Remote Australia Online

Over a decade ago the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody concluded that the essence of self-determination is the devolution of political and economic power to Indigenous communities. Self-determination was defined to mean Indigenous people having control over the ultimate decisions about a wide range of matters including political status, and economic, social and cultural development, and having the resources and capacity to control the future of their own communities within the legal structure common to all Australians. This paper proposes that the concept of jurisdictional devolution could provide a key framework for the practical implementation of self-determination at the community level for Indigenous Australians, and proceeds to examine the nature of the concept, its application, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. It argues that the concept of jurisdictional devolution can be used as an organising perspective or frame of reference. This enables us to develop a policy-relevant language with which to discuss the implementation of local-level self-determination, and connects theoretical propositions about inherent rights to self-determination, and the practice of achieving it in a workable form. The paper begins by developing an operational definition for the term 'jurisdictional devolution'. It then considers the question: why devolve? What are the imperatives for jurisdictional devolution, the likely advantages and benefits? The discussion focuses on practical design and implementation by examining the lessons that can be drawn from two case studies of devolution in the arena of welfare. The first is from the United States of America, where a process of welfare devolution to Native American Indian Tribes is in the early stages of implementation. The object of this case study is to extrapolate lessons and insights that can be applied to the design and implementation of a relevant Australian model. The second case study presents a preliminary proposal, developed by a central Australian community, for the future devolution of particular components of welfare jurisdiction. Against the backdrop of that broad comparative perspective, the paper proceeds to consider the factors that will be relevant in Australia for constructing a framework for jurisdictional devolution. A key issue is what might constitute the most effective and relevant Indigenous boundaries and units for devolution. To whom or what would jurisdiction be devolved? In other words, who constitutes the 'self' in self-determination? A 'geography of devolution' is proposed in the form of a flexible aggregation model-regionally dispersed, layered community governance-which has both community and regional elements. The paper concludes by drawing together these lessons, limitations and practical options in order to highlight the operating principles and types of strategic action that would need to inform the design and implementation of a workable framework for jurisdictional devolution in Australia.

Rapid change arising from large-scale development projects can place severe strain on the physical infrastructure and social fabric of affected communities, as well as providing opportunities for betterment. The remote Aboriginal town of Ngukurr, together with its satellite outstations in the south-east Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory, is likely to experience such change as a result of mineral exploration activity currently being instigated by Rio Tinto. This study, which is comprehensive in its scope, provides a synchronic baseline statistical analysis of social and economic conditions in Ngukurr. It emphasises several key areas of policy interest and intervention, including the demographic structure and residence patterns of the regional population, and their labour force status, education and training, income, welfare, housing, and health status. The result is an appraisal of Ngukurr's social and economic life after a generation of self management and land rights, immediately prior to a possible period of major introduced economic development based on mineral exploitation. Thus it presents both a summary of the development effects of post-assimilation policy and the 'before' stage of a comparison-in-waiting. It forms a basis for social impact planning by establishing planning benchmarks across a range of key policy areas, and demonstrates the capacity that exists for rapid appraisal of remote Aboriginal communities.

Since 1991, the Central Land Council has been developing systems to help Aboriginal traditional land owners control the management of commercially viable cattle stations. There are only three Aboriginal cattle stations in Central Australia that have sufficient grazing capacity to be commercially viable. All of the others are either too small or were severely degraded prior to Aboriginal control (Department of Lands, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1984; Lands & Housing 1992). Mistake Creek, Alcoota, and Loves Creek are now all being successfully operated by their traditional owners. Their current success is due not only to their economic viability, but also to management support and training provided by CLC.

This paper reports on the results of the t1rst year of a four-year study of the relationship between indigenous people and the welfare system in two communities: Kuranda in North Queensland and Yuendumu in Central Australia. The work has been conducted by a group of researchers at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University and partially funded by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (DFACS). The broad objective of the research has been to document the nature and extent of the relationship between indigenous people and the welfare system and to draw out the implications for family welfare policy and for the delivery of welfare services. A fuller discussion of the methodology and results is available in the monograph Indigenous Families and the Welfare System: Two Community Case Studies edited by Diane Smith (2000). The research has adopted two broad approaches. One approach is based on aggregate data from the Population Census and from administrative sources. The other approach is field-based including interviews with welfare recipients and key individuals in the communities such as those working in education, health, housing and finance. The success of the t1eldbased research has been highly dependent on the support of the local community and the use of indigenous field assisl1mts to facilitate the interviewing.

Reconciling natural and cultural heritage with economic development is a prime challenge for contemporary and future societies. Striving for such reconciliation is essentially the same as striving for sustainability — the process that dominates the implementation of the philosophy of sustainable development. There is a fundamental interrelation between natural capital, human-made capital and cultural capital. Human-made capital is a result of the interaction between natural and cultural capital, and thus (Berkes and Folke 1994) is never value neutral. One of the challenges faced by resource managers in situation where Indigenous values of cultural capital are strong is how to adequately take into account their worldview of resources, resource ownership and value systems, which are essentially different from those of the modern resource managers. The challenges are particularly evident when trying to develop natural resource management systems that not only adequately reflect, but also build on, Indigenous cultural values, including those about communal property rights. In this paper, we first explore the characteristics of Indigenous cultural capital, which expresses a holistic view of the environment encompassing utilitarian and non-utilitarian goods and services and the ecosystem. The paper then provides an economic and social interpretation of the composition and ‘ownership’ of cultural capital, and then discusses the implications of this in the use and management of natural resources. Examples are drawn from Australia and the Pacific to illustrate key points. Lastly, the paper suggests an approach that recognises Indigenous cultural value systems, and incorporates these in the design of management systems to meet the sustainable economic development challenges of today and the future.

Indigenous culture and heritage are a major tourist attraction in Australia. The income generated from the sale of Aboriginal arts and crafts is AUD$200 million per annum, with half derived from tourist sales. In addition, Aboriginal cultural tourism generates $5 million, while mainstream tourism enterprises owned by Indigenous organisations are worth $20$30 million per annum (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Industry Strategy, 1997). The tourist consumption of Indigenous cultural products and heritage sites generates several economic values. These include Commodity Values of portable Indigenous cultural products (eg. art, craft, souvenirs) and amenity values associated with leisure and recreation on Aboriginal lands, at scenic localities and rock art sites. There are further marketing values associated with the tourism promotion of Indigenous heritage and cyber-values from placing Indigenous cultural products on the Internet. In addition to economic value, growing Indigenous concerns with copyright and cultural or intellectual property issues in Indigenous heritage tourism also need to be addressed.

This paper covers issues such as: a) Marginalisaton b) Discussion on the Native Title Act 1993 c) national identity d) Northern Territory - mining situation e) Discussion about the Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporation (that was formed in 1989 by traditional aboriginal land owners) and the Witjira National Park - this section is about the land management issues between the government and the Irrwanyere people. f) The EKIA (East Kimberley Impact Assessment ) project - is discussed. NOTE: although out-dated EKIA is often referenced in publications pertaining to impact assessment/mining/indigenous issues. g) Aboriginal - planning in the Kimberley region

A balanced, good paper on the topic of regional agreements/indigenous people with good reference to the Mt Todd gold mine situation. The issues covered in this paper include: a) overview of regional agreements, providing a good discussion here with many references to other authors in this endnote database (authors referenced here include: Altman 1994a & 1994b; O'Faircheallaigh 1995a & 1995b; Pritchard & Gibson 1996; Crough 1992 & 1995). b) good discussion about the Jawoyn people in relation to the Mt Todd gold mine (good link here to McManus 2000). This section discusses the identity and self-determination of the Jawoyn people (with many other referenced authors, that are not listed in endnote libraries). c) Mt Todd Regional Agreement - this section includes Table 1. that depicts Jawoyn Title to traditional lands, listing the title agreements. d) Australian governments and barriers to self-determination e) Land Rights regimes in the Katherine region f) systems of governance and autonomy - discussion here in relation to the ATSIC Act g) Conclusion - this involves discussion of the wider implications of regional agreements, with Canadian references used. The bibliography is quite extensive also.

Aborigines, because of their population numbers and increasing control over land and resources, are crucial to the sustainable development of rural Australia. However, appropriate Aboriginal development requires the replacement of the ‘top-down’ approaches generally adopted by government agencies by ‘bottom-up’ approaches reflecting the needs and aspirations of rural Aboriginal people. Past experience demonstrates that Aborigines have faced many frustrations in reconciling these concepts. But some approaches now being adopted in the use and management of Australia's rangelands provide interesting alternatives which may be more generally applicable in enhancing rangeland sustainability. Examples include land-use practices conducted by Aborigines living in remote homeland centres on their own freehold land, and the diversity of land uses introduced on pastoral stations now under Aboriginal ownership. Broader recognition of the value of these approaches will depend on widespread acknowledgment of the overall worth of Aboriginal land management knowledge in rural restructuring

Many, if not most anthropologists, myself included, have spent our professional lives working with people whose traditions, language, or way of life differ from people in power. We sometimes use the phrase 'indigenous' to refer collectively to such people and to contrast them to the groups who dominate in terms of politics or economics. The term 'indigenous' has also become part of legal discourse, as coalitions working at the United Nations and elsewhere have made 'indigenous peoples' rights' a part of international customary law. I wish to examine here the argument that the most appropriate legal and (more broadly) normative concept to characterize struggles for greater autonomy within nation-states is that certain rights accrue to all, and other rights accrue only to those people who are 'indigenous.' I underscore that those who make this argument intend for the idea of 'indigenous peoples' rights' to have universal applicability and legal force. I focus on the relationship between the idea of 'indigenous' as it appears in current legal and political discourse about the right of peoples, and the many local ideas of 'indigenousness' that one finds used in different parts of the world. Does making universal claims about rights that accrue only to 'the indigenous' have different consequences in different places? Is this universal valorization of territorial precedence required to achieve certain ends, or can ideas of self-governance and equality achieve them as well? In the end, I argue for a two-stage framework combining a broader universal notion of group-differentiated rights with multiple, culturally-specific local concepts of people, place and state.

Aborigines make up by far the largest proportion of the long-term residents of the Kimberley region and much of the population living outside the major towns. They already control, by one means or another, considerable areas of land. The Native Title Act 1993 offers the possibility of greater control still. They have a network of community-controlled functional organisations such as medical services, radio stations, service delivery resource agencies, cultural and language maintenance centres, and a publishing house. Not surprisingly with Canadian models before them and the example of the Torres Strait Regional Authority, the mood is growing among these organisations, in the communities, and with the political leadership, for greater regional autonomy and a form of Aboriginal governance in the region. This paper analyses the various pressures for a regional authority under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), a regional agreement or various sub-regional agreements over multiple land use, and a form of regional Aboriginal governance. It points out the distinction between these three approaches to regional autonomy. It suggests that the need for the first is being driven by pressures for multiple access to land, while the proposal for the second is simply a means of more efficient delivery of Commonwealth development funding and may in the long term act as an impediment to greater autonomy. The third, regional governance, embraces the first two needs and goes beyond them to respond to the longstanding need, sharpened since the Mabo decision, for a new form of political accommodation between Aborigines and settlers in the Kimberley.

Concern about the quality of education in rural and remote Australian locations has prompted attempts to improve the recruitment and retention of high quality teaching staff. This study reports on the expectations held by pre-service teachers about rural and remote teaching, focussing on both the professional and personal/social domains. The participants were enrolled in a rural education unit as part of Secondary Graduate Diploma of Education at The University of Western Australia. The findings suggest that pre-service teachers are under-informed about rural and remote teaching, relying on narrow, stereotypical images of the rural and remote teaching experience. The expectations of the pre-service teachers included vague and dichotomous images. They held simultaneously idyllic and horrific expectations. The disparity between the expectations of the pre-service teachers and the range of possible realities has implications for the staffing of rural and remote schools and the subsequent level of satisfaction experienced by novice teachers.

The aim of this study was to develop a theory which would explain the consistently low number of Aboriginal people employed in public sector agencies in Australia. Aboriginal people comprise approximately 3 percent of the Australian population and continue to have the highest representation amongst the unemployed and in prisons. Of those Aboriginal employees in the public sector, the majority are amongst the lowest paid ranks. The general aim of this research was to generate a substantive theory that describes issues impacting on the recruitment, selection, promotion and retention of Aboriginal people in public sector agencies, particularly at middle and senior management levels. The specific aims were to identify: cultural factors that impact on Aboriginal people in the workplace; management factors that impact on Aboriginal people in the workplace; expectations of and perceptions about Aboriginal people in the workplace; organisational strategies for the recruitment and employment of Aboriginal employees; and, strategies for skill enhancement and support for Aboriginal employees. One hundred and eighty three employees, working in metropolitan and rural and remote centres of a large public sector agency participated in the research study. Structured formal interviews with twenty eight participants sought to discover what the workplace was like for the Aboriginal employees, and the perceptions of non Aboriginal employees about their Aboriginal colleagues. Data was also collected through participant observation, work shadowing Aboriginal employees, questionnaires and a survey completed by 136 Aboriginal employees throughout the organisation and 29 non Aboriginal employees. Focus group interviews, telephone interviews and the use of interactive media (including video conferencing) extended data collection. The examination of documents and a review of the literature were also used. Data collected in diverse ways was analysed using the constant comparative method. The basic problem grounded in the data was that Aboriginal employment in the public sector is not comparative with Aboriginal representation in the Australian population, and that barriers to employment and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people exist and flourish

Introduction: Development of sustainable multidisciplinary services in north-west Queensland, Australia, is challenged by large distances, culturally diverse communities, a prolonged wet season, a history of poor retention of allied health professionals (AHPs), and high prevalence of chronic disease. In 2001, the Northern Queensland Rural Division of General Practice drew on wide community consultation and recent research into the recruitment and retention of AHPs to develop a Model for delivery of outreach allied health services operating within a primary healthcare framework. Aim: to develop a Model of allied health service delivery using the principles of primary healthcare, to meet the needs of 11 culturally diverse (indigenous, non-indigenous and mixed) remote communities, in an area of over 373 000 km2. Methods: The development of the outreach Model of allied-health service delivery occurred over four stages: (1) Formulation of a planning matrix as the outcome of a workshop to identify the core components; (2) Environmental scan including mapping of existing allied health services and identification of gaps in service delivery; community consultation to assist in the gap analysis of service delivery, identification health priorities at a local level, and provision of context as to how services should be provided; analysis of available morbidity, mortality data and screening data; (3) Desktop analysis of previous research into the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals, and determination of a ‘reasonable’ level of service delivery in rural and remote areas; and (4) Synthesis of information to develop options or a Model of service delivery. Results: The environmental scan indicated the need for a raft of AHPs to address chronic disease and injury in the target communities, including the disciplines of physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics, occupational therapy, speech pathology and psychology. The Model of service delivery sought to provide services in a form appropriate to communities (ie regular and reliable), with duration of visit providing opportunities for case conferencing and inservice education with resident health professionals and workers. A range of strategies were developed to support the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals, including working and travelling in functional teams; orientation to remote practice; schedules that recognize the need for time back at base, and utilisation of aircraft to minimise travel time; employment packages recognizing isolated and remote practice, professional development, postgraduate study, professional and clinical mentoring; financial subsidies for housing and childcare. A hub-and-spoke model of service delivery was developed with functional teams visiting each community on a 6-weekly rotation for 2-3 days/community per rotation, dependent on population. The duration of visit would promote opportunities for community development, training therapy assistants to promote continuity of care, and health promotion activities within the primary healthcare framework under which the service would operate. Integration and coordination with existing resident health and community services, and visiting services, was considered through the development of a 6 month calendar of service delivery, and Memoranda of Understanding with state health services to allow access to clinics and client records. Conclusion: The planning matrix informed and underpinned the final form of the outreach Model of service delivery. The process described enabled the development of a Model for delivering allied health services in a remote rural area that considered the burden of disease, context for service delivery addressing community concerns with visiting services, recruitment and retention of health professionals and integration with resident and visiting health and community services. The strategies employed provide a template for allied health service development in rural and remote areas internationally.

Commonwealth Government health policy and professional organizations have indicated that successful recruitment and retention strategies are crucial to address the shortage of health professionals in rural and remote areas. This research study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Clinical Placement Support Scheme for nursing students as a recruitment strategy for rural and remote health care services, and to develop an increased awareness of the employment opportunities available in these areas. The population consisted of final year Bachelor of Nursing students enrolled in either a rural or metropolitan clinical placement in 2000. A pre-post test survey design was used. Analysis of pre- and post-test data found a 12% increase (to 89%) in the number of students intending to seek employment in a rural setting, compared to a 5% increase (to 46%) in students who undertook a metropolitan placement. One-third of the students who chose a rural placement had no previous experience of a rural lifestyle and over half of these students indicated their intention to work in a rural setting following their clinical placement These results support the theory that undergraduate rural clinical experience can have a positive influence on the recruitment of health professionals to rural areas.

With the increasing representation of females in the medical workforce and with an ongoing rural medical workforce shortage it is critical to have recruitment and retention strategies in place in NSW to suit the diversity of medical practitioners, male and female. During 2000 the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) surveyed female and male general practitioners and female specialists working and residing in rural and remote NSW to determine if RDN’s strategies to attract and support rural and remote doctors are likely to be as effective for female doctors as for male doctors. The findings of RDN’s research suggest that additional strategies are needed to attract and retain females to rural practice. The findings from the surveys confirm that RDN’s current strategies are likely to be effective for the majority of male medical practitioners, and further, that the changes that the male general practitioners would make to improve recruitment and retention rates to rural and remote practice are closely aligned with strategies already in place in NSW. The females surveyed raised very different issues from those raised by the males. Males tended not to mention family responsibilities whereas the females were very concerned about difficulties related to balancing professional and family responsibilities. The findings suggest that RDN should introduce additional “family friendly” rural medical workforce initiatives. Research elsewhere suggests that there are increasing numbers of younger males who are also wanting to adopt more “family friendly” modes of practice. A number of recommendations are made in response to the findings from the surveys. Recommendations are included that aim to address the difficulties associated with balancing family and professional responsibilities. This is in response to the four major themes that emerge from the female medical practitioner responses: § The role conflict that the women experience - balancing work and family life – Female rural and remote medical practitioners have the major responsibility for the care of the children. Male general practitioners do not, as a rule, have the main responsibility for raising children. § The need for flexible practice and training opportunities –Female medical practitioners want flexible working and training arrangements - part time and job sharing opportunities, salaried as well as private practice arrangements, on call and after hours arrangements which do not compete with them as the primary family carers. § The desire for support networks to overcome social and professional isolation –and linked to this is continuing medical education (CME) to be responsive to the issues that affect them as female practitioners. § Spouse Issues – Women tend to follow their spouses/partners. The survey found 38% of the female general practitioners are in the rural or remote workforce because of their husbands/partners. This has implications for females in rural practice who may not have trained for rural practice. Another important finding is that a high percentage of male and female medical practitioners surveyed would prefer to work fewer hours, but are prevented from doing so primarily by the rural medical workforce shortage and financial considerations. Almost half of all medical practitioners intend to, or may leave, their current practices within five years. This confirms that the rural medical workforce is very mobile. Recommendations are made that aim to address these issues as well.

Factors influencing the recruitment and retention of nurses in rural and remote areas in Queensland

Due to difficulties attracting Australian-trained general practitioners to work outside metropolitan areas, many rural communities are recruiting overseas trained doctors to provide medical services. This paper examines the aspirations, challenges and experiences faced by such doctors and their spouses from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Ethnographic research examines the factors affecting the settling in process for GPs who have trained overseas along with their spouses who live and work in a specific area of rural Western Australia. Findings show that issues related to security, cross-cultural adjustment, social expectations of gender roles, isolation and medical work practice influence this process. While most overseas trained GPs enjoyed living and working in a rural setting, their spouses had more difficulty adjusting.

Have you ever, in the course of your travels by road or rail seen a small community consisting mainly of vacant houses with overgrown unkempt house yards and boarded up shops? Have you ever wondered what may have been contributing factors to these semi ‘ghost' towns? Have you ever mused ‘Where have all the people gone?' or ‘Where have all the young men gone?' or ‘Where have all the flowers gone?' as you gazed at these seemingly deserted and desolate scenes? This article offers three case studies, from the perspective of the Country Women's Association of Australia, that highlight some of the contributing factors and consequences.

This article reports the findings of the authors conversations with beginning teachers posted to rural-remote schools in Western Australia. The stories provide some insight into the personal-professional dilemmas, tensions and constraints that new teachers encounter in the transition to teaching and living in rural-remote communities. The article explores the implications of these stories for teacher education, in particular the challenge of producing critically reflective practitioners who are committed to not only understanding their social and cultural contexts but challenging and changing it.

The book is about how children, families, and communities in Australia influence one another. It focus particularly on how children's development is affected by different contexts. In addition to research evidence, the book provides some theoretical groundwork for understanding these mutual influences. The first section examines characteristics of children, focusing on the effects of disability, ethnicity, and gender. The second section explores how the development of children is influenced by families, schools, and neighbourhoods. The final section presents three examples of inventions by the wider community into the lives of children: child protection, the removal of Aboriginal children from their families, and social policies relating to children's services.

This is a book that recognises that regions matter - what takes place in our diverse regions fundamentally determines the nation's quality of life. It delves behind the headlines and speeches and considers the true state of Australia's metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions, and what can be done to improve their economic, social and environmental wellbeing. This practical book draws upon regional development theory, and national and international experience, to set out the principles and strategies that can be used to establish a stronger future for our regions. Contents Contributors ix Preface xi Acknowledgements xiv Acronyms and abbreviations xv CHAPTER 1 An Australia of regions 1 Uneven growth patterns 2 Policy options 9 The goals of this book 12 CHAPTER 2 Defining local and regional development 14 Working for growth 14 Bidding for jobs 21 Lessons from other countries 29 The place of society within economic development 32 Conclusion 35 CHAPTER 3 What is a region and why does it matter? 38 The significance of the region in regional development 39 Types of regions 41 Defining and delimiting regions 51 Conclusion 55 CHAPTER 4 Australia's diveging regions: Causes, 57 outcomes and policy challenges What scale of region? 58 Increasing polarisation, increasing differentiation 67 The roles of capital city and non-metropolitan regions 7 across Australia Challenges for policy 8 CHAPTER 5 Local economic development in resource-based 8 economies The changing role of primary industry in the national 8 economy Primary industries and Australia's, regions 8&​ Measuring the economic flows of primary industries: 9] Input-Output analysis How do primary industries interact with regional economies? 94 Regional purchasing by farm businesses 96 Changing regional interactions: Mining 99 Moving forward: What can regions do? 103 CHAPTER 6 Sunrise industries: Engines of regional growth? 107 The 'old' manufacturing industries 108 Sunrise industries 114 Tourism 115 Producer services 122 Call centres and back offices 126 Advanced manufacturing 128 Regional busiÆiess~strategies 131 Business incubators 132 Business retention and expansion programs 134 Clusters 136 Conclusion 142 CHAPTER 7 The practice of local and regional economic 143 deelopment in Australia The role of economic development agencies 144 The practice of local economic development in Australia 145 'Chasing smokestacks' 159 Conclusion 169 CHAPTER 8 Indigenous peope and Australia's regions 171 Visible and invisible: The regional policy challenge 171 The Aboriginal economy 182 Future issues and'directions 188 CHAPTER 9 Infrastructure and services 192 Economy, government and society 193 Infrastructure 198 The banks and financial services 202 Telecommunications 204 Housing as a determinant of regional growth 208 Conclusion 216 CHAPTER 10 Green regions 218 Sustainable development 218 The environmental sustainability of Australian regional 221 Will protecting the environment damage the economy? 225 What can be done at the regional level? 232 Who should be responsible for sustainable regional 234 development? What are the barriers to achieving environmental 237 sustainability at the regional level? Developing and implementing a regional sustainable 243 development strategy Conclusion 245 CHAPTER 11 A local and regional development policy 246 for Australia Scenario 1 Australia's regions in an unfettered market 248 Scenario 2 Systematic planning for local and regional 253 development Scenario 3 An entrepreneurial model of economic 257 Governments, regions and communities 260 Conclusion 262

There is no doubt that globalisation is a major external influence on small regions. These essays show how small regions need not be passive players, swept away on the current of change - that there are actions that can be taken to navigate a path and ride the currents to prosperity. Contents 1. Small regional economies / Greg Coombs 2. Contemporary theories of economic growth / Greg Coombs 3. Influences on regional growth: basic factors / Greg Coombs 4. Influences on regional growth: catch up factors / Greg Coombs 5. The economics of innovation / Steve Whetton 6. Cities and towns / Greg Coombs and Rini Budiyanti 7. Endowments / Steve Whetton, Greg Coombs and Rini Budiyanti 8. Human capital / Rini Budiyanti 9. Economic structure / Rini Budiyanti 10. Trade / Anthony Kosturjak 11. Climate, greenhouse policy and regional impact / Greg Coombs and Rini Budiyanti 12. The re-launch of Woomera: a case study / Greg Coombs 13. Globalisation and inter-governmental fiscal transfers to local government / Greg Coombs 14. Economic co-operation / Greg Coombs 15. Advancing the regions.

Written by some of Australia's leading commentators on the rural systems, this comprehensive collection of essays explores the multiple factors that underpin the sustainability of rural communities in Australia. By addressing themes such as social and economic change, government policy and gender relations, this volume tackles the thematic complexities of sustainability. At the heart of this discussion lies a desire to understand how small rural communities have survived in the past; how they are shaped by environmental, economic and social factors at present; and how these factors will impact on their survival in the future." -- Book jacket. By addressing themes such as social and economic change, government policy and gender relations, this volume tackles the thematic complexities of sustainability. It attempts to understand how small rural communities have survived in the past, what factors shaped them, and how these factors will impact on their future survival. Contents Part I SUSTAINABILITY IN CONTEXT 19 2 Rural communities and sustainability 20 Alan Black 3 Rural sustainability in historical perspective 38 Graeme Davison 4 The state of rural populations 56 Graeme Hugo 5 The changing social framework 80 Peter Smailes, Trevor Griffin and Neil Argent Part II ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY RURAL AUSTRALIA 103 6 Globalisation, agricultural production systems and rural restructuring 104 Geoffrey Lawrence 7 The changing economics of rural communities 121 Richard Stayner 8 Gender perspectives in Australian rural community life 139 Margaret Alston 9 Social exclusion in rural Australia 157 10 Natural capital and the sustainability of rural communities 171 Chris Cocklin Part III RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES 193 11 Government policy and rural sustainability 194 Matthew Tonts 12 Community development 212 Iacqui Dibden and Lynda Cheshire 13 Challenges for individual and collective action 230 Ian Gray 14 Conclusion 247 Chris Cocklin and lacqui Dibden

The aim of this document is to provide some direction and support to new non-Aboriginal teachers in remote Aboriginal community schools in the Northern Territory. It is intended to accompany the school-based induction, and will hopefully lead to the development of more relevant school-based documents. Many are not only new to Aboriginal community life, but may be in their first position in a classroom after graduating. I have found through my experiences as a teacher in the same situation and then as a mentor to new teachers, that the feeling of being totally overwhelmed, followed closely by distress and panic, is very common. These feelings may be acknowledged by other staff, but are frequently not put into perspective, identified and dealt with as a part of culture shock.