Government Services for Indigenous Australians

Australian Government

• Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
  FaHCSIA is the Australian Government's lead coordination agency in Indigenous Affairs and also has a range of programs to assist Indigenous people. The Department facilitates a whole of government approach and collaborates with other agencies in developing national Indigenous policy. See this site for a listing of Indigenous Coordination Centres.
  
  
• Australian Human Rights Commission - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commission
  The Commission's role includes reviewing the impact of laws and policies on Indigenous peoples, reporting on Indigenous social justice and native title issues and promoting an Indigenous perspective on issues. In addition, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner ensures human rights for Indigenous Australians.
  
  
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
  AIATSIS is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory authority devoted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. It is Australia's premier institution for information about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  
  
• The Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages (FATSIL)
  National body for community based Indigenous language programs in Australia. The organisation was established in 1991 in response to the Australian Language and Literacy Policy, to promote the maintenance, retrieval and revival of Indigenous languages, through the support of community based language programs.  Provides a link to the online Aboriginal Languages of Australia Library.
  
  
• National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT)
  The National Native Title Tribunal assists people to resolve native title issues over land and waters. Set up under the Native Title Act, the Tribunal is a federal government agency and is part of the Attorney-General's portfolio. For more information about Australian Government Indigenous programs and services see their Indigenous Portal.
  

Government of Western Australian

• Department of Indigenous Affairs - DIA
  DIA engages with Indigenous people and all levels of Government to improve service delivery and facilitates the development of policy and programs which deliver sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to Indigenous communities. The site provides contacts for their six regional offices and background information about Indigenous communities. Services and programs they support include Redress WA, Reconciliation Action Plans and the Finding Your Mob family history program. They also publish Tarwangin, a regular newsletter to provide the latest news and information on issues affecting the State's Indigenous communities.
  
  
• Department of Health
  The State Government has a strong interest in the health of Aboriginal people and supports that interest with a wide range of services.  In addition to the wide range of health care services provided, the State also funds various high priority projects that are aimed at improving the health of Aboriginal families, disease prevention in Aboriginal people, environmental health in Aboriginal communities, nutrition and substance abuse.
  
  
• Department of Education and Training - Aboriginal Education and Training Directorate
  The focus of the Directorate is to accelerate the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students, as well as to provide support to education providers and Aboriginal people in their leadership and community involvement in Aboriginal education and training. The Directorate operates across the government schooling sector, TAFEWA and the independent training area in Western Australia. The site includes links to the Aboriginal Perspectives Across the Curriculum and other focused educational programs. For more information about WA government agency programs and services for Indigenous people please search the government directory at wa.gov.au.
  
  
• Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
  A rich web resource that acts as a 'one-stop info-shop' for access to policy, programs, reports and services provided by a range of Government and Non-Government service providers and people interested in improving the health of Indigenous Australians. The site provide quality, up-to-date knowledge and information about many aspects of Indigenous health and supports 'yarning places' (electronic networks) that encourage information-sharing and collaboration among people working in health and related sectors. Supported by Edith Cowan Universities Kurongkurl Katitjin, the School of Indigenous Australian Studies.