Men's business - a plan for the future

13 June 2007

A plan aimed at improving social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal men and their communities will be launched in Port Macquarie tomorrow.

The Mid North Coast Regional Aboriginal Men’s Group will launch its 2007-2010 Strategic Plan at a ceremony at the Birpai Lands Council at 10am on Thursday, 14 June.

“The Regional Aboriginal Men’s Plan provides strategies for improving the social and economic outcomes of Aboriginal men and their communities in this region,” Senior Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer for the Lower Mid North Coast Cluster of Hunter New England Health Elliott ‘Ness’ Stewart said.

The Mid North Coast Regional Aboriginal Men’s Group’s main function is to assist local Aboriginal Men’s Groups with the co-ordination and planning of relevant activities and programs and is made up of community members and men from various government and non-government agencies in the region.

“The group was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Mid North Coast Aboriginal Partnership, in response to increasing expressions of need from men within the region for a group of this type,” Aboriginal Health Network Co-ordinator (Hastings/Macleay) for North Coast Area Health Service Wayne ‘Darcy’ Budden said.

“Men across the region have been meeting on a regular basis and continue to campaign for a greater presence and understanding by agencies and communities in addressing various issues relevant to Aboriginal men and their future role in communities and support for their families,” he said.

The Mid North Coast Regional Aboriginal Men’s Group held a two-day forum in Coffs Harbour in February 2005 where it was decided to develop a draft plan around men’s business and men’s health across the Mid North Coast.

“The idea was to propose possible initiatives and collaborations that will increase the level of community development activity involving Aboriginal men, as well as their role within the family and communities,” Mr Budden said.

“This includes the Gumbainnggir, Dunghutti, Biripi and Worimi nations of the Mid North Coast,” he said.

“Members of the group conducted extensive consultation and this means we have now come up with a plan that has been ratified by members of these communities.”

NSW Health provided funding for the development and implementation of the strategic plan, which has been a jointly supported by North Coast Area Health Service and Hunter New England Health.

Contact: HNE Health: Shannon Ramadge on 4921 4924 or NCAHS: Robin Osborne on 6620 2136

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