This website captures research that Leonore Hanssens has conducted over the past ten years into Indigenous suicide in the Northern Territory. Leonore has created the site in response to approaches by fellow researchers, students and other interested parties for information about her research and how to access it. More recently, she provided input to parliamentary discussions of the issues of youth suicide (NT Parliament, 2011) which brought the  need to share information to the forefront.

Leonore hopes the website can be a useful tool and resource for laypersons, students, academics and others and will contribute to the discussion on suicide in Australia and identify ways to alleviate the tragedy in our community.

Visit the site -http://www.promotelifent.com.au

As the year draws to a close here’s a snapshot of some key recent and coming events you might like to attend, track or read proceedings from…

1) The Australian Academy of Social Sciences – 2011 Annual Symposium was held on November 8 2011 in Canberra. Topic: Food Regimes and Food Security

Cunningham Lecture that can be downloaded: “Living with an unsustainable food system: can food democracy resolve the dilemmas?” Professor Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy, City University, London

Other speakers included: Food security in remote Indigenous communities, including community stores and their role in the health of remote Indigenous communities and the Mai Wiru program, South Australia

More information: see http://www.assa.edu.au/programs/forums/annual_symposiums/2011.php

2) Food security and biosecurity symposium was held at the University of Sydney on November 16, 2011

One day event at which agricultural professionals and leading experts addressed the interaction between food security and biosecurity on dealing with biosecurity risks in a way that minimises major impacts on our food security. This important one-day symposium Protecting our crops: the interaction between food security and biosecurity was organised by the NSW division of the Ag Institute Australia (AIA) in collaboration with the Farrer Trust, with support from the Australian Plant Pathology Society (APPS), NSW Department of Primary Industries, Grains Research and Development Corporation, and the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

More information see:  http://sydney.edu.au/news/agriculture/1272.html?newsstoryid=8120

3) Australasian Agri-Food Research Network Conference: Sustainabilities, Justice and Agriculture in the Asia- Pacific Region

5-8 December 2011, Australian National University, Canberra

The Australasian Agri-food Research Network is an open network of researchers interested in food, agriculture and the rural sector. Its aim is to provide a collaborative forum for researchers interested in food, agriculture and rural issues from across different areas of the social sciences. This years event includes a special theme session on ‘Negotiating a politics for indigenous agricultural food networks’ that is led by NZ academics and may include a paper from RIG Network.

More information:  http://www.afrn.org.au/2011/07/agri-food-2011/

4) 3rd Sustainable Phosphorous Summit, Sydney – 29 Feb – 2 Mar 2012

Launched in August 2011, this represents the first step in the long-term development of a one-stop web portal for primary industries resources for schools, teachers and the broader community. The first 50-60 resources currently on the site will be supplemented by additional resources and filtering mechanisms over the next 9-12 months.

The resources will also be searchable according to the Australian Curriculum once the curriculum has been ‘signed off’ by the Ministers for Education.

This booklet provides practical information for communities interested in growing their own fresh fruit and vegetables for better nutrition. It’s presented as an illustrated workbook and was co-produced with a video that demonstrates the techniques in the booklet. Its a great resource.

Produced as part of an educational package with support from ATSIC and the NHMRC. Murdoch University has kindly provided approval for the material to be used by RIG Network. Many thanks to Rachel, RIG, and Yvette from Josh Byrne & Associates!

You can download the Workbook by clicking on this link:

http://www.remoteindigenousgardens.net/wp-content/uploads/growing_food_for_healthy_communities.pdf

Food – and local value adding – is one of the Network’s target sectors. To learn more or join the network, visit:

Desert Knowledge Australia Local Produce Network http://www.desertknowledge.com.au/dka/index.cfm?attributes.fuseaction=bn_bush

For general information about the Outback Business Network, and contact details for the regional network officer closest to you, visit Outback Business Network at the Desert Knowledge Centre website (www.desertknowledge.com.au/).

RIG Network will join the next tele-linkup meeting of the Local Produce Network that look set to be held in early 2010.

The Aboriginal Landcare Education Program (ALEP) is developing the Green Cadets – Grinwan Geing learning guides. They are for Certificate 2 level units in the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management training package, and are great resources for anyone working to develop food gardens in northern and central Australia.

www.greeningaustralia.org.au/index.php?nodeId=156

Recognise Plants (2009) Greening Australia (NT) Ltd

Install Micro-irrigation Systems (2009) Greening Australia (NT) Ltd

Plant Trees and Shrubs (2009) Greening Australia (NT) Ltd

(see references to these guides and other great resources for top end gardens in the Useful Resources section – list of books and links).

http://www.arts.gov.au/indigenous/ICS

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is currently seeking applications for its Indigenous Culture Support program.

About the Indigenous Culture Support Program

Indigenous culture is a dynamic part of Australian culture and identity. The Indigenous Culture Support (ICS) program supports the maintenance and continued development of Indigenous culture at the community level.

ICS funds activities that encourage culturally vibrant Indigenous communities and contribute to the cultural wellbeing of Indigenous individuals and communities.

The program supports activities that:

• maintain Indigenous culture through community involvement;
• support new forms of Indigenous cultural expression;
• increase public awareness of Indigenous culture, including through the presentation and exchange of culture; and
• support the sustainable development of community organisations involved in cultural activities.

ICS Program Guidelines

According to their website “All Australian Farmers, Land managers, any sort of primary producer and also indigenous land managers can all do this course for FREE through the FarmReady scheme. There’s even an additional subsidy for travel and accomodation”. If you are interested, check out further details on the link below:

http://milkwoodpermaculture.com.au/courses/upcoming-courses/details/11-alice-autumn-pdc?gclid=CPLx8prl9Z0CFR5HagodbDMbqA