User:Territorybarbie/Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory

Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APO NT) is an alliance of major Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory of Australia. APO NT aims to increase the input that the Northern Territory's Aboriginal people have into the government policies that affect them and to encourage Aboriginal community control. APO NT draws on its members’ knowledge and experience to develop policy positions, as well as undertaking research projects. APO NT makes submissions to government inquiries and organises campaigns and forums about topics that are important issues affecting the lives of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

Membership and structure

APO NT is an alliance of five important Aboriginal organisations, which formed APO NT in 2010 in order to facilitate a greater level of input into government policy affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. It is not separately incorporated. Responsibility for governing APO NT rests with the five CEOs from each of the member organisations. There is also an officers’ group, drawn from across the member organisations, and the officers’ group is responsible for coordinating day to day activities. APO NT has two dedicated staffers: a Policy Officer whose position is funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation and an Aboriginal Project Officer whose position is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The five organisations that are members of APO NT are:

Central Land Council (CLC)

The CLC is an elected Council that represents the Aboriginal communities in the southern half of the Northern Territory. The Council has 90 members and is dedicated to promoting Aboriginal rights. The CLC is a statutory body with a range of responsibilities given to it under both the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act (Cth) 1976 and the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Northern Land Council (NLC)

The NLC has an elected Council of 83 members who represent Aboriginal communities from seven regions covering the northern half of the Northern Territory. The NLC has been in operation since 1974 and its main role is to protect the interests of the traditional owners of Aboriginal land and other Aboriginal peple who have an interest in that land. The NLC has a large number of statutory responsibilities relating to Aboriginal land, and also provides servics in land, sea and natural resource management, economic development, land claims and aquisitions, and advocacy. The NLC has a policy to support regional decsion making in each of its seven regions.

North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA)

NAAJA is a large Aboriginal legal service agency servicing the top half of the Northern Territory. It was established in 2006 through the amalgamation of several smaller Aboriginal legal services, and is funded primary by the Australian Government’s Department of Attorney-General. NAAJA is governed by a Board of 12 elected Directors and has offices in Darwin, Katherine and Nhulunbuy. NAAJA gives legal assistance to clients in a wide range of matters and also advocates for systemic reforms in law and justice issues affecting Aboriginal people.

Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS)

CAALAS is the main Aboriginal legal service in the southern portion of the Northern Territory, and it has offices in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. CAALAS was first established in 1973 and is now a large organisation servicing an area of about 90,000 square kilometres. CAALAS provides a range of justice services including legal advice and representation, community legal education and also advocates for reforms to law and government policy.

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT)

AMSANT is a peak body whose members are 24 Aboriginal community controlled health services. AMSANT’s member services are governed by community boards, and they provide accessible and culturally appropriate comprehensive primary health care to their communities and regions around the Northern Territory. AMSANT provides diverse organisational support services to its member clinics. AMSANT advocates for an evidence-based approach to health policy and the right of Aboriginal Territorians to experience health equality, including addressing social determinants of health.

Principles

APO NT is intended to provide a strong voice advocating for the rights on Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory experience extreme disadvantage which is reflected in poor outcomes in health, education and employment, and high incarceration rates. APO NT’s approach is guided by principles that include:

• Dedication to supporting and encouraging Aboriginal community control and self-determination;
• Dedication to growing community wellbeing and resilience in Aboriginal communities;
• Dedication to promoting evidence-based approaches to addressing social determinants of health;
• Recognition of the central importance of culture, to the wellbeing of Aboriginal individuals and communities, and the importance of culture to healing.

APO NT’s guiding principles document says:

Our shared interests are underpinned by an unwavering commitment to the principles of Aboriginal community control and self-determination, codified within the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We share an understanding that tackling the plight of our communities can only be achieved through coordinated action across a broad range of policy areas: in housing, employment, education and health; but equally importantly in ensuring that the right conditions are in place for creating strong, resilient communities.

Activities

- submissions - forums - etc etc