national indigenous development communication strategy

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYStrengthening communities, enhancing living culture and developing social enterprise through Indigenous communication and media.

Communication for Social Change (CSC)CSC uses communication processes, techniques and media to facilitate social, econom-ic and technological development. The philosophy of CSC is that communication is not simply about transferring information and sending messages. It is about listening, responding to and helping people give direction to their own change and supporting enabling environments for this change to take place.

CSC is a systematic, evidence-based strategic process which promotes positive and measurable individual and community behaviour and social change.

A CSC strategy provides Indigenous communities with the mechanisms to create op-portunities for themselves to be engaged in training, education, employment and busi-ness. These mechanisms can be operationalised by utilising, enhancing and expanding the current National Indigenous Media Network.

A National Indigenous CSC strategy could provide Indigenouscommunities with:

1 Centralised Information Dissemination via a convergent digital media platform (Wi-Fi Mesh network. Content could include: local news, community events, government services information, social marketing.

2 Social Enterprise Growth based on a model of economic sustainability. The particular form these enterprises take would vary according to local needs, conditions and opportunities.

3 Locally Delivered Training building foundational life skills and creating education and employment pathways to the broader economy.

4 Content Produced ‘On Country and in Community’ that engages because it is relevant to local people and supplemented by regional, state and national programming.

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A pilot Indigenous Communication Centre is proposed in Hope Vale, Far North Queens-land. This pilot will be the first of four sites with subsequent pilots in South Australia, South West Sydney and the Greater Southern region of Western Australia. The pro-posed initiative is about fostering Indigenous knowledge, developing local skills, playing to cultural strengths and building on current community activities and infrastructure.

The first pilot in Hope Vale seeks to build on the extensive networkof the existing Indigenous media sector by:

Indigenous Communication

Centre

Identifying and supportinglocal champions

Extending and integrating the current radio network

across the region

Offering diverse and immersive training to improve

digital literacy

Developing a strong, enduring cultural archive for

current and future generations

The report of a scoping study conducted in Hope Vale in June 2014 reflects the findings of the first stage of a proposed multi-stage pilot project to build on the current net-work, activities, cultural importance and community ownership of the National Indige-nous Media Network.

The Hope Vale pilot project is a cost effective model that can be achieved via existing organisations and through leveraging resources and experiences of community and government institutions currently residing in the region. Local organisations would be encouraged to collaborate in this project arising from their already expressed interest.

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Future Steps

Nationally A multi-year, multi-stakeholder and multi-site project delivering:

• Certificate level training with Indigenous RTO partners.

• Immersive training models within communities.

• Integration of existing infrastructure supporting communication within communities.

• Enhanced communication across regions including for use in natural disasters.

Secure funding to facilitate scoping studies for the three remaining pilots and support the ongoing activities in each of the pilot locations ($400,000).

Hope ValeFor the next stage, a series of short course media training and experiential ‘come and try’ activities will be held engaging with a cross-section of residents in Hope Vale.

These activities will be supported through AFTRS and AICA. A research team from the University of Queensland (UQ) will document these activities and community engage-ment and support an evolving and participatory approach to the training and activity programs to respond effectively to local requirements.

Cape York Wi-Fi Communication NetworkEstablish and test the Hope Vale, Cooktown and Wujal Wujal pilot stages of the Cape York Wi-Fi Communication Network. This network would trial a Wi-Fi mesh capable of providing emergency communications across the Cape independent of mainstream telecommunications infrastructure.

Secure funding to establish and test the Hope Vale, Cooktown and Wujal Wujal pilot stages of the Cape York Wi-FI Communications Network ($750,000).

Cape York Wi-FiCommunication Network

Platform for media content distribution

Low cost or free Cape York wide telecommunications alternatives

Internet to all communitiesacross the Cape

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Learning Journeys ProgramStart the “Learning Journeys” program in Hope Vale.

1 Through the delivery of experiential activities, the local champions for the ICSC project are identified.

2 These champions are then put through a process of career and educational aspiration mapping and an individual learning journey is developed for each.

Secure funding to up skill facilitators to deliver “Learning Journeys” in community ($250,000).

Creative Industry Social EnterprisesSeed funding to foster creative industry focused social enterprises.

• Young Business Leaders: Social Entrepreneurs Program delivered through the Communications Centre.

• As detailed in the scoping study, there were multiple social enterprise initiative self-identified by Hopevale residents. For example: Graphic and Website design service, printing service for the Cape York region, local video and audio production.

Secure funding to support enterprise proposals and provide training ($500,000).

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TABLE OF CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2LIST OF APPENDICES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7ABBREVIATIONS USED • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Indigenous Communication Centre Pilot Project: Hope Vale • • • • • • • • • • • • 8

Core Partners • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8

Project Background • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9

Project Aims • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10

METHOD AND APPROACH • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 Communication for Development (C4D) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11

Building on a Network: Indigenous Radio and Communication in Australia • • 12

Convergence • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 12

Sustainability and Social Enterprise • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 14

PROFILING AND SCOPING • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Study Area • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15

Objectives of the Scoping Study • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15

Consultation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15

Meeting Schedule • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17

Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18

1. Stronger Community Engagement and Co-ordination • • • • • • • • • • • 19

2. Living Culture • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20

3. Youth Engagement and Leadership • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 21

4. Increased Digital Literacy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 25

5. Connectivity • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 27

REFERENCES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29

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LIST OF APPENDICESAppendix 1: The Indigenous Communication Map: RIBS and RIMOs

Appendix 2: About Hope Vale and Community Assets Map

Appendix 3: Program and Training ideas from Hope Vale community

Appendix 4: Wi-Fi Mesh – a low cost mesh network to deliver community wide access to internet and mobile communications and an emergency communication solution.

ABBREVIATIONS USEDAICA – Australian Indigenous Communication Association

RIBS – Remote Indigenous Broadcaster

RIMOs – Remote Indigenous Media Organisation

CfCSC – Centre for Communication and Social Change, University of Queensland

C4D – Communication for Development

CYDN – Cape York Digital Network

DCITA – Department Communications, Information Technology and Arts

AFTRS – Australian Film, Television and Radio School

BRACS – Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme

RJCP – Remote Jobs and Communities Program

ABC – Australian Broadcasting Commission

NITV – National Indigenous Television Network

BBM – Bumma Bippera Media (Cairns, Radio)

PCYC – Police Citizens Youth Club, Hope Vale

CYP – Cape York Partnerships

NIRS – National Indigenous Radio Service

IKC – Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Hope Vale

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INTRODUCTIONStronger communities through Indigenous media and communication.

Indigenous Communication Centre Pilot Project: Hope ValeThe findings in this scoping survey have been developed over a number of meetings and consultations including extensive local consultation in Hope Vale, Cooktown, Cairns and Brisbane from 1-5 June 2014. Consultation drew together representatives from over 16 local organisations and government agencies providing services to the community. Over 40 Hope Vale community members discussed their communication needs, ideas and interests.

The following submission presents the case for a pilot project for an Indigenous Com-munication Centre in Hope Vale. This is the first of four proposed pilot sites for a devel-opment communication model that will strengthen local communities and the existing Indigenous media sector.

Core Partners

Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS)The Australian Film, Television and Radio School is the national arts and broadcast school and is the only Australian institution regarded as one of the top 20 film schools in the world. AFTRS have provided strong educational pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in film, arts and broadcasting.

UQ Centre for Communication and Social Change (CfCSC)The CfCSC is the only research centre in Australia that specialises in communication for development and social change. The CfCSC’s work is focused on the study, research and practical application of communications for sustainable development. The Centre has worked in Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji, Mongolia, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands and Cambodia.

The Australian Indigenous Communication Association (AICA)AICA is the national peak body for Indigenous print, television, radio & film covering individuals & over 150 media outlets in remote & urban Australia.

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Project BackgroundOver the past 35 years, a unique and successful Indigenous communication network has evolved. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander com-munities and individuals in many parts of Australia established community based radio and television stations. The 1984 report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander broad-casting and communications, Out of the Silent Land recognised and celebrated the rich diversity and contributions of the talent and achievements of the Indigenous peoples of Australia in relation to broadcasting and communications.

Since that report, greater recognition has been given to the role that Indigenous indi-viduals and organisations in the media and communications sector have played and continue to play with the objective of turning the tide of colonial history and cultural si-lence for the betterment of the nation. Numerous reports, studies and reviews since Out of the Silent Land including ATSIC (1999), Molnar and Meadows (2001), DCITA (2006), CYDN (2010) and Rennie (2013) have identified that the media and communication sec-tor provide proven pathways for Indigenous people towards employment, enterprise as well as the maintenance of languages and culture, address bias in the mainstream me-dia’s representation of Indigenous issues, provide information for health and wellbeing, and Indigenous culture and stories into the public arena.

In this scoping study we have identified that Indigenous media and communication also play a key role in the economic development of Indigenous communities – particularly regional and remote communities.

Foundation skills that were developed include digital and non-digital literacy, numeracy and oral communication. Media and communication training and experience offered core skills for work, from entry level to high level. In addition to supporting people into employment, these skills enabled people in work to take on different roles as they learnt and engaged with new forms of communication and information.

In 2013, the Australian Indigenous Communication Association (AICA) developed the Indigenous Media - National Learning and Development Strategy. A key component of the strategy was the creation of educational and employment pathways into and out of Indigenous media organisations. This pathways concept evolved following other exam-ples in which Indigenous media organisations impart foundational life skills to people, who then moved on to further educational or employment options. In effect, these or-ganisations were acting as a conduit to achieving broader outcomes in the health, edu-cation, juvenile justice and employment spheres.

Beyond foundation skills, most organisations and businesses have jobs that we define as embedded creative roles. These are people involved in media, marketing or communications roles. It can include primary creative roles such as a website designer or communication manager. However, it is often an ancillary but substantial part of a job - such as staff members that take video or photos for events or

are involved with an organisations’ social media. With information, communication and technology increasingly a central part of our daily lives and the convergence of digital media, the need for these roles is increasing exponentially.

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Project Aims

• Content creation that meets cultural needs at the local level.

• An economically sustainable communication and media system that will grow the creative industries of the region through supporting embedded creative positions within current active local agencies and developing local social enterprises.

• Connecting communication and media to the needs and strategic goals of Hope Vale and to other reforms and planning processes occurring across the Cape York region.

• Enhance co-ordination and awareness of local services and events for the local community and government, industry and civil society in the region working Hope Vale and Cape York communities

• Provide an emergency communication solution for Hope Vale.

• Content sharing with other Indigenous media networks without compromising control over programming.

• Project design that applies the principles of Communication for Development, which values participation as a skill, process and ethic seeking to ensure that all voices are heard, equally respected and included in decisions that affect them.

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Finally, the scoping study undertaken in Hope Vale has raised the possibility of devel-opment of a creative industries hub servicing the local community and partners in com-munity development through provision of locally accessible and appropriate informa-tion, education and communication materials across media. This hub is embodied in the Indigenous Communication Centre.

The Centres will provide a straightforward means of creating new media content fo-cused on language and culture, which extends on current initiatives in each site and can be distributed across the network of Remote Indigenous Broadcast Station (RIBS) and Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs).

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In Hope Vale and across the Cape York region the pilot site will offer a range of direct communication channels between service providers and communities to assist in better co-ordination, increased awareness, and social and behavioural change outcomes fol-lowing an established of use of Communication for Development.

This project applies the principles of C4D, which is an emerging field that explores the different ways in which communication can be used to enable sustainable community development and empowerment.

Well-designed C4D strategies enhance the ways in which participation can make a difference in planning, implementation and evaluation of development initiatives and change processes. C4D attaches importance to the key role played by context, and par-ticularly culture, in social change.

Community media have long been recognised for the important role they play in peo-ple’s lives. Community and participatory media have been widely used to strengthen community, build awareness, validate voice and increase local autonomies. When used in this way the media facilitates the creation of locally relevant messages, two-way flows of information and greater engagement, resulting in personal empowerment.

Communication for Development (C4D)Communication for Deveopment (C4D) uses communication processes, techniques and media to facilitate social, economic and technological development. The underpinning philosophy of C4D is that communication is not simply about transferring information and sending messages, but rather about listening, responding to, and helping peo-ple give direction to their own change, and supporting enabling environments for this change to take place.

C4D is a systematic and evidence based strategic process that promotes positive and measurable individual and community behaviour and social change. It uses research and consultative processes to promote a rights-based approach, to mobilise leadership and communities, to enable participation of local people, to influence social norms and attitudes and to support behaviours of those have an impact on the well-being of the community, families and children - especially those who are more marginalised.

C4D programs are inherently cross-cutting and trans-disciplinary. C4D works in part-nership with national and state government, civil society, industry and academia using a mix of approaches consisting of:

• Behaviour Change Communication: use participatory and interpersonal communication, and marketing techniques and tools, to inform, influence & involve individuals, families & opinion leaders in adopting new attitudes and/or behaviours;

METHOD AND APPROACH

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• Communication for Social Change: engaging & empowering communities & networks to positively influence and/or reinforce social norms and social practices;

• Social Mobilisation: engaging wide network of partners/ stakeholders (e.g. civil socie-ty, non- governmental organisations, youth groups, women’s groups and other commu-nity based organisations) around a common cause;

• Advocacy: linking perspectives, concerns, and voices of marginalised groups to upstream policy dialogue to facilitate increased demand and accountability for quality services.

Utilising a CSC process means that the range of audiences and participant groups that the Indigenous Communication Centres will work for, and with, include children and young people, families, elders, local champions, popular opinion leaders and traditional heads of communities. The Centres will also work with community based service pro-viders including health, social and community based workers, media and communica-tion personnel, cultural and performing arts groups, national, state and local level policy and decision makers, political and other influential leaders. The community can define what it wants to be and where it wants to go. The Centres are tools to be harnessed to-wards those agreements. The Centres and the media and communication that emerge from them can be put to work to re-affirm where a community wants to be.

Building on a Network: Indigenous Radio and Communication in AustraliaThe solution that we propose builds on one of the most substantial Indigenous commu-nication networks globally – the Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) and the Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs). A map of the network footprint of the RIBS and RIMOs is included in Appendix 1.

The achievements of the RIBS and RIMOs are often absent from discussions on Indige-nous policy and programs despite the fact that outside of health the Indigenous radio network represents the largest, longest lasting and most integrated Indigenous service program in Australia of any sector. This national network represents the most substan-tial Indigenous broadcast footprint in Australia. The cultural importance of this network cannot be underestimated and community ownership and trust of the local media is an additional strength with deep connection established over decades.

This network, represented by the Australian Indigenous Communication Association (AICA), is unique in that it constitutes a successful and sustainable Indigenous com-munication industry, has an enviable track record in providing essential information to audiences, as well as Indigenous led registered training organisations used by groups throughout the network.

ConvergenceConvergence of new technologies and communication programs represents a unique opportunity to transform the sector and support a paradigm shift in community de-velopment. Previously, if a community wanted development services of any kind they needed a road. Information, Communication and Technology infrastructure is a new road and the way to accelerate community development in the future.

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The Indigenous media and communication sector has been convergent for some time, fluidly moving across media platforms and across artforms. However, this is not ac-knowledged in current funding and policy regimes. The sector currently operates in a policy vacuum with highly limited funding models. This is despite a precedent set across the media and communication industry with increasing preference for a con-vergent model, as embodied in ABC Open where radio and multi-media producers work within the same funding and administrative paradigm. As AICA argued in their submission to the Digital Dividend Green Paper, Indigenous media is currently treated as a program rather than a sector. The full value and role of the sector is thus ignored. AICA’s s submission to the Digital Dividend Green Paper argues, “It is not acceptable that our sought after involvement is seen only as “program management” within the Arts portfolio and not situated in the communications arena with other broadcasters – including “community, Christians and ethnic broadcasters.” Rennie (2010) notes that the external, national broadcast initiative of NITV has not succeeded in growing exist-ing Indigenous media organisations or the creative output of the regions. It has, in fact, placed significant pressure on the long-established regional media and communication producers and providers, undermining the longest standing, most trusted and most substantial Indigenous network – the RIBS.

This proposed pilot project represents a shift in support to the sector and acknowledg-es the sector’s existing convergent approach to production. We propose a model that takes advantage of substantial infrastructure and collaborations that already occur in the region. Communication centres can be a central point for getting information to the community as well as being a central point for creative and cultural activity. This activi-ty will be both catalyst and conduit for delivery of government services and programs. Culturally appropriate information is key to the successful delivery of local government services and opportunities. A ground-up approach, using local talent, culture and live events, will make information relevant and entertaining. With increased use of mobile internet, there is also a significant role for the Indigenous media and communication sector to play in terms of digital literacy and engagement. New communication tech-nologies will leave people further behind unless access to locally specific information across a variety of platforms is addressed.

As Patrick Dodson, Yawuru leader, noted:

The role of Indigenous media in remote and regional settings needs to be expanded by building on the current network of RIBS and RIMOs to support their work across media. This will enable increasingly effective means of getting vital information to communities and in building community capacity to create and share their own media. This expan-sion also presents additional opportunities for social enterprise development.

As we deal with complicated issues such as climate change, water and land management, native title, tourism and infra-structure requirements, our communications platforms will become increasingly important. The media allows us to see what’s coming and to cope with change.

- Patrick Dodson, Letter to Senator Conroy, January 2010

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This pilot proposal draws together the most trusted and longest established Indigenous communication network with local knowledge, interests and infrastructure to achieve this. The expertise and networks of the partners involved - AICA, AFTRS and UQ - aug-ment the proposal.

By connecting other supports and partners across sectors and from local, state and federal government and industries, we can trial a more convergent and cohesive way of doing media and communication. Whilst each pilot site of the four proposed will pres-ent its own challenges and opportunities the models of programming, training, technol-ogy and partnerships piloted in Hope Vale could be replicated across the nation.

Sustainability: Community Engagement and Social EnterpriseThe ability to continue this work in the community through the Hope Vale School, Indig-enous Knowledge Centre and the Arts and Cultural Centre keeps the program sustaina-ble and relevant to the community. Hope Vale School is using digital storytelling within their classes. The IKC and the Arts and Cultural Centre have both expressed a desire to do more hands on work with the elders in gathering oral stories. Most other groups and agencies shared similar sentiments around the importance of creating a living, digital archive. Members of the youth program said they would like to connect with the elders, but lack opportunity and context to do so.

An Indigenous Communication Centre can allow youth and young people the space to engage and to re-mediate and define culture on their own terms. Media and commu-nication training will offer foundational life skills – from public speaking, to increased digital literacy. Embedded creative roles exist in all organisations and are increasingly central to core operations offering increased relevance and meaning for training and application of this training beyond jobs within the media and communication industry. Finally, certificate or degree training and on the job experience could enable the devel-opment of a micro social enterprise that fulfills many of the local communication needs – from organizing cultural events to documenting significant initiatives, to producing local stories across media to design and print work for local agencies.

A micro social enterprise could become a local video production house, a print and de-sign studio, marketing and advertising agency, event management company, social me-dia communicators and network provider, local media and communication trainers and educators as well as continuing their activities as a radio station. A viable market exists within the community to deliver these services and as other industries develop, such as tourism, agriculture and mining, locally defined and created images, stories and content will become more important.

The social enterprise model of multi-platform media production and training that must ultimately underpin the core activities of the proposed Indigenous Communication Centres will also provide local talent and technical expertise for local businesses, coun-cils, state and federal government engaging with the community as well as independent media and event producers working in the community.

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Study AreaThis Scoping Study is concerned with activity that takes place in Hope Vale, Cape York in addressing the communication needs of the Hope Vale community and organisations and government engaging with the community. Appendix 2 offers additional back-ground to Hope Vale.

Objectives of the Scoping Study

1 Establish an understanding of and support for the project at a local community level.

2 Collaborate with local stakeholders to create a shared vision of how the development of an Indigenous Communications Centre can be implemented in Hope Vale.

3 Identify local champions, partners and enablers.

4 Assess local resources available to the project (human, physical and financial).

5 Develop a work plan for the next steps.

ConsultationConsultation with a variety of stakeholders working across sectors and representing different aspects of the Hope Vale community and external engagement with service providers and government in Cairns and Cooktown was intended to:

• Establish an understanding of and support for the project at a local community level.

• Collaborate with local stakeholders to create a shared vision of how the development of an Indigenous Community Communications Centre can be implemented in Hope Vale.

• Begin to identify local champions, partners and enablers.

• Assess local resources available to the project.

PROFILING AND SCOPING

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Hope Vale has been identified as a highly viable site to pilot the Indige-nous Communication Centres for a variety of reasons:

Wide variety of community based organisations supporting

a range of service delivery

Local history of external partnerships with government

across sectors

Pre-existing infrastructure that can be leveraged to support diverse communication

and media initiatives including BRACs infrastructure enabling short-range broadcast

of both radio and television

Cultural programs such as the Hope Vale Pelican Digital Storytelling pro-

gram and Creative Tracks filmmaking

Community based organisations such as the Youth Program, Indigenous Knowledge

Centre and Arts and Cultural Centre offer additional creative support mechanisms

Potential for syndication of content, formats and training models across

the Cape York region

Indication of strong and diverse local interest, need and capacity that could offer cultural, social

and economic benefit to the region

Indication of strong inter-governmental support for the proposal

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Meeting Schedule: AICA and Centre for Communication and So-cial Change, University of Queensland

Friday 9 MayAICA community communication centre stakeholder analysis workshopPresent: AICA, CfCSC; Russell Gibson, Hope Vale Community Engagement Officer/RIBS Op-erator; Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council Brett Leavy, General Manager, National Indigenous Radio Service.

Monday 2 JuneHope Vale Aboriginal Shire CouncilPresent: Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Ross Higgins.

Hope Vale Justice GroupPresent: Glenys Bowen and Estelle Bowen.

Inter-Agency Group Present: Present- Lisa Sarago, My Pathways; Melanie Gibson, Art and Culture Centre cultural programs, youth; Laverne Hookey, Indigenous Engagement Officer Cairns ROC; Sonja Robert-son- Director, Hope Vale Child Care Centre.

Cape York partnershipsPresent: Audrey Deemal, Lenore Casey, Libby Morgan, Peter Gibson, Johanna Reid, Selena Bow-en, Amanda Fyfe, Shaleini Gibson, Khandra Stafford, Peter Gibson, Karen Gordon, Joanne Bow-en and Wilfred Gordon.

Indigenous Knowledge CentrePresent: Dora Gibson, Indigenous Knowledge Centre librarian, PACE Officer and Priscilla Gibson, Health Promotions Officer, Apunipima Cape York Health Council.

Hope Vale Child Care Centre meetingPresent: Sonja Robertson, Manager, Hope Vale Childcare Centre.

Elders Group (Art and Culture Centre)Present: Wanda Gibson, Madge Bowen and Grace Rosendale.

Youth GroupPresent: Hope Vale Youth Committee.

My PathwaysPresent: Reshmi Morris, Shariel Cassar, Chavanne Bowen, Roland McLean.

Tuesday 3 JuneCooktown Services HubPresent - August Stevens, Project Officer, DATSIMA; Koy Birnie-Janthakantho, Project Support Officer, Far North Queensland Service Delivery Programs and Regional Operations | Cooktown, Chris Swan, Kira Robertson and Deborah Little from Child Safety, Nathalie Heales, Housing and Public Works.

Wednesday 4 JuneCairns Regional Operations CentrePresent: Josh Paterson - Senior Advisor, John McIntyre - Director of Strategy and Planning, Da-mian Blunden - Government Co-ordination Officer – Far North Queensland, Indigenous Affairs Group, DPMC.

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ResponsesThe proposal was met with significant enthusiasm from all parties consulted and en-hanced media and communication in the community was seen as essential in Hope Vale’s future development. Groups and individuals consulted also offered support or interest in participating as noted in the table of meetings. A number of key themes emerged over the consultation period that illuminates a shared vision articulated by stakeholders for the development of an Indigenous Communications Centre in Hope Vale.

The following section provides more detail in terms of responses that were recorded in the scoping study in relation to each theme. This offers an insight into the issues of communication that an Indigenous Communication Centre would address. It also offers a snapshot of the shared vision of the development of the centre and offers an indica-tion of the support and partnership that may emerge based on the interests and sup-port indicated by partners and the community.

1 Stronger community engagement and co-ordination of services and events via an accessible community communication hub.

2 Living culture: identity, language, land and heritage.

3 Youth engagement and leadership: Foundation skills, training, pathways and jobs.

4 Connectivity: Connected Communities and Emergency Communication.

5 Increased digital literacy: local use and adaptation of technology; create ‘social norms’ in terms of community use of communication and technology; community wide support to engage with digital technologies.

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1. Stronger Community Engagement and Co-ordination of Services and Events via an Accessible Community Communication Hub

“Communication has broken down in Hope Vale, it’s completely broken down.”

- Estelle Bowen, Justice Group

There was a strong affirmation of need for a central communication point in Hope Vale and also by external partners. Representatives of DATSIMA Regional Operations Centre (ROC) in Cooktown said, “A communication centre would be great… to publicise local events. It would also be good to communicate important changes.”

There was a commonly reported disconnect in terms of community engagement and lack of co-ordination between agencies. Many local agencies are unaware of the varie-ty of services in the local region, leading to conflicting scheduling, poor co-ordination and low engagement due to poor communication. Community members are unaware of current services, events and policy and how this affects them, their families and the community. The Justice Group noted, “Media and communications are needed to tell people the opportunities and programs that exist.” DATSIMA (Cooktown) commented, “a local and centralized community calendar is really needed. We tried to start one, but it’s not used.” These observations were also reflected in the ‘Hope Vale Youth Ser-vices Forum’ held in October 2013 and hosted by the Cairns ROC with the support of the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council. The report’s second recommendation is that “Services in Hope Vale need to be aware of each other, network and coordinate.”

Culturally appropriate communication and mechanisms for dialogue are key to the co-ordination of local services and events as well as the ensuring the success of exter-nal policy strategies.

In the inter-agency meeting and with the IKC and the Justice group there was an un-derstanding that overlapping activities could build on each other, rather than compet-ing for the same participants. One example offered was around the overlap of cultural programming of Creative Tracks, the Culture Centre and culture club at the school. Dora Gibson from the IKC observed, “Better co-ordination could build on each activity and reinforce the practices and messages of each program.” Again the Youth Forum ech-oed this recommendation, “Having continuity and community knowledge and connec-tions in key support positions is most important.”

Communication within the community was identified as a priority for local co-ordina-tion. Stronger local communication that engages across different demographics within the community was seen as a priority to support community development. Members of the IKC and the Justice Group noted that recent defunding of the local paper-based newsletter Milpie has left a gap in basic communication – i.e. communication that is de-livered directly to every person and organisation in town.

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Cadetships for young people to produce this direct communication, to create a con-tact database and to shadow local coordinators was highlighted as a potential solution at all meetings. The IKC and Cape York Health Council said, “How do we skill our chil-dren up to compete with the outside world? We need young people to shadow peo-ple in agencies to learn skills.” The Justice Group said “cadetships would be great to do more local communication… to build a local database to contact people (and)… to learn from and profile current leaders and role models” My Pathways noted both the current absence of local creative skills and of local trainers and that a cadetship activi-ty could build on current programs including their digital literacy and numeracy course run with Training Connections Australia. My Pathways, CYP in Hope Vale and DATSIMA representatives in both Cooktown and Cairns all felt there would be an opportunity to develop a creative services hub providing fee for service for local organisations and or-ganisations working with the community - “There are creative industries opportunities. Cooktown classifieds and Facebook are used by the Discovery Festival every day.” My Pathways said “we would definitely prefer to use local media and communication creative for marketing and advocating messages.” CYP expressed strong interest in the idea of locally produced communication materials created within the framework of a micro social enterprise saying, “I think there would be a lot of opportunities for us and the local community.”

2. Living Culture: Identity, Language, Land and Heritage

“Our strength is our culture.”- Priscilla Gibson, Apunipima, Cape York Health Council

A recurrent theme in many of the meetings was around the possibility of creating a liv-ing archive of language and the lived experience of elders in the community. The notion of a living archive is used to indicate that this was conceived as beyond preservation: this is an active and evolving resource that could be used for teaching of local people, rediscovery of dance and traditions that were lost during the missionary period, evo-lution of current cultural practices (social norms), activity for youth and young people (re-engagement with traditions, connection to elders, skills development, develop lo-cal pride). A living archive reflects the dynamic adaptation of culture that is present in Hope Vale.

The IKC and Cape York Health Council representatives said “We need to lift our cultural competency and help our kids get clear on their identity. Digital archiving would be a great way to do this.”

A living digital archive would capture language, stories, images and songs from and for all generations, would be kept in the community and publically available. The archives would also generate new material such as profiling of local leaders, as well as telling stories in language for children and other culturally appropriate programming (detailed in Appendix 3). Stories, images and songs could also potentially be available for exter-nal audiences (such as tourists to the area, other Cape York communities and other

21

external interest groups such as for cultural training for external workers). It was hoped that the archive could also support the development of family trees to show how peo-ple are related. Elders expressed the need for young people to learn to be fluent in both language and culture and need to be taught from an early age.

“We need to teach our community how to code switch”- Dora Gibson, Indigenous Knowledge Centre

Whilst a digital archive was identified as being a necessary project, the idea of a liv-ing culture defined by ‘code switching’ extends beyond project based activity. ‘Code switching’ could be seen as similar to dynamic adaptation in that it is a switch between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures and between traditional and modern society and values. It is both social and cultural switching, extending beyond bilingual language switching.

There was concern for younger generations not knowing who they are, and losing their heritage. Interestingly the older people seemed to perceive that the youth weren’t inter-ested in the old ways and values, but all the young people that we interviewed openly expressed interest in learning language and sharing stories from their elders. A mem-ber of the youth committee was asked what he would choose if he could preserve one thing for future generations and he said “language.” Melanie Gibson, co-ordinator of the Youth Group, affirmed that young people had expressed strong interest in learning language and culture from the elders. Elders from the Justice Group said, “Before we had our values from the Church, and the older generation. We’ve been trying to get young people to come to Sunday school like we did. We’ve tried to change the time, as no one’s around on Sunday morning. They need to learn the norms of this commu-nity. Teaching them to honour their mother and father.” Elders discussed the shifting of culture and shared values in Hope Vale since its inception as a Lutheran mission. In the IKC meeting it was observed, “People don’t come together any more. The government policies have stopped cultural practices. We used to have a tree of knowledge, people used to gather and have meaningful conversations, people aren’t there anymore.”

3. Youth Engagement and Leadership: Foundation skills, training, pathways and jobs

“Youth has not been on the agenda until recently.“- Russell Gibson, 4ACR

The Inter-agency meeting observed that there were 42 young people who they identi-fied as ‘disengaged’ meaning they were aged 13- 25 and not participating in education or work. There was frequent discussion about the need to create pathways for young

22

people into training and jobs. Lack of meaningful opportunities was identified by the youth program and by the inter-agency group as a reason for lack of engagement – “there’s no jobs they want to do.” This is an increase from the 35 people noted in the Hope Vale Youth Forum in October 2013.

This Forum also identified a series of recommendations that were more broadly reflect-ed in other meetings with community and external partners. In relation to an Indigenous Communiation Centre, and echoing ideas articulated by the Community during the con-sultation period the forum recommended:

• More apprenticeship, traineeship, work experience and mentoring opportunities are needed.

• Life skills programs are lacking and would be beneficial for youth.

There were a number of other recommendations from the Forum around youth engage-ment, health awareness, casual work and mixed gender activities that all find intersec-tion with this pilot proposal.

Members of the Youth Committee of Hope Vale identified My Pathways and the Re-mote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP)as a means of influence and opportunity in the community, and there was discussion with My Pathways group about having this program as a conduit for initial engagement. DATSIMA in Cairns ROC noted that, “the communication aspect has a lot of synergies with what we do. Under the new system people under 30 need to be earning or learning.”

Justice Group expressed a frustration that was reflected in a number of meetings. A number of respondents, including the youth group, were concerned about the lack of meaningful long-term job opportunities. The Justice Group said, “Instead of getting young people to clean the mowers we need the young people to ‘pick it up’ in terms of leadership and responsible positions in our community… Who is going to lead Hope Vale? We need a leadership program to start this off – like a small project of young people talking to elders, leaders and visionaries in the community…”

The Justice Group went on to say, “we’d like to keep kids in community, so they don’t lose their connection to land. We want kids to be leaders, and we need more role models and leaders. Kids need to take over their own paths.” At the Inter-Agency meeting a shared observation was summed up by Laverne Hookey, “the young people are losing culture and have no vision for their own future. There’s no jobs they want to do.”

There appears to be a conundrum for young people in terms of how they are perceived by older generations; the Justice Group said “When I was young we felt that young people couldn’t progress here. We couldn’t compete with the older people. There are a lot more expectations now.” At the same time as expectations in terms of how much

23

responsibility young people can assume there is both a distrust and concern that young people are both lazy and do not share the same values as the older generation - “These days work ethics are gone, they get money for nothing, cheques for free. In the old days we had values and ethics.”

A number of members of the community stated they felt the community needs to agree on a way forward and agree on shared values and that these agreements must involve genuine participation and ownership of young people in the community:“We need to be lighting up young people’s ambitions and passions.”

Numerous comments refer to a ‘strength’ based approach – focusing on good news stories, local champions and leaders: local, positive role models. By allowing young people to define the activities, being supportive and available as mentors, participants and audience, older generations could create space for young people to initially build confidence in their training and work. It was suggested that a values based approach to the communication process be taken in order that both rights and responsibilities were negotiated at the outset. It seemed that often young people in the community had an experience of “all responsibilities, no rights.”

Hope Vale Community Engagement Officer and RIBS manager Russell Gibson ob-served, “Young people like the idea of working the land and looking after animals, young people want to go hunting. So in some ways they still want the traditional ways. But culture and industry has moved away from working the land for the current gener-ation.” There is clearly a strong desire from all sectors of the community for young peo-ple to be supported in connection to tradition, for connection to culture and to develop their own vision and meaning around their future and the future of the community.

In the My Pathways meeting, staff observed, “We need to provide positive role models and a strong connection to culture. Young people want to learn and participate in it.” Recent activities like youth camps that have incorporated cultural elements have been popular. Camps featured fishing, hunting, but also leadership training and creative pro-grams and were focused on creating a way to build skills and interest to re-engage kids with the community.

A way to do this is to build on current interest and capacity of young people in the community. At the IKC and Cape York Health Council meeting Priscilla Gibson said, “We need to be working with the skills that are already here and developing peer learning and information exchange.” Melanie Gibson manager of the Youth Program in Hope Vale, which runs the recently implemented youth camps, observed “every kid is connected. Every kid is on Facebook and has a mobile phone.” The Youth Committee affirmed this observation. Melanie Gib-son also noted that three young people in her youth group are interested in video and interviewing. They currently go out with video and still cameras and recently created two videos with Brisbane based training program Creative Tracks on a culture camp. A member of the Youth Committee said, “One of the guys is learning how to do editing of photos and videos. He did some stuff on our last hunting trip. One of the guys from Creative Tracks asked if he could show him how to edit so we’re just waiting for them (Creative Tracks) to come back.” The young people area also waiting for an opportuni-ty to have a movie screening once the Creative Tracks group returns.

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Melanie Gibson said, “A youth newsletter is important. Something that is positive with things like star of the month.” A member of the youth committee said, “I think there’d be a few people who would be interested, but it would be too hard to crack out of their shell. They’d be too shame.” He went on to add, “There are a few people who might like (media training). When we went on youth camp a lot of kids took pictures and video. One of the guys here is learning how to edit video, on my cousin’s laptop. He’s asked Creative Tracks to teach him...We’re still in the process of putting the pho-tos and videos together for a movie night.”

Locally Delivered TrainingThe staff at My Pathways in Hope Vale expressed frustration that “most of our trainers come from outside the community. It’s hard to find people with those skills.” They said that they would possibly use local media creatives for training, as well as marketing and advocating messages. Jobseekers could be employed as mentors in the program. They were also interested in training participants to train.

DATSIMA and FAHCSIA staff in both Cooktown and Cairns also expressed a strong interest in local capacity building and training, and pointed out that they could employ students as mentors, to facilitate the learning of others. Structured activities require mentoring and support. Representatives of DATSIMA in Cairns noted, “It’s an issue because training in remote communities is expensive. Innovation is really important for us going forward. The communication aspect has a lot of synergies with what we do. My experience is that if training is run in community it’s much better … for example our literacy and numeracy course isn’t running well. What we need is the support that sits around, mentoring and tutoring.” The group went on to reflect on the recent Hope Vale Youth Strategy; “Part of the youth strategy is that people want a learning centre in Hope Vale. The best practice model is to get people out to the community.”

One of the staff at DATSIMA in Cooktown reflected on experience in other communities regarding the importance of locally delivered training, “We found it difficult to get local people to be trained and then there was a lot of equipment sitting defunct in these communities. That wouldn’t be the case if we could get training and pay for people to work. We had some good sessions, but it just wasn’t constant enough.”

The approach to deliver local training with clearly identified, subsidized cadetship pro-grams at the end of training “rings a bell with DATSIMA’s vision to get young people on the right track. We’re interested in a three pronged attack to create creative, social and economic development and this proposal could do that.” CEO of Hope Vale Shire Council Ross Higgins proposed a model for development the communication centre as a social enterprise, saying: “Give us some money to employ 6 people and we can get them trained and ready for work. We can identify the stayers and then get them skilled up. It’s a much easier model than training 100 people and then trying to cherry pick, especially if there’s no clearly identified jobs at the end of it.”

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4. Increased digital literacy: create ‘social norms’ in terms of community use of communication and technology; local use and adaptation of technology; community wide support to engage with digital technologies

“If Hope Vale are trailblazers, then I want us to trailblaze in the field of technology and create worthwhile jobs.”

- Russell Gibson, 4ACR and Hope Vale Community Engagement Officer

Digital literacy in this study is understood as the ability to effectively and critically navi-gate, evaluate and create information using a range of digital technologies. Important in this understanding is local use and adaptation of technology for both deeper and wider digital literacy for community members. This local adaptation and rel-evance enables a community-based network of people who can, in turn, support wider engagement with technology. This is a positive feedback loop whereby the more the technology works and is relevant to the community the more it gains power. This gen-erates an increased ability to participate in wider online society, to create locally appro-priate norms and responsible behaviour with regard to technology use.

A need for the creation and reinforcement of shared social values and positive behav-iours was reiterated in nearly every meeting in Hope Vale. Laverne Hookey, local co-ordinator of government programs in Hope Vale said that “community organisations should provide social change management and communication is an absolute must for change management.” The Justice Group saw communication as an outlet for cre-ating social cohesion and reflecting local identity, “We need to create a values system that’s shared. There needs to be empowerment. We need to put social norms across the airwaves. We need positive role models.” In Cairns, representatives from DATSIMA echoed this, “Kids are technologically savvy, but they are often using it for the wrong purposes. In Arukun people were in the street with spears, just because two girls had been texting each other.” However, the understanding was clear – technology can be a force for social change in positive and surprising ways, “they could also use it in posi-tive ways. We’ve done some monitoring in Coen that suggests that people are going online rather than gambling.”

Other models of facilitated and incentivized internet use in the Northern Territory and Western Australia have proven to be hugely popular in the community, and have result-ed in better general education outcomes, re-engagement of marginalized young peo-ple and innovative and acclaimed creative products such as the iPhone App ‘Ngurrara’ which tells the stories and shares the language of Ngarluma and was created by Ngar-luma man Tyson Mowarin. In terms of participation in the real economy the increased role of technology and creative development has resulted in increased local embedded creative roles and a successful social enterprise, in the case of Goolarri Media Enterpris-es in Broome.

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Local adaptation and relevance was described as important. AICA has proposed a Wi-Fi mesh as a component of the pilot site and many in the community were excited about this concept, which is detailed in Appendix 4. Hope Vale Council CEO Ross Hig-gins said “I’m proud of the website as a source for information and registration. But I feel like we need a local platform for news and events – a translation of the website for mobiles and other devices.” The Wi-Fi mesh provides this solution in that it could give people cheaper connectivity plus also have a ‘splash page’ that could hold information about the community. Ideas of what people wanted to include on this page included- a community calendar, tourist information for visitors, local hero profiles, local cultural protocols, football news and information and history information. It was noted that the log-in could potentially be incentivized to add another positive support mechanism for young people seeking low cost or free access to the internet. The Wi-Fi mesh concept also supports many issues raised around local connectivity and emergency communica-tions.

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5. Connectivity: Connected Communities and Emergency CommunicationConnectivity can be divided into two sub-sections: connected communities and emer-gency communication.

Connected CommunitiesConnected communities describes media and communication pathways fostering in-creased opportunities for Cape York specific media and communication production and syndication – this was described in “Voices from the Cape” by Hope Vale Community Engagement Officer Russell Gibson.

Of the organisations surveyed all of them stated they would prefer to work with lo-cal media organisations over other regional or city-based media services. All of them agreed that Indigenous media provides a more appropriate and effective means of reaching Indigenous people. Some also believed that delivering content in Indigenous languages helps in their service delivery.

Providers such as Cape York Partnerships immediately identified a number of opportu-nities for fee for service work, social marketing or edutainment such as a gardening and home renovation show connected to the Pride of Place and Bush Owner Builder. CYP also saw value in developing enhanced communication mechanisms to support both co-ordination and promotion of programs. Hub Manager Audrey Deemal observed “I think there would be a lot of opportunities for us and for the local community.” CYP staff expressed strong interest in media and communications that could be broadcast across the Cape and asked, “how can we support this.” CYP observed this would sup-port raising program awareness and allow local communities to access CYP program experts through talkback radio and social media if local programs are not available in particular towns (the communities of Greenfields and Laura were identified as un-der-serviced areas). CYP representatives offered numerous programming suggestions relating to their current programs such as the budgeting program MPower and the Pride of Place landscape design program. In the case of MPower and other financial management, and investment programs, CYP’s Audrey Deemal had appeared on 4ACR to discuss money management. CYP staff said “we could do a weekly money matters show on the radio responding to case studies we’ve seen in the Hub and to questions received via facebook or SMS as well as call-ins.” The radio show could move across a variety of CYP programs from the women’s enterprise program, to Wise Buys and Stu-dent Education Trusts. CYP staff also proposed a home renovation and gardening show that could be connected to Pride of Place and the Bush on the Build initiatives.

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Emergency CommunicationA core requirement of any Communication Centre in Hope Vale relates to ability to pro-vide emergency communications. The town’s experience of Cyclone Ita in which com-munication was severed both within the town, and to the outside world, was an exam-ple referred to by a number of community representatives.

Local community, Hope Vale council, Cooktown based government staff, and Cairns based staff, all mentioned the cyclone, and Hope Vale’s isolation as a major concern. They were interested in whether a Communication Centre could play a future role in supporting emergency communication and more effective pre-emergency and recovery communication.

Hope Vale Shire Council CEO Ross Higgins shared concerns around emergency commu-nication protocols: “During the cyclone Hope Vale had 5 days with no communications. Communication is a real issue here – if we lose that it creates a whole range of issues. There’s no emergency communications centre – ideally this would exist and enable better pre-disaster, disaster and recovery co-ordination. Satellite phones don’t work here in general, 3G and 4G can be dodgy, and ABC went down during the cyclone. Once we lost power we didn’t even know where the bloody cyclone was.”

DATSIMA, Cairns noted that “there was a huge gap in communication during cyclone. Everything went down.” Even Queensland premier Campbell Newman expressed con-cern and frustration at the communication blackout in Hope Vale on ABC (2014), “The first few hours after these cyclonic events, there’s a lot of information coming in and if there’s a community that’s got a lot of problems, we need to know.” Queensland po-lice’s acting assistant commissioner for the northern region, Paul Taylor, acknowledged “It’s not ideal communications.”

In the midst of Cyclone Ita the radio station provided the only opportunity for locally specific messages to be relayed until local power was cut off. Locally specific messages were placed on local community transmitters with the help of local RIBS staff and these messages helped keep people informed of local emergency plans and procedures. The local RIBS service was able to stay on until the power failed at the local sites. Emergen-cy power at the RIBS station is required to allow people to stay informed even in the worst storms and natural disasters. Without power, there are no radio or TV services operating in remote communities and people are left literally in the dark.

People also expressed an interest in the concept of a Wi-Fi mesh as a mechanism for emergency communication as it allows mobile phone to mobile phone signal relays as well as internet based relay signals and has been successfully deployed in emergency contexts around the world.

29

Australian Indigenous Communication Association (2013) Learning Journeys Program.

Australian Indigenous Communication Association (2008) Untitled fact sheet. Available at http://www.aicainc.org.au/Html/documents/2008-01-10-FactCardAICA.pdf

Australian Council for International Development, Aboriginal and Torres Stait Islander Program Working Group (2014) Effective Development Practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, February 2014.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1999) Digital Dreaming: A National Review of Indigenous Media and Communications—Executive Summary. Woden ACT: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

ATSIC, (2001) A National Indigenous Broadcasting Service (NIBS): Broadcasting for Community Development.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation News (2014) Landlines and Mobiles Cut Off in Hope Vale, Accessed: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/landlines-mo-biles-cut-off-in-hope-vale/story-fn3dxiwe-1226881765728

Blunden, D. and Hookey, L. (2013) Hope Vale Youth Forum 2013. Cairns Regional Opera-tions Centre (ROC) with the support of the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council.

Cape York Digital Network (2010) Response to Regional Telecommunications Review of the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee. Accessed: http://www.rtirc.gov.au/files/2011/12/Cape-York-Digital-Network-cydn-Cairns-North-Qld.pdf

Cole, O. and Long, M. and associates (2000) The Belonging Network: Tools for Empow-erment: a Feasibility Study for the Development of a National Indigenous Broadcasting Service, report to ATSIC and NIMAA.

Dagron, G. A. (2001) Making Waves: Stories of Participatory Communication for Social Change. New York: The Rockefeller Foundation.

Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Task Force on Aboriginal and Islander Broadcasting and Communications, (1984) Out of the Silent Land, AGPS, Canberra.

Department of Education and Training (2009) Closing the Gap: Education Strategy. Brisbane: Queensland Government.

Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (2006) Review of the Australian Government Indigenous Broadcasting Program, Discussion Paper. Ac-cessed: http://www.archive.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/38659/IBP_re-view_discussion_paper_web.pdf

REFERENCES

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Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council (2012) 2012 Hope Vale Community Plan.

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O’Regan, T. and Batty, P. (1993) ‘Chapter Nine: An Aboriginal Television Culture:Issues, Strategies, Politics’, Australian Television Culture, Allen and Unwin, St Leonards, Sydney, pp. 162 - 192.

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Varga, D. (2013) Digital Dreamings in Australian Unlimited, 26 Sep 2013. Accessed: http://www.australiaunlimited.com/technology/digital-dreamings

WNDW (2013) Wireless Networking in the Developing World, Third Edition. Published by WNDW. Accessed: http://wndw.net/

Wyatt, E. (1996) Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme (BRACS), revised by the Professional Support and Curriculum Directorate and supported by the Multicultural Programs Unit of the NSW Department of Education and Training in part-nership with the Powerhouse Museum, Powerhouse Museum. Accessed: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/hsc/bracs/history.htm

APPENDIX(1:((T(HE(INDIGENOUS(COMMUNICATION(MAP:(RIBS(AND(RIMOS(

!!! !


!Location( Name(of(Service( Funding(Organisation( State(

ABS(Suburbs(

ABS(Remoteness(

Taree% Ngarralinyi%2TLP%103.3%FM%Mid%North%Coast%Indigenous%Broadcasters%Association%Aboriginal%Corporation% NSW% Taree%

Inner%Regional%Australia%

Redfern,%Sydney% Koori%Radio%2LND%93.7%FM%

Gadigal%Information%Service%Aboriginal%Corporation% NSW% Ultimo%

Major%Cities%of%Australia%

Bourke% 2CUZ%106.5%FM% Muda%Aboriginal%Corporation% NSW% Bourke%Very%Remote%Australia%

Wilcannia%Wilcannia%River%Radio%103.1%FM%

Murdi%Paaki%Regional%Enterprise%Corporation%Limited% NSW% Wilcannia%

Very%Remote%Australia%

North%East%Arnhem%Land%

Yolŋgu%Radio%8YOL%North%East%Arnhem%Land%AM%

Aboriginal%Resource%and%Development%Services%Incorporated% NT% Nhulunbuy%


Borroloola%8MAB%Borroloola%Radio%102.9%FM%

Mabunji%Aboriginal%Resource%Association%Incorporated% NT% Borroloola%


Alice%Springs%CAAMA%Radio%8KIN%100.5%FM%

Central%Australian%Aboriginal%Media%Association%Aboriginal%Corporation% NT% Flynn% Remote%Australia%

Darwin% 8KNB%94.5%FM% Radio%Larrakia%Association%Incorporated% NT%The%Gardens%

Outer%Regional%Australia%

Cairns% 4CIM%98.7%FM%Bumma%Bippera%Media%Aboriginal%&%Torres%Strait%Islander%Corporation% QLD% Cairns%City%


Palm%Island%4PI%Bwgcolmon%Radio%%97.3%FM%

Queensland%Police%Citizens%Youth%Welfare%Association% QLD% Palm%Island% Remote%Australia%

Townsville% 4K1G%107.1%FM%Townsville%Aboriginal%&%Islander%Media%Association%Limited% QLD%

Townsville%City%


Mackay% 4MUR%Murri%105.9%FM%Mackay%&%District%Aboriginal%&%Islander%Media%Association%Limited% QLD% Cremorne%


Rockhampton% 4US%100.7%FM%

Central%Queensland%Aboriginal%Corporation%for%Media% QLD% Berserker%


Cherbourg% 4UM%Us%Mob%94.1%FM%Cherbourg%Aboriginal%Multimedia%&%Resource%Association%Incorporated% QLD% Cherbourg%


Brisbane% 4AAA%98.9%FM%Brisbane%Indigenous%Media%Association%Incoporated% QLD%

Brisbane%City%


Mount%Isa% 4MOB%100.9%FM%Mt%Isa%Media%Association%Aboriginal%Corporation% QLD% Mount%Isa% Remote%Australia%

Charleville% %4RR%105.7%FM%Bidjarra%Media%Broadcasting%Corporation%Limited% QLD% Charleville%


Port%Augusta% 5UMA%89.2%FM% Umeewarra%Aboriginal%Media%Association% SA%Port%Augusta%


Melbourne% 3KND%1503%AM%South%East%Indigenous%Media%Association%Incorporated% VIC% Kensington%


Merbein% Power%92.3%FM% Black%Light%Indigenous%Corporation% VIC% Merbein%Outer%Regional%Australia%

Halls%Creek% 6PRK%98.1%FM%Puranyangu`Rangka%Kerrem%Aboriginal%Corporation% WA% Halls%Creek%


Kalgoorlie% tjuma%96.3%FM%Tjuma%Pulka%(Media)%Aboriginal%Corporation% WA%

West%Lamington%


Kununurra% 6WR%693%AM% Waringarri%Media%Aboriginal%Corporation% WA% Kununurra% Remote%Australia%

Derby% 6DBY%97.9%FM% Derby%Media%Aboriginal%%Corporation% WA% Derby%Very%Remote%Australia%

Broome% Radio%Goolarri%99.7%FM%Broome%Aboriginal%Media%Association%Aboriginal%Corporation% WA% Djugun% Remote%Australia%

Fitzroy%Crossing% 6FX%936%AM%

Wangkiyupurnanupurru%Aboriginal%Corporation% WA%

King%Leopold%Ranges%


Geraldton% Radio%MAMA%100.5%FM%Midwest%Aboriginal%Media%Association%Incorporated% WA% West%End%


Perth%Noongar%Radio%6NME%100.9%FM% Peedac%Pty%Ltd% WA% Perth%


(

( (


!ABOUT(HOPE(VALE(

Population*1005*(2011*census)(

Hope%Vale%is%45%km%north`west%of%Cooktown.%Its%origin%was%as%a%Lutheran%mission%(Hope%Valley)%at%Cape%Bedford,%east%of%Hope%Vale%in%the%1880s%partly%to%house%Aboriginal%people%dispossessed%by%the%Palmer%River%gold%mining.%Some%of%the%inhabitants%are%from%the%local%Guugu%Yimithirr%Tribe%while%others%come%from%elsewhere%in%Queensland.%Hope%Vale%is%home%to%13%different%clan%groups.%(

During%World%War%II%Indigenous%people%in%the%Hope%Valley%and%Cape%Bedford%areas%were%moved%to%Woorabinda%and%in%1949%the%survivors%were%transferred%back%to%a%newly%established%Lutheran%mission%at%the%future%site%of%Hope%Vale.%The%mission%continued%until%1986%when%a%deed%of%grant%in%trust%(DOGIT)%was%made%in%favour%of%the%community.%In%1997%a%Native%Title%determination%conveyed%110,000%ha%of%land%to%the%Warra%people%of%the%Hope%Vale%community,%including%Cape%Flattery%where%Mitsubishi%has%mined%silica%since%1967.%Royalties%go%to%the%Hope%Vale%Community%Council.%The%Hope%Vale%Community%Council%also%administers%the%Hope%Vale%Shire,%formed%in%2004.%%

Key%industries%in%Hope%Vale%include%Hope%Vale%Inc.%that%provides%building%services%to%the%town%and%surrounding%areas.%Hope%Vale%Foundation%also%owns%the%banana%plantation%that%employed%80%people,%until%being%decimated%during%Cyclone%Ita%in%2014.%Tourism%is%an%emerging%industry%with%local%providers%such%as%Ghurri%Tours,%Elim%camp%ground%and%Maaramaka%Walkabout%Tours%forming%an%axis%of%locally%owned%and%run%businesses%that%has%seen%steady%growth%despite%poor%roads%keeping%non`4WD%tours%out.%Hope%Vale%also%has%strong%cultural%industries%and%services.%The%Broadcasting%for%Remote%Aboriginal%Communities%Scheme%(BRACS)%Radio%Station,%4ACR,%opened%in%1987%and%in%July%2008%the%Hope%Vale%community%opened%the%Indigenous%Knowledge%and%Technology%Centre%(IKC),%in%the%Jack%Bambie%building.%The%IKC%provides%a%library%service,%training%venue%and%public%Internet%access.%The%jointly%federal/state`funded%Hope%Vale%Cultural%Centre%opened%in%2009%and%showcases%a%range%of%locally%produced%arts%and%crafts%including%internationally%acclaimed%painters%such%as%Evelyn%McGreen,%Madge%Bowen%and%Wanda%Gibson.%The%Hope%Vale%community%has%a%strong%choral%singing%tradition.%The%Hope%Vale%Choir%has%performed%at%the%Queensland%Music%Festival%on%three%separate%occasions%in%2005,%2007%and%2009%and%has%toured%Queensland%and%received%mainstream%radio%airplay.%%

Hope%Vale%also%has%a%range%of%community%services%including:%

• Community:%Child*Care*Centre,*Community*Justice*Group,*Home*&*Community*Care,*PCYC,*Womens’*Shelter%

• Education:%Kindergarten,*Primary*School*(est.*1949)%• Facilities:*Hope*Vale*Meeting*and*Business*Centre,*Lutheran*Church,*SES%• Health:%Aged*Care,*Health*Centre,*Thauun*Disability*Services,*Well*Being*

Centre%• Retail:%Butcher*Shop,*Cafe,*Service*Station,*Sparks*Car*Rental,*Supermarket%

A%detailed%community%map%of%services,%agencies%and%external%partners%connected%to%the%Hope%Vale%Indigenous%Communication%Centre%is%also%attached.%


!Existing(Services(and(Resources(for(Hope(Vale(

(!(

( Resources(K(Education(

Health((

Employment(and(Training(

Leadership( Community(into(the(future(

% Cooktown%P`12%and%VET%Coordinator%at%school%

Qld%Health% RJCP%My%Pathways/Hope%Vale%Foundation%

Hope%Vale%Aboriginal%Shire%Council%(HVASC)%

Hope%Vale%Aboriginal%Shire%Council%

% PACE%and%Transition%Support%Unit%

Department%of%Health%and%Ageing%

Hope%Vale%Aboriginal%Shire%Council%(HVASC)%

Hopevale%Congress%Aboriginal%Corporation%

Hope%Vale%Youth%Council%

% RJCP%My%Pathways/Hope%Vale%Foundation%

Apunipima% Skills%360% Police%and%Citizens%Youth%Club%(PCYC)%

JAG%and%Hope%Vale%Justice%Group%

% Cooktown%and%District%Community%Centre%(CDCC)%

Wellbeing%Centre% DATSIMA`Career%Expo%

Indigenous%Business%Australia%(IBA)%

Indigenous%Knowledge%Centre%

% Wellbeing%Centre% Health%Action%Team%(HAT)%

DEEWR`Indigenous%Mobility%Program%

Cape%York%Partnerships%and%Cape%York%Institute%%

Hope%Vale%Community%Safety%Committee%

% DEEWR`Indigenous%Mobility%Program%

Wellbeing%Centre%Local%Action%Group%(LAG)%

Department%of%Education,%Training%and%Employment%

JAG%and%Hope%Vale%Justice%Group%

Hope%Vale%Arts%Centre%

% Cape%York%Australian%Aboriginal%Academy%(CYAAA)%

Police%and%Citizens%Youth%Club%(PCYC)%

Department%of%Human%Services%

State%and%Commonwealth%Government%


% Hope%Vale%Primary%School%

Department%of%National%Parks,%Recreation,%Sport%and%Racing%

Local%region%employers%

Queensland%Police%Service%

State%and%Commonwealth%Government%

% Educational%Institutions%(TAFE,%JCU,%Distance%Learning%etc.)%

Indigenous%Knowledge%Centre%(IKC)%

CDCC%(Certificates%2%&%3%in%Media)%

Wellbeing%Centre% Queensland%Police%Service%

% Department%of%Education,%Training%and%Employment%(DETE)%

Department%of%Aboriginal%and%Torres%Strait%Islanders%and%Multicultural%Affairs%(DATSIMA)%

Regional%Operations%Centre%(ROC)%

Department%of%Aboriginal%and%Torres%Strait%Islanders%and%Multicultural%Affairs%(DATSIMA)%

%

% Cape%York%Partnerships%

Cape%York%Partnerships%(CYP)%


Wellbeing%Centre% %

% Indigenous%Knowledge%Centre%(IKC)%

Cooktown%and%District%Community%Centre%(CDCC)%

% Hope%Vale%Community%Safety%Committee%

%

APPENDIX(3:(PROGRAM(INTERESTS(SUGGESTED(BY(HOPE(VALE(COMMUNITY(!Radio(

• Breakfast/%Talkback%Show%(if%few%callers,%use%Facebook%or%Radio%station%SMS%line%and%look%at%syndication%across%Cape%York).%%

• Radio%Quiz%Show%(talkback).%%• Local%news%and%events%broadcast%daily%–%council%updates,%events%and%

programs,%%• Local%Football%broadcasts%(inc.%interviews%with%other%teams/%captains/%state%

and%national%players)%• Bedtime%Stories%(in%language)%(also%wake%up%song?)%• Increased%local%language%presentation%• Local%music%programming%(including%Karaoke,%Gospel%singing,%Local%band)%• Youth%Hour:%key%themes%of%interest%identified%in%discussions%with%young%

people%and%mentors%include:%culture,%music,%local%histories,%local%role%models,%education%on%issues%(sexual%and%reproductive%health,%general%health%concerns,%violence,%job%readiness,%access%to%apprenticeships/%traineeships).%

• Fishing%and%Boat%show%(and%hunting)%• Parenting%Show%• Oral%histories%on%the%radio%(extending%on%the%digital%archive).%Other%Hope%Vale%

specific%histories%such%as%the%Cattle%Men,%the%13%clan%groups%or%the%history%of%the%church.%

• Gardening/%Home%Renovation%Show%(connected%to%the%Pride%of%Place%and%Bush%on%the%Build%initiatives)%

• Budgeting/%Money%program%(CYP)%• Other%CYP%programming%(fortnightly%appearance%on%radio)%• Pathways%program%–%education,%employment%and%training%programming%

featuring%interviews%with%people%in%jobs,%people%from%the%jobs%expo,%My%Pathways%–%good%news%stories%of%people%in%work,%or%finding%opportunities%for%more%education/%work%(e.g.%Ghurri%Tours)%

• Justice/%Police%information%(Justice%group%to%offer%updates%on%current%and%new%legislation%and%‘discrete’%notifications)%

%%Other(Media(

• Digital%Archive%–%stories%from%the%community,%with%a%focus%on%elders%`%extending%on%the%Hope%Vale%Pelican%Digital%Storytelling%Project%that%ran%from%2001`08%(Davey%and%Goudie,%2009).%A%locally%accessible%multi`media%archive%%

• Family%trees%–%a%community,%clan%and%family%mapping%• Hope%Vale%website%–%upcoming%training%and%events,%youth%events%and%local%

network,%good%news%stories,%feedback%area%for%ideas%and%events`%especially%for%women,%job%vacancies%

• Youth%Newsletter%• General%community%newsletter%(similar%to%Milpie%print%newsletter%but%

potentially%online%as%well)%• Welcome%to%Country%video%• Music%videos%of%local%bands%and%artists%

APPENDIX(3:(PROGRAM(INTERESTS(SUGGESTED(BY(HOPE(VALE(COMMUNITY(!

• Local%language%multi`media%resources%(video%stories,%print%materials,%possible%online%and%app%development)%

• Hope%Vale%App%• Video%of%local%football,%events%• Extending%radio%programming%to%video%and%other%media%• Community%screenings%

!(Training(Interests(

• Video%production%• Music%production%• Video%editing%• Desktop%publishing%and%graphic%design%• Digital%storytelling%workshops%• Event%management%• Small%business%management%• Women`specific%programs%• Youth%mentor/%leadership%programs%

%%Social(Enterprise:%

• Public%Service%Announcements%(for%most%services,%not%Child%Safety)%• Sponsored%programming%–%e.g.%history,%education,%jobs,%programmes.%%• Event%based%programming%–%e.g.%NAIDOC%Week%• Local%Events%–%e.g.%music%festival,%supporting%stage%the%Jobs%Expo%–%event%

management%and%also%filming/%photographing%etc.)%• Programme%advertising%across%media%(radio,%print%and%online)%• Production%of%other%media%%(e.g.%video,%social%media,%locally%produced%IEC%

materials,%photography)%• Local%training%–%local%people%achieve%skills%and%can%provide%training%in%media,%

communication%and%technology%to%local%agencies,%schools%and%other%interested%groups%

• Emergency%and%Recovery%Communication%protocols%–%learning%from%Cyclone%Ita.%Local%communication%is%the%best%way%to%support%recovery%process.%

• Cultural%Centre%%%

%%!

APPENDIX(4:(WIKFI(MESH(!WiFi(Mesh(%Wireless%(Wi`Fi)%mesh%networks%are%created%through%the%connection%of%wireless%access%points.%These%access%points%(nodes)%are%located%at%each%individual%network%user.%So%each%user%becomes%a%provider%of%access,%forwarding%data%to%the%next%node.%%Networking%infrastructure%is%decentralised%and%simplified%as%each%node%only%needs%to%transmit%to%the%next%node.%Mesh%networks%are%reliable%and%offer%redundancy%`%if%one%node%can%no%longer%operate,%the%rest%of%the%nodes%can%still%communicate%with%each%other,%either%directly%or%through%one%or%more%intermediate%nodes.%Wi`Fi%mesh%can%be%implemented%with%either%wireless%or%cellular%technology,%or%a%combination.%The%networks%are%often%used%to%solve%‘last%mile’%access%issues.%%Wi`Fi%mesh%networks%can%cross%wide%distances,%bringing%digital%communications%to%places%where%it%is%not%practical%to%run%wire%or%fibre%optic%lines.%These%networks%can%provide%access%to%medical%and%government%services,%provide%voice%communications,%and%allow%people%in%remote%places%to%access%the%Internet.%%%Perhaps%most%importantly%in%the%context%of%Hope%Vale%a%Wi`Fi%Mesh%provides%a%low`cost%solution%for%emergency%communication%in%the%case%of%storm,%cyclones%or%other%emergencies.%%%Affordable%access%to%communications%remains%elusive%for%many%remote%communities%due%to%a%combination%of%high%cost%or%limited%access%options.%The%rapid%spread%of%mobile%phones%is%remarkable.%However%in%many%parts%of%the%world%high%call%costs%mean%that%people%have%to%make%hard%choices%about%when%to%use%the%phone.%The%average%person%in%Hope%Vale%was%estimated%to%spend%upwards%of%$100%per%month%on%mobile%services%–%this%is%more%than%25%%of%their%disposable%income%(ABS%income%statistics,%2011).%Open%Source%telephony%software%combined%with%the%latest%wireless%networking%technology%creates%the%potential%for%people%to%operate%their%own%community%phone%and%wireless%internet%systems.%%%Whilst%Wi`Fi%Mesh%often%finds%applications%in%the%developing%world%there%are%a%raft%of%potential%applications%within%remote%or%emergency%settings.%Some%recent%examples%include:%

• U.S.%military%forces%use%wireless%mesh%networking%to%connect%their%computers,%mainly%ruggedized%laptops,%in%field%operations.%

• Electric%‘smart’%meters%deployed%on%residences%transfer%their%readings%from%one%to%another%and%eventually%to%the%central%office%for%billing%without%the%need%for%human%meter%readers%or%the%need%to%connect%the%meters%with%cables.%

• The%laptops%in%the%One%Laptop%per%Child%program%use%wireless%mesh%networking%to%enable%students%to%exchange%files%and%get%on%the%Internet%even%though%they%lack%wired%or%cell%phone%or%other%physical%connections%in%their%area.%

• Students%in%Red%Hook,%NY%constructed%a%Wi`Fi%Mesh%Network%to%support%communication%needs%of%the%Red%Hook%community%during%Cyclone%Sandy.%

(( (

APPENDIX(4:(WIKFI(MESH(!WiKFi(Mesh(Hope(Vale(Below%is%a%mockùp%of%an%entry%page%for%access%to%a%Hope%Vale%Wi`Fi%mesh%network.%The%network%enables%users%to%navigate%all%content%on%the%page,%and%to%access%internet%and%additional%connectivity%behind%a%login%screen%(top%left).%%%On%the%login%page%videos,%news,%photos%and%additional%information%text%can%be%accessed%by%any%mobile%or%computer%user%with%wireless%networking,%3G%or%4G%access%in%their%device.%By%registering%and%logging%on%(logòns%can%be%restricted/%incentivised)%users%are%then%able%to%access%low`cost,%reliable%internet%and%cellular%relay%access.%%

(Mockup*page*for*Hope*Vale*WiUFi*Mesh*Log*In*page.*(REFERENCES(WiFi%Mesh%Networks%for%Emergency%Communication:(http://www.fastcolabs.com/3020680/how`to`buildà`low`cost`wifi`mesh`network`forèmergency`communication%%Wireless%Networking%in%the%Developing%World:%www.wndw.net%%%Village%Telco:%www.villageteclo.org%%%Hacking%Wi`Fi%routers%to%Bring%Voice%and%Data%to%Rural%Communities:%http://www.core77.com/blog/social_design/hacking_wi`fi_routers_to_bring_voice_and_data_to_rural_communities_22239.asp%%Wireless%Mesh%Networks%on%Wikipedia:%http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_mesh_network%

national indigenous development communication strategy

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