Government Media Release: 70 jobs in Warwick region Indigenous Employment project

Up to 70 Indigenous jobseekers from Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, St George and Dirranbandi will be part of an employment project thanks to the Australian Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the Warwick Employment Service Area Industry project, delivered by Mission Australia, showed a commitment to boosting the skills of jobseekers so they could find meaningful employment in the local area.

“The project comprises pre-vocational training, industry-specific training, job placement and post-placement support for the participants and employers,” Senator Arbib said.

“Mission Australia will assess each participant and work with them to draw up an individual action plan outlining the steps the participants needs to take to move into a job. Once employed, participants will receive ongoing assistance for the first six months.

“Some of the key industries in the Warwick Region include transport and logistics, retail, wholesale, horticulture and primary production, food processing, aged care, hospitality and government.

“Industry-specific training will be given to participants based on what skills local employers have identified they need.

“This training can include things like licences and tickets for transport vehicles, forklift and machinery operation or short courses in retail, business administration or hospitality.

“The important thing with this project is that we are showing our commitment to getting Indigenous Australians skilled and employed in a meaningful way, not just providing training for training’s sake.”

Senator Arbib said the project was a result of more than $675,000 from the Indigenous Employment Program and would employ two mentors and a project coordinator with Mission Australia.

“This project follows on from the success of a 2009 Mission Australian Indigenous Employment Project in St George, which saw more than 97 per cent of project participants placed into employment,” Senator Arbib said.

“Thanks to this partnership we are able to continue to build job and training opportunities in regional and remote Queensland for Indigenous Australians.”

Senator Arbib said Treasury predicted 500,000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to take up employment.

“Indigenous employment is not a short-term issue. Over the next four years the Australian Government has committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program and $50 million to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathway Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Australian Government’s target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

This media release was issued by Senator Mark Arbib on 17 August 2011

VicHealth Media Release: Poor housing and illness intrinsically linked, reports show

The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and Hanover Welfare Services have put the spotlight on the links between housing and health in Australia, with the launch of two new reports this month.

'Precarious housing and health inequalities: what are the links?' And the 'Precarious Housing and health: research synthesis' show a clear link between inadequate and unstable housing and poor health.

Launched on 4 August, the reports are now available for download from the VicHealth website.

Findings include:

• 10 per cent of Australian households live in unaffordable housing


• Around 12 per cent of people reported difficulties paying their mortgage/bills


• One in four people aged 18 to 24 and half of people older than 64-years-old in private rental experience housing stress


• Unemployed people are 15 times more likely to live in unaffordable housing than full-time employed people


• Women, Indigenous people and people born in non-English speaking countries are more likely to experience housing affordability stress


• People with poor physical and mental health are more likely to experience forced moves from rental properties;


• Around 4 per cent of the Australian population live in unsuitable housing.

Manager of VicHealth’s Health Inequalities program, Kellie Horton, says these reports aim to raise awareness of housing as an important factor in health and signal VicHealth’s entry into this area.

“This research shows there is a clear link between housing conditions and both physical and mental health. We now know that in order to maintain good health, it’s essential for people to live in affordable, adequate and stable dwellings,” she said.

Ms Horton added the reports show a need for integrated housing and health policy and services and better collaboration within the housing and health sectors to address poor housing conditions for disadvantaged groups in particular.

“There are ways to promote good health through housing and these reports provide a great starting point for investigating the options.”

The research was led by Hanover Welfare Services, a leading Melbourne based agency providing services to people experiencing homelessness or housing crisis.

Chief Executive of Hanover Welfare Services, Tony Keenan, says the report has important implications for academics, policy makers and those working in the health and homeless sector.

“Housing and health are both significant and priority areas of government expenditure and service delivery. This research provides hard and direct evidence for what common sense tells us,” Mr Keenan said.

“This research will form the basis of an important movement where housing playing an integral role in improving the health and wellbeing of marginalised Australians.”

Other research partners included the University of Melbourne, the University of Adelaide and Melbourne City Mission.

Interviews with report researchers Shelley Mallet and Rebecca Bentley and VicHealth’s Kellie Horton will be loaded on to VicHealth’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/VicHealthMedia

Help Missionbeat reach out to rough sleepers

This National Homeless Persons’ Week, Mission Australia is launching an appeal to keep our iconic Missionbeat vans on the streets of Sydney.

Patrolling the city’s streets, alleyways and parks in vans and on bikes, Missionbeat outreach staff provide first aid, hand out blankets and swags, and offer support – and a friendly face - to find rough sleepers. They also help to organise a bed for the night and link homeless people with other support services.

With the public’s help, we aim to raise over $100,000 to keep the vital Missionbeat service on the streets this year and support more people like Hayley*.

Hayley turned to drugs as a way of coping when her parents' marriage was falling apart.

The 18-year-old became addicted to drugs and started experiencing severe mood swings. Fearing for the safety of their two younger children, Hayley’s parents kicked her out of home.

Missionbeat met Hayley earlier this year. We keep a look out for Hayley when patrolling the inner city to see if we can help her find a bed for the night. We are encouraging her to seek help to combat her drug addiction and rebuild the relationship with her family.

"Missionbeat is someone to talk to when there’s no one else," Hayley says.

To help Missionbeat reach out to more people like Hayley, please support our Missionbeat Appeal – so we can keep the vans on the street, and homeless people off them

*Name and image have been changed to protect the identity of the people we help.

Media Release: Mission Australia warns battle for affordable housing continues among the homeless

In a sign that the battle for affordable housing is growing, leading Queensland homeless organisation Mission Australia has reported its staff are now spending almost twice as many hours trying to find appropriate permanent housing for people as they were six months ago.

According to the latest data, Mission Australia’s frontline staff working in seven of its homeless services across Queensland, spent more than 420 hours assisting clients to secure permanent housing and tenancy between 1 January and 25 July 2011.

This compares to 241 hours staff had to spend specifically on securing housing for clients in the six months prior.

State Director Penny Gillespie said the increasing challenge in finding permanent accommodation for people experiencing homelessness shows just how essential the push for more affordable and social housing has become.

“Mission Australia has seven services throughout Queensland aimed specifically at helping homeless people to find permanent accommodation and turn their lives around,” Ms Gillespie said.

“Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation such as family conflict, mental illness or unemployment.

“But in the last six months, the amount of time our staff have had to dedicate to simply trying to locate and secure permanent housing for eligible clients has almost doubled.

“This demonstrates just how tough the lower end of the housing market has become, and of greatest concern is the impact such a shortage will have on people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

“We don’t want to see homeless numbers spiral in Queensland, leading to more young people, adults and families ending up living on the street or sleeping on a friend’s living room floor.

“We know that the demand for public or affordable private housing in Queensland is very high and we acknowledge the significant efforts of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments to invest more funding than ever before to boost social housing supplies.

“We also welcome the significant contribution of both levels of government to providing better services and support through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.

“With National Homeless Persons’ Week starting today, this latest data is a strong reminder of how important this investment is and the risks to our community if such investment doesn’t continue.

“Our staff will keep doing everything we can to support people who have nowhere else to go and we will continue to work with all levels of government and other housing providers to assist clients to get a fair go in the housing market.”

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Media Release: Beds to give away in unique project to help homeless South Australians

Mission Australia - one of Australia’s leading community service organisations - has lots of beds to give away – to the homeless or those at risk of being homeless.

Its unique Sleep Better Project targets children, young people and adults that do not have access to a bed or mattress.

"National Homeless Persons’ Week (August 1-7) is a time to acknowledge that there are thousands of people in South Australia who are not able to tuck their children into a bed or lay their head on their own pillow at night,” said Kim Holmes, Operations Manager at Mission Australia.

"Homelessness is not always obvious or visible on our streets – but that does not mean it isn’t a problem. There are families living in cars, young people hoping to find a friend’s couch to sleep on and people living in overcrowded dwellings.

"Homelessness has many layers, but the ultimate impact is a sense of diminished safety, security and certainty,” she said.

As part of Sleep Better, Mission Australia has a large number of single and double beds with mattresses to be distributed through their own homelessness services as well as through their non-government partners for people in need.

"There's no substitute for a home of your own, but many of the people we help don't even have their own bed.

"A bed of your own brings with it a sense of safety, security and rest. It is more than a piece of furniture.

“Mission Australia’s Sleep Better initiative aims to help provide a good night’s sleep so South Australian children and adults can have a better opportunity to participate in education and employment,” said Ms Holmes.

The project has been funded by Community Benefits SA.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan at Rann Communication – (08) 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636

Mental health in the spotlight this National Homeless Persons’ Week

Mental illness among homeless people has become such a significant problem that Mission Australia frontline staff spent more hours assisting people with mental health needs than homelessness.

From 1 January to 25 July this year, 255 Mission Australia frontline staff across 75 of our homeless services nationally spent 5,896 hours helping people with mental health issues. In the same period, they spent 4,093 hours helping people with homelessness issues and another 1,379 hours in relation to clients at ‘risk of homelessness’ – a total of 5,472 hours.

This illustrates the strong link between mental illness and homelessness and follows on from Mission Australia’s groundbreaking study of homeless men last year that found close to 70 per cent had a diagnosed mental health or substance use disorder, 81 per cent had “very high levels” of psychological distress and exhibited Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at levels 20 times greater than the general male population.

Mission Australia CEO, Toby Hall, said the new data provides an insight into an important aspect of Australia’s broader mental health problem and of the huge demand homeless services face from people wrestling with mental illness in addition to their need for shelter.

“When you look at these figures, there’s no doubting how big an issue mental health is for both the people accessing our homelessness services and our frontline staff,” Mr Hall said.

“And when looked at in combination with Mission Australia’s earlier research on the extent of mental illness among homeless men, we are looking at a hugely significant problem. Through Mission Australia’s data collection we’re able to see exactly the type of supports our homelessness services offer young people, adults and families on a daily basis.

“It tells us that in a little over the first six months of 2011, frontline staff in our homelessness services put in more hours assisting people with mental health needs than with issues directly related to their homelessness. That’s quite extraordinary. That includes conducting health assessments, providing counselling – both formal and informal – and referring clients to more specialised medical care.

“It also reflects the complexity of the support we provide homeless people. Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation.

“For example, a debilitating mental illness that, untreated, makes it impossible for an individual to hold down a job or a home. For both homeless people – and the staff that support them – it’s an issue that keeps on getting bigger and bigger.

“This National Homeless Persons’ Week, while it’s important to recognise the downpayment the Australian Government made on mental health in its last budget – at $2.2 billion over five years, a significant amount – we need to keep in mind how huge the demand out there is, particularly among our community’s most vulnerable.

“I suggest that the experience of our frontline staff is just the tip of the iceberg. The government’s mental health funding is going to need to stretch a long way,” said Mr Hall.

For more information see our Media Release.

National Homeless Persons’ Week in SA and Queensland
In South Australia, Mission Australia is giving away a large number of single and double beds with mattresses to our own homelessness services and non-government partners for people in need. Find our more about our Sleep Better initiative here.

In Queensland, the battle for affordable housing worsens. Mission Australia staff are now spending almost twice as many hours trying to find appropriate permanent housing for people as they were six months ago. Read more here.

Further reading:

• Sean Tovey’s ‘treatment’ for sleeping out
• Find out what’s happening during National Homeless Persons’ Week

Media Release: Homeless service staff spend more hours assisting people with mental health than homelessness

National Homeless Persons’ Week – 1-7 August

Mental illness among homeless people has become such a significant problem that staff at one of the largest providers of homeless services in Australia spent more hours assisting clients with mental health needs than homelessness in the first six months of 2011.

According to the data, 255 Mission Australia frontline staff, across 75 of its homeless services nationally, spent a total of 5,896 hours assisting clients with mental health issues between 1 January and 25 July 2011.

In the same period, staff spent 4093 hours assisting clients with homelessness issues and another 1,379 hours in relation to clients at ‘risk of homelessness’ – a total of 5,472 hours.

The data illustrates the strong link between mental illness and homelessness and follows on from a groundbreaking study of homeless men by Mission Australia in August 2010 which found close to 70 per cent had a diagnosed mental health or substance use disorder, 81 per cent had “very high levels” of psychological distress (compared to 3 per cent among males in the general population), and exhibited Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at levels 20 times greater than the general male population.

According to Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, the new data provides an insight into an important aspect of Australia’s broader mental health problem and of the huge demand homeless services face from people wrestling with mental illness in addition to their need for shelter.

“When you look at these figures, there’s no doubting how big an issue mental health is for both the people accessing our homelessness services and our frontline staff,” said Mr Hall.

“And when looked at in combination with Mission Australia’s earlier research on the extent of mental illness among homeless men, we are looking at a hugely significant problem.

“Through Mission Australia’s data collection we’re able to see exactly the type of supports our homelessness services offer young people, adults and families on a daily basis.

“It tells us that in a little over the first six months of 2011, frontline staff in our homelessness services put in more hours assisting people with mental health needs than with issues directly related to their homelessness. That’s quite extraordinary.

“That includes conducting health assessments, providing counselling – both formal and informal – and referring clients to more specialised medical care.

“It also reflects the complexity of the support we provide homeless people. Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation.

“For example, a debilitating mental illness that, untreated, makes it impossible for an individual to hold down a job or a home.

“For both homeless people – and the staff that support them – it’s an issue that keeps on getting bigger and bigger.

“This National Homeless Persons’ Week, while it’s important to recognise the downpayment the Australian Government made on mental health in its last budget – at $2.2 billion over five years, a significant amount – we need to keep in mind how huge the demand out there is, particularly among our community’s most vulnerable.

“I suggest that the experience of our frontline staff is just the tip of the iceberg. The government’s mental health funding is going to need to stretch a long way,” said Mr Hall.

Media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495

Government Media Release: Minister Calls on Local Government to strengthen Indigenous Employment

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today opened the National Roundtable on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Local Government and urged representatives to employ more Indigenous people.

Representatives of local government organisations from around Australia gathered for the two-day roundtable at Redfern Town Hall to discuss how they could contribute to closing the gap on Indigenous employment.

“The Gillard Government is committed to working in partnership with local governments which are well placed to employ Indigenous Australians, especially in remote and regional areas,” Senator Arbib said.

“This roundtable, convened by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, is a great way to share ideas and plan partnerships to increase recruitment and retention of Indigenous workers.

“The Centre of Excellence has identified that local councils are facing a crisis in long-term workforce planning due to an ageing workforce and the drain of skills from the regions which has been compounded by demand from the mining boom.

“The solution is right in front of us – investment in local Indigenous communities and individuals who can provide those skills in the long term.”

Senator Arbib announced in April new funding of $4.8 million over three years to support mentoring programs for Indigenous Shire Council employees working in the Northern Territory and urged councils to become involved with school-based traineeships in their communities.

“The Government has also committed $50.7 million to provide 6400 school-based traineeships for year 11 and 12 students. The program provides assistance to young Indigenous Australians as they move from school to work,” Senator Arbib said.

“Local Councils can take advantage of the program and work with school-based trainees in their area. In addition, Councils can use Government programs and services, such as Job Services Australia, to provide job-readiness training, literacy and numeracy skills and ongoing mentoring for their Indigenous employees.

“There are also a raft of programs available to assist local governments in employing and retaining Iocal Indigenous job seekers, as part of the Government’s goal of creating more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.

“The Government is committed to working with all levels of Government, the corporate and community sectors and Indigenous communities and people to reach the target and close the gap on Indigenous employment.”

Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079

Media coverage - Hobart Mercury: Fund for grandparent carers

The State Government is lending a hand to grandparents, aunties, uncles and others who take on the role of primary carers for nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Children's Minister Michelle O'Byme said there was a long tradition in Tasmania of relatives permanently caring for children, typically after extremely tragic or stressful events such as the death or illness of a parent.

The $259,000 yearly program delivered by Gateway Services providers Baptcare and Mission Australia supports grandparents and others when they first assume responsibility for children.

Support includes advice to carers on services, group activities, as well as financial help to buy items including clothing and furniture.

"This practical support will remove some financial worry and make it easier for new carers to focus on a child's emotional needs at a time of significant adjustment," Ms O'Byme said.

This article was originally published in The Hobart Mercury on the 13 July 2011

How will the carbon tax affect disadvantaged Australians?

Mission Australia recognises the reality of climate change and supports the Australian Government’s efforts to tackle the problem and prepare for the challenges ahead.

In terms of its carbon tax proposals released on Sunday, Mission Australia has a range of perspectives.

Firstly, Mission Australia is strongly supportive of the package’s suggested changes to the tax system.

Lifting the tax-free threshold from $6,001 to $18,201 in 2012 and then $19,401 in 2015, and lifting the marginal tax rates at the lowest level from 15% to 19% and at the next level from 30% to 32% are very significant.

For many years, one of the greatest barriers to people contemplating entering or re-entering the workforce has been a lack of incentive. What’s the incentive in getting off income support when you’re financially worse off simply by working an extra few days?

These changes go a long way to addressing that perversity in how Australia’s taxation and income support systems interact.

For example, under the package, a single mum wanting to return to work part-time would not have to pay tax until she earned more than $20,000 – a result of both the lifting of the tax-free threshold and a further low-income tax offset.

Similarly, a person on a low-income working two days a week could work an extra day without paying any tax on the extra day’s effort.

It’s about improving people’s passage from income support into work and we congratulate the government on these aspects of its proposals.

We also welcome the government's measures regarding compensation, including payments to help low-income individuals and families adjust to the carbon tax.

However, we are concerned that a 1.7% increase in the various pensions and income support will not be sufficient to insulate these vulnerable groups from the impact of the tax as well as the rise in prices expected from the enormous infrastructure maintenance and upgrades that are due for Australia’s power network.

We’re particularly concerned given that those on lower benefits receive the least amount of compensation.

As a result we intend to keep a close eye on its impact among our clients and will report to government if we find that vulnerable groups are worse off.

Similarly, we will also be assessing the impact of the tax on our capacity to deliver our services to those most in need.

For example, as one of the nation’s leading providers of services to job seekers, we’ll be monitoring the impact of the carbon tax on employers – both in terms of jobs lost or created.

Government Media Release: More traineeships in Bellambi for people with disability

Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis and Federal Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird, today announced funding of $600 000 from the Innovation Fund program for Mission Australia’s Feather Weight project.

This project will train and employ up to 11 job seekers with disability in recycling services, giving them the support they need to achieve accredited training in Certificate II in waste management.

The job seekers will receive training though a soon to be established social enterprise Feather Weight, which will manufacture punching bags and protective sports equipment, including tackle bags, hit shields and goal post pads.

“For people with disability, the benefits of work extend far beyond a mere pay packet. A good job brings with it dignity, purpose and a sense of connectedness to the community,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Feather Weight project will provide the critical support and assistance that unemployed people with a physical disability or mental illness need to be able to enter the labour market.”

This project will also have an environmental benefit, as job seekers will be working to reduce waste material such as car seats, from the automotive industry by an estimated 1 020 000 tonnes, which would otherwise be sent to landfill.

The project will give job seekers the opportunity to gain paid work experience combined with on-the-job training, peer support, group learning and personal support services, all as part of an integrated service delivery model.

Ms Bird said that the project will benefit not only job seekers with disability but the broader Bellambi community through the establishment of a viable self sustaining social enterprise.

“The Government is also providing funding so that the participants are supported once they complete their training and can successfully transition to the open labour market,” Ms Bird said.

“I believe that we can do better than a lifetime spent on income support for residents in Bellambi who are living with disability but have the capacity and the will to work.”

“That is why we are also making it easier for people on disability pensions to get and keep a job and providing employers with incentives to hire people with disability through the 2011-12 Budget.”

Senator McLucas said that “increasing access to employment opportunities is an important part of the National Disability Strategy.”

“Mission Australia’s Feather Weight project will provide valuable work and training opportunities for local people with disability.”

The National Disability Strategy sets a ten-year reform plan that will help to ensure that people with disability have the same opportunities as other Australians. Developed through the Council of Australian Governments, the Strategy is the first time in Australia’s history that all governments have committed to a unified, national approach to improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.

The Feather Weight project is one of 12 Innovation Fund projects targeting assistance to job seekers with disability, valued at approximately $2.9 million.

The $41 million Innovation Fund also contributes to the achievement of the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda, which includes supporting innovative strategies to help disadvantaged job seekers find and retain employment.

For more information on the Innovation Fund visit:  deewr.gov.au/innovationfund

Media Contact:  media@deewr.gov.au

Non-media queries:  1300 363 079

This media release originally issued on the 29 June 2011 by the Hon Kate Ellis MP MP, Senator the Hon Jan McLucas and Ms Sharon Bird MP

Media coverage - ABC: 'One-stop-shop' to tackle problem gambling

The ACT Government says its new gambling support service will serve as a 'one-stop-shop' for problem gamblers and their families.

The Government has announced Mission Australia will run the service, providing help for people already struggling with problem gambling as well as running proactive services to help those at risk of developing an addiction.

It is due to be up and running next month.

Economic Development Minister Andrew Barr says it is a unique, nation-leading arrangement.

"Mission Australia will combine their experience in problem gambling services with the many other services they provide including financial counselling, support services for disadvantaged families and youth, support services for relationships, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, mental illness, housing," he said.

Mr Barr says the service will include face-to-face, phone, email and online contact with clients.

He says Mission Australia will also work with the Australian National University, the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission and industry stakeholders to undertake research on the causes and effective treatment of problem gambling.

Mr Barr says it is part of the Government's broader plan to tackle problem gambling.

"That encompass everything from assistance for those who have demonstrated need and perhaps those who we haven't been reaching with previous assistance models, through to some more direct action in relation to the number of poker machines in the Territory, ATM withdrawal limits and the national work around precommitment," he said.

The service is being funded by a 0.6 per cent levy on gambling revenue, an idea initiated by an ACT Greens bill.

Mission Australia's Leonie Green says it will be a diverse program.

"Not only will we be offering financial and gambling counselling services but we will be also providing training for other service providers," she said.

"We'll be able to provide therapeutic services to families and individuals so that they can start looking and addressing all of the other issues. We'll be working in schools raising awareness of gambling."

Story originally published 7 June 2011 at ABC.net.au

Further reading:

• Owen Craigie passes on smart gambling message
• Government Media Release: Tackling problem gambling in Australia
• Previous MA news - gambling

New light, new day as PM opens village

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has officially opened a new accommodation village for homeless Indigenous people in Alice Springs, which will be managed by Mission Australia.

The Aherlkeme Village will offer transitional housing and help homeless people move into more permanent housing by giving them the skills to access and hold a tenancy in either the public or private market.

Aherlkeme, meaning ‘new light, new day’, is designed to help break the cycle of homelessness and reduce over crowding in town camps. It will provide 75 supported accommodation places, in 29 units of one to four bedrooms.

The $8.3 million village is part of a government plan to transform areas of Alice Springs and its town camps so they are safe, healthy places to live.

Mission Australia will manage the village, as well as providing case management and tenancy support services.

Through these services, tenants will develop:

• Knowledge and skills to maintain a safe and healthy home
• Skills to resolve conflicts and manage visitors
• An understanding of tenancy rights and responsibilities
• Greater responsibility in their homes and neighbourhoods
• An understanding of how to access support services once they leave the village

Ms Gillard opened the Aherlkeme Village today, with Mission Australia's Northern Territory director Phillip Leslie. Aherlkeme is about 5km from the township of Alice Springs.

Image: Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the new Aherlkeme Village with Mission Australia's Northern Territory director Phillip Leslie (centre) and staff from Mission Australia's Alice Springs office.