Place Headline here Making a Difference for Families in Remote South Australia Author: Gwen Crombie

Place Headline hereMaking a Difference for Families in Remote South Australia

Author: Gwen Crombie

Red Cross commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

• The aim of this presentation is to discuss the need, implementation and outcomes of a pilot project which identified and addressed the challenges associated with food security on the APY Lands in South Australia.

• This project adopted a strength-based approach to connecting families to appropriate services in times of crisis.

• It was noted that many people did not have access to food at least three days a fortnight, with the elderly and children being the most at risk.

• A major priority of the project, identified by the community, was to address the immediate need for emergency food supplies particularly focusing on the needs of the children and the impact of addictive behaviours such as drugs, alcohol and gambling.

FREGON EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM• The pilot involved the development of case management

processes through extensive community consultation, a project advisory committee which consisted of local Aboriginal community members, and a positive partnership with the Fregon Community Council.

• Community ownership was maintained throughout the program. • Following the completion of the trial, the project and food

supplies were handed over to the community council and runs independently of Red Cross.

• The project was able to build the community’s capacity to support families through crisis by providing a practical way to identify and address barriers to food security.

Where is APY Lands ?

Referral Form

September DATA COLLECTION SHEET

DATE ADULTS Children Meals Reason Follow-up Outcome08/09/11 1 4 3 meals for 5 people No food or money Financial Training/Centre Pay Centre Link /Families SA

08/09/11 2 0 3 meals for 2 people No food or money Financial Training/Centre Pay Centre Link /Families SA



22/09/11 1 0 9 meals for 1 person No food or money Financial Training/Centre Pay Centre Link /Families SA

22/09/11 2 1 one baby 7 months 9 meals for 3 people No food or money Financial Training/Centre Pay Centre Link /Families SA




27/09/11 0 1 3 meals for 1person No food or money Financial Training/Centre Pay Centre Link /Families SA

Total 16 11 60 meals for 27 people 27 people unable to budget

money until pay day16 people referred for Centre Pay and Financial Training with FSA

Signed up for Centre Pay and Financial Training FSA

Our commitments• National Board commitments• Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Strategy 2009-2015• How we work

– build key partnerships – at invitation of communities– long haul– employing local people– not duplicate - won’t compete with Aboriginal led agencies

Jack’s Red Cross Story

Anangu Training

Community Involvement

FREGON EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM APY LANDSFregon Community Mapping Overview of Food Securityby Gwen Crombie

• Families SA – Anti Poverty Team• Provide food for some families with children.• CDEP – Provide breakfast and lunch for their workers.• 12 Service providers providing approximately 16 various types of food

services• Some suggestions to overcome barriers to Food Security• Look at barriers and address with follow up:• Revisit Red Cross Case Studies documented prior to Emergency Trial Food

Pilot Program.

• Look at any changes. (Have the situations changed for better or worse and why?)

• Meetings – Service Providers with authority to brain storm and implement change.

• Agencies with food programs to look at ways to simplify and create ease of accessibility for clients. ie. one stop entry.

• Agreed client eligibility for assistance: e.g. same criteria used by all agencies.• A fair and equitable process which is known to all community members and

strictly adhered to.• Programs implemented to address substance misuse and problem gambling• Monitor Basic Card implementation

FREGON EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM APY LANDS


• Red Cross advocate and work with Government for change in laws which have allowed stores to hold customers cards for over 20 years.

• Many agencies including consumer affairs, legal rights have tried unsuccessfully to address this situation.

• Impact is no money for food, humbugging from family, violence.


Challenges:• Weekends & Public Holidays – Shop shut and agencies not operating.• No safe storage provision, no fridge• Humbugging • Impact of sorry camps, funerals & Cultural Business• Damage/loss from heat, violence, dogs and pest contamination.

Financial Training at Fregon

APY Lands SA

Red Cross Food Security Review• Conducted nationally in 2010 across all food security programs• Recommends that

• Food security is addressed across the “three pillars” of food availability, access and utilisation

• Shift away from model of individual food provision toward a holistic model seeking to genuinely address underlying structural and systemic causes of food insecurity. Advocacy on key issues.

• Invest in development of technical food security expertise, program planning and community development approaches across its programs and services

Australian Red Cross FOODcents® program

Safe smartCook smartShop smartSpend smartMove smartEat smart

APY Lands - Partnerships

As part of Red Cross’ ways of working, consultation with key stakeholders and partner agencies is crucial .

Red Cross recognises and acknowledges the vital role of Aboriginal led organisations on the Lands together with the APY Executive Council and community councils in their decision making and endorses a consultative and partnership approach in how we work on the APY Lands.

Newspaper Article (Outcome)

We still have a long road to travel

Documents

Place Headline here Making a Difference for Families in Remote South Australia Author: Gwen Crombie