Shared Responsibility Agreements

Shared Responsibility Agreement

The Aboriginal community in Derby wants to assist the men with their family responsibilities and help children affected by family violence.

The Jayida Burru Forum, representing local community organisations, has signed two SRAs with the Australian Government on these important issues.

To date the community men’s centre has not been well used. The Australian Government will provide money for a coordinator to work with local men, helping them to rebuild a sense of identity and responsibility and to regain respect in their community. The coordinator will also work to improve relations between local men and government service providers, police and courts.

The men in the community have committed to use the services provided at the centre, observe the centre’s code of behaviour, respect property and take part in counselling sessions.

The second SRA focuses on family and community safety and provides for awareness sessions on violence, practical workshops through TAFE, and a campaign on local Indigenous radio. The teaching curriculum ‘Talk Up for You’ will be re-launched, and a coordinator employed to bring these activities together.

The community has agreed to work with the men’s, women’s and youth centres to come up with new ideas for building family and community safety in a culturally appropriate way. Families and individuals in the community have agreed to participate in activities to raise understanding of these issues and attend counselling services where appropriate.

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Key Facts

Regional town in West Kimberley

Population:

Around 5000, about half are Indigenous

Focus of the SRA:

Family safety and reconnecting men to their family responsibilities

What the SRA provides:

Coordinator positions

ICC:

Derby

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