We are addressing problems in service delivery

With the new administration, the amount of funds that are being distributed to members has increased greatly, particularly with the introduction Health and Well Being funds for all members (who don't already receive Pensioner Health and Wellbeing).

With the vast number of applications coming in every day we are flat out doing the daily food vouchers, and do have a backlog with a 5-10 day turn around on other goods. This means we are not always able to return phone calls about the status of your application. Rather than calling you back while the application is being processed, we will call you if there is a problem, or when your application is finalised and you can pick up your goods.

We realise people would like to know how their application is going and would like to pick up their goods as soon as possible. To address this situation we have:
-put on more staff in the Member Services Unit.
-developed a new computer system that will be in place in the next week or two so that we can answer your queries and process your applications more quickly.

Gumala is YOUR organisation

At the AGM concerns were raised as to whether Gumala was representing the members and the problems with service delivery.

This is just a reminder that their are many changes happening at Gumala. The new board was just elected in November 2008, and all directors are indigenous Gumala members elected by Gumala members. The board directs the Executive Officer and the GAC administration, so no major decisions are made by staff without the consent of the Directors, who represent the members.

If you have any concerns or ideas your committee member would like to hear from you.

Get your membership application in early

Membership applications need to be approved by the committee to make sure that you do qualify to be a Traditional Owner.
Applications need to be received 2 weeks before the meeting to give the committee time to consider your case. Depending on the timing of your application approval may take 6 weeks.

One committee meeting was conducted 16/17th Feb. The next meeting will be in about a month, we will notify you of the exact date in this blog.

Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Presenters wanted

Local Traditional Owners are wanted to present Cultural Awareness at the Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Brockman and Marandoo mine sites.

-Ongoing delivery support is offered.

Interested persons please email Tuesday or Norm or call the GAC office for phone numbers.

Changes to CDEP

On 19 December 2008, the Government announced reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program and Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) which will be implemented on 1 July 2009.

The Government says that these reforms are a key element in meeting the target of halving the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.
The CDEP program will be restructured to:

• build individual skills and capacity to take up work where opportunities arise 
  
• provide on-the-job work experience 
  
• provide voluntary mobility assistance 
  
• build capacity of communities including through supporting priority projects 
  
• build capacity of local Indigenous organisations to deliver a range of services, including other employment services such as the Indigenous
  
• Employment Program (IEP) and make sure community members undertaking similar activities have the same income and participation requirements. 
  
• CDEP positions that have supported the delivery of government services will be converted to properly paid jobs, with ongoing funding to be available for those jobs to ensure sustainability, including in the Northern Territory. 
  
• A new remote workforce strategy will be introduced creating 400 traineeships in government service delivery and 60 additional positions in land and sea management.
  
• New participants in reformed CDEP will access the program while on relevant income support payments rather than be paid CDEP wages.
  
• Existing CDEP participants will be eligible to receive CDEP wages until 30 June 2011 to allow for an adjustment period, subject to allowable breaks of two weeks. 
  
• Funding agreements for reformed CDEP will be offered for a three year period.
  

Jobs at Gumala

We are always looking for members to work at the GAC Office, GEPL and Karijini. Please let us know if you are interested. Some jobs require experience and some do not, with on-the-job training or traineeships.

• We regularly need admin staff at the GAC office. Please check the Tom Price Coles notice board.
  
• At GEPL we need drivers and maintenance people.
• At Karijini we need hospitality staff and tourist guides.
• We have just employed an indigenous mentor for the trainees, and plan to employ another in May. 

Health and Well Being 2009

The Health and WellBeing Program is running again this year. Remember to include a quote from your supplier: 

• please be patient as we have many, many applications all coming in at once. 
  
• food vouchers are usually processed at the end of the same day. 
  
• PLEASE allow 5-10 working days for your other orders to go through, we are getting through them as fast as possible.
  
• please do not ring to see how your application is going unless it is a food voucher. It won't make the process any faster, we don't have time to ring you back to say how it is going. 
• we WILL call you if there is a problem with your application. 
• we WILL ring you as soon as your application has been processed.
  

Apology Anniversary, 13 February 2009

Sharing stories, taking the next steps …
The Apology to the Stolen Generations delivered by PM Kevin Rudd on February 13th 2008

To acknowledge the importance of this event, PLEASE JOIN US for a Lunchtime Sausage Sizzle in Tom Price at the Gazebo (outside Coles).

 

FRIDAY 10.30am until 2.30pm We will be releasing balloons at 2.30pm

Please pass this information onto GUMALA Members and the wider community EVERYONE is welcome. 

These events are registered on the Reconciliation Australia. 

Related links: The National Sorry Day Committee and the Stolen Generations Alliance.

Some Pics

Reconvened Annual General Meeting (AGM) and CATSI workshop

The reconvened AGM of Gumala Aboriginal Corporation members including all Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyapali Peoples is to be held Saturday 14 February 2009 at 9.30am.
This will be followed by a Gumala Discussion Forum.
The venue is the The Community Centre, Tom Price, WA

The CATSI Workshop of members is to be held at the same venue on
Sunday 15 february 2009 at 9.30am

A notice was mailed Jan 24, 2009 which included the agenda for items to be discussed. 

If you didn't receive your information please let us know so that we can update your address.