Acknowledgments and copyright

Site Establishment

The www.WorkingwithATSI.info website, now www.WorkingwithIndigenousAustralians.info was launched by the Aboriginal Policy Reference Group and the Muswellbrook Shire Council in 2007.

 The initial grant for the website was funded by then NSW Department of Community Services now known as the NSW Government – Department Family and Community Services. Muswellbrook Shire Council has become a major contributor of funding to this project.

The website is led by Muswellbrook Shire Council Community Services Team and Management Alternatives Principal Paul Bullen.

2007 Reference Group and Council staff

Muswellbrook Shire Council Community Services Staff l-r Sharyn Franks Community Services Manager and staff Kim Manwarring, Brad Franks, Kate Collins and Amanda Catzikiris

The Reference Group which supported the project has seen some changes. People who have participated are; Beverly van Vliet, Lyall Munro, Margaret Matthews, Glen Morris, Julie Griffiths, Jean Hands, David Marr, Tat Whaleboat, Graham Ward and Suszanne Lang.

Muswellbrook Shire Council Aboriginal Policy Project Reference Committee l-r Glen Morris National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW, Sharyn Franks Community Services Manager MSC, Amanda Catzikiris Community Worker MSC, Margaret Matthews Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, Suzanne Lang Aboriginal Community Services Representative, Julie Griffiths Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation, Kim Manwarring Community Worker MSC, Brad Franks Community Worker MSC.

Muswellbrook Shire Council Aboriginal Policy Project Reference Committee l-r Glen Morris National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW, Margaret Matthews Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, Suzanne Lang Aboriginal Community Services Representative, Julie Griffiths Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation, Amanda Catzikiris Community Worker MSC, Kim Manwarring Community Worker MSC, Brad Franks Community Worker MSC, Sharyn Franks Community Services Manager MSC.

The website materilas specifically written for this site were predominately written by Suszanne Lang and Amanda Catzikiris. Significant written contributions and editing have also been undertaken by Glen Morris, Kim Manwarring, Brad Franks, Paul Bullen, Kate Collins and Sharyn Franks. Other people who have given freely of their time are Margaret Matthews, Rhonda Cribb, Nat Cutmore, Julie Griffiths and Les Elvin.

Julie Griffiths Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation

Margaret Matthews Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council

Glen Morris National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW

Suzanne Lang Aboriginal Community Services Representative

Photo’s used are predominately by Brad Franks.

Paul Bullen, consultant from Management Alternatives has helped with the conceptual design for the site content and construction of the website.

The Reference Group wishes to express sadness and thanks to two of their members who passed away during the writing of the site – Beverly van Vliet and Graham Ward.

 

 

Site updating

The Working with ATSI website, now Working with Indigenous Australians web site has been periodically reviewed since it was launched in 2007, inlcuding general website maintenance and updates.

2012

A more extensive review was carried out in 2012 with the release of new ABS data,  reference links and data was updated throughout the website. 

2016

To ensure that the website remains relevant a more robust review was undertaken in 2016. Discussions commenced in February 2016.

The main focus of the review was to ensure that the information contained in the website was still relevant and was useful to the audiences that were using it.

Discussion also centred around validating any changes that were going to be made to the practice implications with the re establishment of a Reference Group. The original Aboriginal Policy Reference Group Members had changed but the organisations we still a part of the community services structure. The name of the Reference Group and soon the website URL was to change to reflect the needs of website users and to remain current.

The Reference Group became the Working With Aboriginal People Reference Group.

The Reference Group consisted of representatives from Integrated Living Australia, Hunter New England Health Aboriginal Health Liaison Project, National Disability Services, Upper Hunter Aboriginal Family Support, Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council, Hunter Valley Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal HACC Access & Development Project and Muswellbrook Shire Council.

The Reference Group meet in March and April 2016 and reviewed the preliminary version of the updated website including the general content; practice implications for service providers and the self study module for staff of service providers.

Changes inlcuded:

• The web site name Working with ATSI was changed to Working with Indigenous Australians.
• The URLwas changed from www.WorkingwithATSI.info to www.WorkingwithIndigenousAustralians.info
• Sections on Torres Strait Islanders were added.
• A self-study module and self-assessment was added.
• A series of relevant video clips were added.
• New materail on cross cultural competance was added.
• New readings and lists of resources were added.
• Promotional materials were added.
• The practice implications and practice tips were updated.
• The layout and design and navigation were revamped.

Thanks

Thank you is extended to the Working With Aboriginal People Reference Group without your expertise and guidance this review would not have had the quality outcomes that we believe the website has undergone.

 Along the way like all projects we lose people who have been part of the journey. People who are passionate about improving the delivery of culturally appropriate services to our most disadvantaged communities. We remember Aunty Beverley Van Vliet a respected Elder of our Aboriginal Community as was Graham Ward. Recently we have lost Uncle Les Elvin and Sharyn Franks. Sharyn was an integral part of the Muswellbrook Shire Council Community Services Team and a part of the original concept of the website project.

Sources and copyright

Some materials have been specifically written for this web site.

There are quotations from many source including books, reports, articles, videos.

The sources of quotations are include with the quotations.

Publication details of books quoted are can be found here

Materials specifically written for this web site can be freely used for the purpose of training of staff and committee members in working with Indigenous Australians.