Why are things not working in Aboriginal communities, with our friend and founder Dianne

[@Kangawallapossumbat]

Having lived and worked in Central Australian aboriginal communities, I think I can state categorically, the problem is not solved by more money.... Needs self motivation. What motivation is there to attend school if there is no real benefit, if the whole community are lacking motivation, happy with sit down money?. I recall when aboriginal parents were paid $2 for each day their kids went to school, but still only had a 20% attendance rate. . Govt set up CDP where workers would pick up rubbish (work for the dole), or persons convicted in court ordered to do Community Work (pick up rubbish).... This creates an ideology that cleaning up after yourself is punishment, and not a necessity for clean living. I witnessed the CDEP projects in many cases as a clear scam to get Govt money. In one satellite community, there was only 11 residents, and yet had 20 CDEP workers on the books getting paid to do nothing in return. More oft than not, in the large communities, I witnessed a mere 3 or 4 showing up daily to do the work, but all 30+ absentees still got paid. Often I would see the CDEP coordinator go to the houses to get the workers to sign the book, and no work got done at all.... just scamming the government. In aboriginal health projects, no amount of money will improve health if kids don't wash their hands, clean their ears or blow their runny "candle stick" noses. Why spend money on people with fly borne diseases if mums won't stop throwing the poopy baby nappies on the ground, or even just in a corner of the floor inside the house.? Or leaving the dead family dog to lie where it died to be consumed by maggots. I oft heard myself, or saw featured on TV news shows the "scandal" of high priced fruit and veggies in communities.... why not grow their own in communal farms?? Ti Tree farms north of Alice Springs have thriving produce which they market, and yet, the locals won't even dig a 4 metres square garden for themselves for their own free produce. What I am saying is the land/earth does successfully grow produce, so the argument of "oh, but it is a desert" does not wash given the abundance of artesian water. Too many times I saw government projects to communities of what the government thought what they needed, rather than what they actually needed. A very tragic thing I saw in all aboriginal communities was the local store supplying cooked meals of deep fried foods and microwaved pastries like meat pies. Kids would go to the store with $10 and exit holding only sugar sweets, a can of coca-cola and potato crisps, and/or a cup of hot chips and a deep fried chicken leg. .A combination of poor diet and poor hygiene during their growing years attributes towards chronic diseases down the road such as obesity and high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and hearing loss. Of education, what use is it to teach an aboriginal student in an isolated community anything more than basic reading, writing and arithmetic? In adult education, what use is it to teach nutritional cooking classes, if the vegetables are too expensive to buy? (for example - a small head of cabbage selling at $10 or more) In my opinion, the entire health and education systems in remote communities needs a total rethink.. Motivation towards self sufficiency needs to be the main component.

[@anthonysmith-qz1xt]

Albo should stop his showboating and get those communities help. This has been going on for to long. Knowledge is what every person needs to survive.

[@rsmith7589]

A prayer for you. LORD JESUS I am a sinner and I Repent of all my sin’s, Please wash my sins with the Precious Blood of JESUS today, I turn away from all sin, and I receive you into my heart today as my Lord and Saviour, Please write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and please send me the HOLY SPIRIT to help me live in holiness, and establish your Word in my heart and protect my heart. Amen

[@Indigenous79]

Your God brang hell to this country.

[@aj4android]

Very sad to see them like this ! It's their own land and they are totally isolated from the rest of the population :(...

[@xoxoops]

How is it they managed before civilization, .... the answer is easy, ..... no more handouts, (sit down money) and maybe they will go back to the bush and live happily ever after.

[@karenvecsei4217]

Diversity between Aboriginal Tribes.

[@Indigenous79]

No Son Diversity between Aboriginals and the British Australian.