2013 Carer Recruitment Roadshow
The Training and Support Team has been co-ordinating the AbSec Carer Recruitment Roadshow 2013. The aim of the Roadshow has been to increase the awareness to our community about the need for more Aboriginal carers, as well as putting potential carers into contact with Aboriginal Out-of-home-care agencies and Family and Community Services for recruitment.
The Roadshow began in January 2013. To date we have attended approximately 19 Community events across the state.
5th Anniversary of the National Apology
AbSec celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the National Apology on Wednesday 13 February by taking members from the Stolen Generation, along with AbSec staff to Canberra.
The trip commenced on Tuesday 12 February where the girls were bused from Redfern to Queanbeyan for the Stolen Generations Council of NSW/ACT Board Meeting.
They then travelled to Canberra to attend Parliament House where various politicians spoke about the 1967 Referendum. The girls were invited to attended morning tea at Parliament House where Aunty Matilda House performed a Welcome to Country and Paul House played the didgeridoo.
A free concert celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the National Apology was held at Federation Mall, Parliament House. This was a fantastic event. Luke Carroll and Christine Anu were the MC’s and other great Aboriginal artists were included in the line up. Some of the performers included everyone’s favourite Archie Roach, Dan Sultan and Last Kinnection.
It was great to see Kevin Rudd amongst the crowd and everyone flocked to get photos and have a yarn. Kevin Rudd signed a copy of the artwork titled “Creaky” by Aunty Fay Clayton. The print is a cartoon impression of Kevin Rudd as Superman – which he found amusing and was forthcoming in signing. The artwork represents the Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls Home, symbolically a barb wired fence surrounding the home is cut to show the Girls freedom, and has Sorry written in the sky.
AbSec wins deadly award
AbSec wins Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Stolen Generations
AbSec is extremely proud to announce that it has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Stolen Generations Community Award at the 2012 Deadly Awards held on September 25 at the Sydney Opera House. AbSec staff members and the previous and current Bringing Them Home Coordinators, Michelle Lester and June Christian accepted this award on behalf of the NSW/ACT Stolen Generations Council which AbSec auspices. Several members of the Council and former residents of Cootamundra Girls Home, Aunty Val, Aunty Lila and Aunty Marleen were also present to accept the award.
Foster Care Week 2012
Foster Care Week is an annual event aimed at celebrating and acknowledging the work of foster carers within New South Wales. This year, Foster Care Week was held from 9 – 15 September.Foster Care Week Picnic Day was celebrated on Sunday 9 September 2012 at Parramatta Stadium. Over a thousand Carers and their families came out to Parramatta to join in the festivities.
National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
National Aboriginal and Islander Childrens Day is celebrated on 4th August each year. This year’s theme was ‘Our Children, Our Culture, Our Way’.
To help celebrate the occasion, AbSec hosted a Family Fun Day in Parramatta Park, with a special focus on our children in our communities. Hundreds of people came out to enjoy a beautiful day in the park.
NAIDOC 2012
NAIDOC Week 2012
National Aborigines and Islander Day Observance (NAIDOC) was held from 1-8 July with the theme 'Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on', acknowledging the important contributors established back in 1972. Celebrations were held across Australia recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
AbSec's Foster Care team is pleased to advise that they had a successful trip with Carers who attended the NAIDOC Ball on Friday 6 July at the Hotel Chancellor Hobart, Tasmania. AbSec supported a group of 41 delegates that enjoyed a weekend in Hobart attending the NAIDOC Ball, as well as a visit to a Aboriginal Cultural centre, and a ferry cruise. The group included Foster and Kinship Carers - whom many have never had a holiday together for a number of years. One of our Carers commented in a thank you card and wrote ‘To all at AbSec, Thank you for the most wonderful holiday I have had in my 80 years of life’! Carers enjoyed a bus trip to visit the Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum in Devonport - A big thank you to David Gough and Board Members of Tiagarra who welcomed and showed them around the Centre. It was a wonderful experience to share in their local history.
To view photo gallery from Hobart click here
AbSec has participated in lots of NAIDOC events around the state. Some of these include Woolloomooloo, Redfern, Illawarra, Campbelltown, Blacktown as well as Regional Staff attending events in their areas.
For more information and events happening during Naidoc week go to their website www.naidoc.org.au
National Sorry Day 2012
Sorry Day 2012 was held Saturday 26 May. AbSec staff attended the ceremony held at Community Services Head Office Ashfield. Donna Ingram, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, delivered the Welcome to Country. Uncle Ces and Uncle Ray Miniecon did a presentation on behalf of the Kinchela Boys Home. The reading of the Community Services message of Apology was read by Helen Freeland, Community Services Deputy Chief Executive, Operations.
The Apology can be read in full here.