ANTaR considers that Australian Governments have a responsibility to intervene to protect their citizens in danger from violence and abuse. This is particularly the case in relation to Aboriginal children, who have been found by numerous reports to have a greater risk of being abused than non-Aboriginal children.

ANTaR has worked extensively to support Aboriginal people who are overcoming violence and child abuse. This has included:

• Assisting Redfern Aboriginal leaders, Dixie Gordon and Rob Welsh to establish and promote the award winning Blackout Violence program;
• Organising a forum in Parliament House, Canberra bringing Aboriginal leaders who have successfully tackled abuse and violence together with politicians and public servants to discuss strategies to overcome these problems;
• Campaigning to urge the NSW Government to properly fund its response to the abuse of Aboriginal children in that state; and
• Publishing a Success Stories in Indigenous Health booklet that profiles a number of successful programs that are tackling child abuse and its effects.

Take action

Help stop the abuse of Aboriginal children in New South Wales

The New South Wales Government recently refused to fund a major new program to tackle child abuse in Aboriginal communities. The program was developed in response to Breaking the Silence, a 300 page report on child abuse in Aboriginal communities commissioned by the Attorney General and written by a task force headed by Aboriginal leader, Marcia Ella-Duncan.

The report found that child abuse in Aboriginal communities had reached "epidemic proportions", with child sexual assault up to four times the rate of the general population.

The Government response makes sense, but the plans need to be funded. The NSW Government has refused to provide the funds because these are Aboriginal children at risk and so they don't think that enough voters will care. Help us prove them wrong - take action today!

Recent key reports

Report: Social Justice Report 2007

The Social Justice Report 2007 by HREOC. This report focusses on Indigenous communities dealing with family violence and abuse and the Northern Territory intervention.

Report: Breaking the Silence

Breaking the Silence is a 300 page report on child abuse in Aboriginal communities commissioned by the Attorney General and written by a task force headed by Aboriginal leader, Marcia Ella-Duncan. 2006

Report: ABS snapshot

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a snapshot, 2006 - Australian Bureau of Statistics. Part of this report covers exposure to violence.

Report: National Action Plan for Indigenous Community Responses to Child Abuse

This is SNAICC's National Action Plan for Indigenous Community Responses to Child Abuse, May 2006.

All things considered — a range of opinions

To give you a complete picture about eliminating violence and abuse in Aboriginal communities, here's a range of perspectives. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of ANTaR, but we think they should be considered and thoughtfully debated.

• It's time for a state intervention - Gary Highland, 16 September 2008
• Women offered apology for 'pain' - The Age, 4 July 2008
• A plan to end the callous neglect of our most vulnerable children - Gary Highland, 25 June 2008
• Former Federal Labor ministerial adviser confirms RMS NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY - NSW Liberals Media Release, 25 June 2008
• Iemma Govt can't fix Aboriginal child sex abuse - NSW Nationals Media Release, 19 June 2008
• Too inept to save children - Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 2008
• Bad dreaming, cloudy thinking - David Cooper, 10 April 2007
• Not just a black problem - Jo Chandler, 16 March 2007
• Culture of denial - Louis Nowra, 6 March 2007
• National Indigenous Violence & Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force - Australian Crime Commission, 14 July 2006
• Aboriginal Cultural Violence or Violence of Aboriginal Culture - Lester-Irabinna Rigney
• Rights of indigenous women and children must come first - Larissa Behrendt, The Age, 26 May 2006
• Indigenous Politics: Clueless White Males - Eve Vincent & Clare Land, New Matilda, 21 May 2006
• The many faces of violence against and in Aboriginal communities must be addressed - Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association, 19 May 2006

What can we do to overcome violence and abuse?

We encourage considered, respectful and where necessary provocative debate. Please feel welcome to have your say, and in turn allow others to have their say without responding in anger or distrust.

ANTaR reserves the right to delete any comment that contains offensive, defamatory or discriminatory content. If you feel any of these comments are of this nature, please let us know.