After ten years of service, former SNAICC Chair Muriel Bamblett and SNAICC Executive Officer Julian Pocock have stood down. Losing such skilled advocates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families is an enormous loss for our organisation, but their work has been taken up under a new leadership team of new Chair, Steve Larkins and new EO Frank Hytten. This issue tells some of their stories.

With Australia signing on to the U.N. Indigenous Rights Declaration this April, the federal government is committing to a framework which respects Indigenous peoples’ rights and creates the opportunity for all Australians to be equal. In accordance with this declaration, the government is later this year introducing long overdue legislation to lift the current suspension to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

This issue of SNAICC News covers many of the recent federal initiatives affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait children and families. We ask: Is the new National Child Protection Framework on the right track? Where will the new 35 Indigenous child and family centres be located and will they be managed by Aboriginal community controlled agencies? Are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services assured of retaining and extending their funding under the new Family Support Program? How can the Closing the Gap effort be extended to cover all jurisdictions?

After two years as SNAICC News editor Mark Lawrence has moved to another position within SNAICC. Congratulations to Mark on the high standards he has set over the last two years – he has set the bar high for new editor, Rosie Elliott.

Thanks to all the contributors who sent us photos or stories about their rising stars, and especially to Bethalia Dingley (Tabuai) for her beautiful family photos. We hope your organisation sees an opportunity to celebrate your own families, staff and stories to brighten up our often wordy pages. Send a photo with a brief caption, or ring in and we’ll write up your story with you. Don’t be shy now! Enjoy. And remember NAICD Children’s Day Tuesday 4 August.

SNAICC NEWS – NEXT EDITION JULY 2009

All stories and photos by, about, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family service providers, and by others working with Indigenous children are welcome. Copy deadline next issues 30 June 2009.