How WBACC's performance of its objectives has contributed to improved outcomes for Indigenous Australians:
WBACC's performance this year has directly resulted in improved outcomes for WBACC Registered Members, all of whom are indigenous Australians.
Outcomes in the management and maintenance of Aboriginal Land include finalisation of strategies for caring for country and cultural heritage protection in the Booderee National Park and the 403, 151 and 152 lands. These are very significant documents, literally years in the making. Their publication marks a turning point in the indigenous management of land in the Jervis Bay Territory, with WBACC already applying the protocols set out in the documents to manage and protect places of great significance to Wreck Bay people. Recognition of the role of the community in the management of country, through these documents, has revitalised the community's desire to properly care for the land, for elders to share knowledge with younger generations and for members to educate the wider community in the importance of cultural and environmental land management.
Outcomes in the provision of services to Community members include enhanced quality of life through improved housing conditions brought about by the Home Maintenance and Repair Program, with the majority of residents now enjoying new kitchens and bathrooms. The 10% increase in the number of households paying rent to Council is evidence of a growing recognition of the obligations and benefits of managing one's home, and their is excitement about impending indigenous home ownership through the Home Ownership Implementation Strategy. A recent community session on homeownership attracted over 35 of the 48 tenants in Wreck Bay, a big jump from a similar session held last year, which attracted approximately 20 people. There has also been increased interest in the will development services provided through Council by Shoalcoast Legal, with tenants recognising the link between having a will and ensuring the housing security of future generations.
Indigenous education and training outcomes include:
- seven new tertiary education scholarships for Wreck Bay Registered members in the fields of social science/ psychology, business/finance; business management; beauty therapy and arts.
- two continuing school based apprenticeships with apprentices due to graduate at the end of the calendar year;
- training for staff and community in leadership, governance, project management, first aid, GIS training, cleaning operations, plant operator license training, chainsaw operation and WHS with the intent of improving skills for job readiness and job progression.
- an increase in utilisation of the pre-school by registered members
Training and education opportunities for Wreck Bay Registered Members directly result in higher levels of tertiary education for indigenous people, leading to better employment opportunities and a general upskilling for the benefit of the community as a whole, particularly as young educated members come back to work for Council or to run their own businesses in the local area.
An increase in preschool enrolments has a general effect of improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for young indigenous children who enter primary school with some basic skills already in place.
Indigenous employment outcomes include:
- eleven new direct ongoing jobs for locally based registered members;
- two continuing school based apprenticeships with apprentices due to graduate at the end of the calendar year;
- contracting of Registered Member businesses to undertake contract work for Council, including in the carpentry and arborist trades;
- Employment outcomes also include jobs for spouses of Registered Members who have been successful in traineeship and daycare center positions.
Employment of Wreck Bay Registered members results not only in increased income within the community, and an associated growth in businesses servicing the community (eg the child care centre has increased numbers due to an increase in the number of workers) but in a sense of pride in what the community has been and will be able to achieve in the future.
WBACC's use of the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy to contract Registered Member businesses also brings income to the community and encourages indigenous entrepreneurship, evident in the successful applications for new businesses under WBACC's Business Grant policy.
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/wreck-bay-aboriginal-community-council/reporting-year/2019-20-14