Korin Korin Balit-Djak emerges at a significant time for both Aboriginal communities in Victoria and the government. It follows the government’s commitment to self-determination for Aboriginal Victorians.
The department commissioned work that has informed both Korin Korin Balit-Djak and the discussion about Aboriginal self-determination across all areas of the Victorian Government and community. This research and discussion has underpinned a new policy platform for Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety.
Korin Korin Balit-Djak is informed by an extensive consultation process with Aboriginal communities across Victoria, and a strong evidence base, including Koolin Balit evaluation findings (Victorian Government 2012). The plan details how the department will work with Aboriginal communities, community organisations, other government departments and mainstream service providers – now and into the future – to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal people in Victoria.
Korin Korin Balit-Djak covers 5 domains:
- Aboriginal community leadership
- prioritising Aboriginal culture and community
- system reform across the health and human services sector
- safe, secure, strong families and individuals
- physically, socially and emotionally healthy Aboriginal communities.
Korin Korin Balit-Djak will be reviewed and updated every 3 years.
Korin Korin Balit-Djak is guided by the government’s vision to achieve optimum health, wellbeing and safety for all Victorians so they can live the life they value. It aligns with the department’s strategic directions and aspires to address, and ultimately eliminate, systemic racism within the Victorian health and human service sectors.
Victorian Aboriginal artist Dixon Patten was commissioned by the department to produce the artwork titled Korin Korin Balit-Djak. In this video, he explains how his artwork depicts the way the department will work with Aboriginal communities to ensure the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
Find more information on the Aboriginal self-determination website
Aboriginal self-determination
This series of videos show extracts of 2 seminars presented in late 2016, where Aboriginal leaders provide an overview of the rights to Aboriginal self-determination, what it means to Victorian Aboriginal communities and how self-determining policies and programs will lead to improved health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians.
Associate Professor Gregory Phillips on Aboriginal self-determination for Korin Korin Balit-Djak
The department invited research fellow Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and academic Associate Professor Gregory Phillips to introduce and contextualise Aboriginal self-determination for Korin Korin Balit-Djak Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety strategic plan 2017–2027.
What is meant by Aboriginal self-determination?
Aboriginal self-determination means many things to many people. In this video, three of Victoria’s most respected Aboriginal leaders discuss the concept as a conceptual framework, an ultimate goal, a process and the implications for policy and practices aimed at improving health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians.
Community leadership - A key to Aboriginal self-determination
Every community needs good leaders with vision, power and influence. This video shows that, for Victorian Aboriginal communities, more needs to be done to develop and support Aboriginal community leaders, and to trust them to lead decisions around the health, wellbeing and safety needs of their communities.
Community leadership - A key to Aboriginal self-determination - Video transcript (Word)
Safe, secure, strong families and communities through Aboriginal self-determination
This video captures the importance of including local Aboriginal voices in the development of policies and practices to ensure Aboriginal communities, and particularly children and families, are safe, secure and strong in culture.
Community participation and Aboriginal self-determination
In this video, Professor Larissa Behrendt discusses the practical application of Aboriginal self-determination by highlighting the need to involve Aboriginal communities in the development and implementation of policies and programs aimed at improving Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety outcomes