Substantive Equality in practice
If you want to treat me equally, you may have to be prepared to treat me differently.
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*Government & NGO's work together on community consultation 24 November, 2011
*Commission hosts African Australian roundtable discussion 23 September, 2011
*Substantive Equality: five years on 26 September, 2011
*Aboriginal Workers and Community Organisations Forum
25 February, 2010
On the 25th February 2010 the SEU held its first of a series of forums aimed at informing the public sector and the community of what has taken place in terms of substantive equality within some government departments.
Approximately 50 people attended the forum from a cross section of agencies both government and non-government to hear what the Departments of Housing, Indigenous Affairs and WA Police have done in conjunction with the SEU.
The event enabled SEU staff and others understand what was and was not working in terms of policy changes designed to ensure better service provision and outcomes for Aboriginal and ethnic minority groups.
*Commissioner visits the Kimberley
13 September, 2011
Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Yvonne Henderson met with Aboriginal communities across the Kimberleys to report on the substantive equality project.
*Aboriginal Community Forum Langford and Surrounding Areas
24 March, 2010
The Substantive Equality Unit (SEU) held its first Indigenous Community Forum on the 24th March 2010 to determine the experiences of Indigenous community members in the Langford area when dealing with government departments.
The main aim was to determine if the changes made by the Department of Housing, Department of Indigenous Affairs and the WA Police in some of their areas of service provision had benefited those accessing the services. Approximately 20 people attended the event including local Elders and First Nations People representative Associate Professor Ted Wilkes, EOC Commissioner Yvonne Henderson, and the SEU. Attendees heard how the SEU is assisting government departments to address systemic racism in their policies and the importance of the information gained at community forums in further reducing systemic racism in the public sector.
The Forum was a great success and the SEU gained a better understanding of the experiences of community members. By providing tangible evidence of change to policy as well as a relaxed atmosphere in a safe space and a sausage sizzle those attending communicated openly and honestly. As stated by Commissioner Yvonne Henderson, “In the past, indigenous communities have suffered consultation fatigue, however presenting them with the planned reports as the departments did at Langford seemed to give both parties a better platform for discussion and progress,” she said.