Demise Of Reconciliation Victoria Will Cost State Dearly

Demise of Reconciliation Victoria Will Cost State Dearly

The Brumby Government's decision, announced last week, to de-fund Reconciliation Victoria (Rec Vic) sets the State apart as the most regressive on the east coast. While New South Wales and Queensland have this year announced funding boosts to their states' peak reconciliation bodies, Rec Vic will be forced to close its office at the end of June.

In a meeting on Thursday with representatives of the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) the Brumby Government made it clear that, unlike other governments across Australia, they no longer consider reconciliation to be state government business. According to Rec Vic CEO Frank Hytten, "the Brumby government does not understand the full cost of such a move, thus demonstrating their lack of understanding about what Reconciliation really means for Victorians."

The loss entailed by Rec Vic's demise will be great. Over the past 7 years, with inadequate funding, Rec Vic has supported 30 existing local reconciliation groups around the state, developing educational resources and running workshops. In addition it has organised and co-facilitated several landmark events, such as the screening of the Apology to the Stolen Generations in Fed Square on 13 February 2008 and the celebrations around the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum. Most importantly, Rec Vic has worked tirelessly to promote respect and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

A recent report by Dr Yin Paradies at the University of Melbourne, entitled 'Racism Makes Me Sick' proves that illness is heavily correlated with the experience of racism in Indigenous communities. If the Brumby government is serious about 'closing the gap' in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, it will recognise that funding Indigenous services and programs - while crucial - is only half the solution. Without funding for cross-cultural learning and anti-racism, Indigenous-led initiatives run the risk of being stymied by widespread community prejudice. In any case, this should not be a question of either/or. Rec Vic has always insisted that its funding be made without competing for funds allocated to the development or provision of Aboriginal controlled or managed services, and its current funding comes from the DPCD's Community Support Fund. If the DPCD are no longer willing, who now will fund this important work?

MEDIA COMMENT:
Frank Hytten, Reconciliation Victoria CEO,
0432 345 652

For more information contact
Frank Hytten,
0432 345 652,
[email protected]

See www.reconciliationvic.org.au for background material.

SOURCE: RECONCILIATION VICTORIA INC.