TOWN CAMP MEN TAKING ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE
Men who live in Alice Springs Town Camps are taking strong action to make their communities a safer place by working to reduce domestic and family violence.
Seven men from Tangentyere Council’s 4 Corners Men’s Council are the first to graduate after undergoing training in identifying family violence and its associated risks.
The men are leaders from Alice Springs Town Camps and will be using their new skills to support men to say No to domestic and family violence.
Graduate and 4 Corner’s Co-ordinator Chris Forbes said he was more confident in speaking up and taking a stance against violence after undertaking the training.
“We learnt to recognise the signs of domestic and family violence, the different forms it takes and what we can do to support people who are affected by violence,” Mr Forbes said.
“We need to get it out there that not all Aboriginal men or town campers are violent. Men feel we have all been put in the same basket and labelled aggressive when that is far from the truth.
“You don’t get rid of all the apples on the tree because one is rotten – it’s the same for Aboriginal men and we have to make sure government and the community sees and understands this.
“By doing this training we are showing we don’t think violence is the way to go and we will say no.
“We are showing we are loving, caring family members that want to make a difference and make our town camps safer.
“We’ll be getting out there telling other blokes to come and do this training, get on board because we need more blokes standing up against violence.”
Maree Corbo, Program Manager of Tangentyere’s Family Violence Prevention Program, said the seven men deserved to be applauded for their decision to proactively deal with issues around violence in the community.
“This isn’t aimed at men who use violence as is more usually the case with men’s domestic violence courses,” Ms Corbo said.
“This training was developed because the men wanted to have the skills to get out there in their communities and promote messages of non-violence and to lead by example.
“It’s a very brave move that’s been driven by the town campers themselves.”
Ms Corbo said the men had undertaking hands-on training sessions and had also completed a training block delivered by the Australian Childhood Foundation.
The men also designed resources to support them in getting the message out to others about not tolerating domestic and family violence.
The training was supported by funding from the NT Office of Men’s Policy.
Rodney Cook, Phillip Miller, Ashley (Shanley) Malbunka, Chris Forbes (back), Issaha Forbes, Joe Campbell, Steven Clyne. Charlie Brown also graduated from the training but was unable to make today's graduation
Recent work carried out for Tangentyere Council
Tangentyere Council has taken on a new name and a new incorporation that will see the organisation continue to advocate for and deliver services to Alice Springs town campers.
Read Tangentyere's media statement here.
Recent work carried out for CAAAPU
The Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit is keen to use it's cultural and clinical expertise to deal with the use of the drug Ice in Central Australia.
CAAAPU has presented to Northern Territory Parliament Select Committee about the issue. Click on the highlighted links to read the submission.
CAAAPU has also been putting forward their case in local and national media. Read their media release here.
Bouncing back
It's been a little while between blogs. Distracted by events nationally and closer to home I guess. But onwards and upwards.
I came across this piece by Jane Caro today. I don't agree with all she says but she certainly makes some good points, especially when it comes to communicating and marketing the message.
Have a read and let me know what you reckon.
Skate don't hate
For some reason the Alice Springs Town Council has decided to continue to ban skaters in the northern end of what was Todd Mall - despite putting in some very flash and expensive skatable furniture.
Last week it was reported our mayor told his colleagues that it was all ok to skate in this area now it was no longer a Mall. But last night the councillors were told that no, by-laws absolutely forbid the fearsome sk8ers from putting their wheels to the ground anywhere in the CBD.
Foot traffic is pretty sparse up this end of the ex- Mall - hence the millions of dollars that was spent digging it up and making it car friendly, but not skate friendly. Councillors refused to look at amending by-laws to allow sk8ers to use the furniture I assume was put there largely for their use, and of course to give people somewhere to chill while they wait for the bottle-o to open.
There was a very positive reaction on social media when it was reported that the ex-Mall (what do we call this place now?) was open for sk8 business. Our youngest councillor Chansey Paech was commended for working to ensure sk8ers and the general public could happily co-exist.
Paech says he's very disappointed but happily he isn't giving up the fight. He's started a poll on social media to gauge reaction and hopefully get his fellow councillors to realise that sk8ers aren't out to mow them down and most pursue their activity responsibly.
Wouldn't it be great to see young people pursuing an active outdoor activity in a part of our CBD that really only attracts a crowd when the takeaways open?
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