australia, including to develop the government’s response to the recommendations of the National Rural Women’s Summit.

The department supports two-way communication through our active participation in the Natural Resource Management and Primary Industries Ministerial Council Working Group for Reconciliation in Natural Resource Management and Primary Industries. In 2008–09 the working group held meetings in locations across Australia to identify key opportunities for and barriers to improved participation of Indigenous people in NRM and primary industries. Indigenous groups and organisations make presentations to the working group on their experiences. These are captured in agenda papers that go to ministerial councils to support improved policy and program delivery for Indigenous participation.

Accountability

Accountability requires effective and transparent feedback, reporting and review mechanisms. Our work to improve accountability during 2008–09 included  working with the Office for Youth to ensure that young people living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia were considered in the development of the Australian Government’s youth website, www.youth.gov.au, and the Australian Youth Forum.

The Australian Youth Forum, which replaced the Young Australian Rural Network on 30 April 2009, is a communication channel between the government, young people (aged 15 to 24 years) and organisations working with, for and on behalf of young people. It is about engaging young people in ongoing public debate and seeking their views on policy and decision-making on issues that affect young people’s lives.

In collaboration with the Office for Youth, the department developed a Young People in Primary Industries page on the department and youth websites. This ensures that a rural-focused component is included on the government’s central website for youth-related information.

The department also worked with the Office for Youth to expand the Effective communications with young people report to include young people living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia so that they are better engaged in the Australian Youth Forum.

The department is engaged in developing a national compact between the Australian Government and the not-for-profit sector. This agreement will outline how the two will work together to improve and strengthen their relationship. Its development is being led by FaHCSIA.

Leadership

The leadership performance area assesses our whole-of-government management of issues arising from the cultural and linguistic diversity of Australian society.

In 2008–09 we collaborated with other Australian Government agencies on the Heywire initiative, which we co‑sponsored with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Heywire supports young people (aged 16 to 22 years) in rural areas to develop their advocacy skills, share their stories and gain an insight into how government works.

We work with state and territory and local governments, non‑government and community organisations, and contractors to raise their awareness of their responsibilities and to encourage better responses to cultural diversity. In 2008–09 this included:

• the Recognising Women Farmers grants round, which seeks to build the leadership and representative capacity of women in primary industries, as part of strengthening productivity and building community resilience in adapting to a changing climate
• the Next Gen Farmers grants round, which seeks to improve the leadership and representative capacity of young people entering or involved in primary industries, particularly in the context of climate change challenges and opportunities
• sponsorship (as part of Community Networks and Capacity Building) of a woman, an Indigenous Australian and a person from a culturally and linguistically diverse background to undertake the Australian Rural Leadership Program, which offers a unique opportunity for rural and regional leaders to develop skills, knowledge and networks needed to participate effectively in regional, state, national and international arenas
• promotion of Indigenous involvement in aquaculture through funding an additional Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Indigenous Development Scholarship for aquaculture; sponsoring eight Indigenous people to attend the Australasian Aquaculture Conference in November 2008; and hosting an Indigenous aquaculture workshop in conjunction with the conference.

Under Caring for our Country, we held a six-day conference involving 145 Indigenous women working in NRM in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The conference enhanced and strengthened NRM delivery through development of a strong Aboriginal women’s network, enabling more effective participation in NRM activities as well as skills development to improve employment and other social justice outcomes. The women were able to share their knowledge through case studies and briefings on Indigenous NRM initiatives such as Indigenous Protected Areas, Working on Country and Caring for our Country, and enhanced their skills through cultural teaching.

Since the conference, 12 women have also undertaken formal mentor training through a partnership developed with the TAFE NSW Western Institute that gives credits towards a Diploma of Conservation and Land Management.

Indigenous women working in NRM in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have formed a Yahoo! group where they can exchange information, ask questions, and provide support for each other. Some women were empowered to convince their community to proceed towards Indigenous Protected Area status, and two other women have moved from contract to permanent employment.

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