There were two most noticeable changes in administration in 02/03. First was to do with financial management. Belyuen Council had completed a full year (01/02) working with Nair Watkins as the accountants. During this period a lot work was done in sorting the finances out and operating with workable budgets. 02/03 saw the benefits of this work as a good working relationship had been developed with Nair Watkins and Council which enabled the financial management to operate smoothly which consequently took a lot of pressure off Administration staff and Council. The second noticeable change was the fact that Council no longer ran the Health Centre. The Health centre had been returned to the Department of Health and Community Services at the end of March 2002. This took a huge pressure off Administration staff and Council. Council developed a good working relationship with the Department’s Nurse and two Health Workers who were employed in the Health Centre.

Addressing the financial management and problems with the Health Centre had consumed a lot of time and energy (stress) during 00/01 and 01/02. As stated above 02/03 saw the benefits of this work enabling Council and staff to start addressing other needs in the community which formed the basis for a Business Plan that Council is still developing.

July 02 there was two full time and one part time persons employed by Council in Administration. There was also three CDEP workers who assisted with cleaning, CDEP paperwork such as timesheets and assisting with Centrelink work. In October ‘02 the part time position was made redundant due to financial restraints.

Centrelink expanded their services to the community with fortnightly visits. These visits have been particularly helpful not just to staff but for community people. Centrelink recipients have been able to have regular contact with Centrelink staff which has helped to keep their benefits/entitlements up to date. It has also meant that community people do not have to go into Centrelink office in Darwin. There are still some problems with the Centrelink Call Phone and with faxing in Centrelink forms however the problems are not as great as in the past and having a direct contact in Centrelink through the staff member who visits regularly problems can be sorted out much quicker. It is likely that in 03/04 Belyuen Council will become a paid Centrelink Agent. This will be of great benefit to Community people, will help Office staff who are doing Centrelink work and will provide a part time job for a community person.

During 02/03 a number of Grant Applications were applied for through the Council Office.

The successful applications were:

NT Library and Information Service: funding to purchase a tape recorder, digital (still) camera and digital video camera to compliment the digital archive system which had been purchased the previous year. During the year further material from archives in NSW and ACT had been added to the collection already on the system.

The cameras have meant that activities in the community can be recorded and put onto the system as a means of maintaining the system as a record of community events.

ATSIS: A number of applications were forwarded to ATSIS and two were approved. An Animal Control Program and purchase of tractor and slasher.

TRY 111: This program is for youth aged 14 – 18 years and is funded through DEET. Belyuen had in the previous year run TRY11 and this had proven to be very successful with the Youth. The program is to teach music skills and training has been delivered through Stringy Bark and Skinny Fish training providers. The program runs in the afternoon and evenings as one of the aims was to provide constructive activities for 14 – 18 year olds in the community.

NT Youth Affairs Youth Week: This program was a compliment to the TRY 111 and provided funding to send the youth to spend a week working with Narbalek Band at Manmoyi.

Training which had been organized through Council and approved through DEET in 01/02 commenced in 02/03. Training was for CDEP workers, Council staff and community people and covered areas such as small engine maintenance, computer, tie dyeing, driver education (c and medium rigid). Training was all delivered in the community.

Now that Council has outlined their Business Plan, Administration staff will continue to work closely with the Council and community to develop the Plan into a report format. A number of areas are already being worked on such as training. Negotiations have been taking place with Charles Darwin University to deliver a number of training programs in the community for 04. These programs include resource Management, Agriculture, Horticulture, Children’s Services. All areas identified in the Business Plan. At this stage there are some fifty community people enrolled in training for 04 the majority of which will be delivered in the community.

Meetings have been taking place with community people, Council, staff, and NT Police for the establishment of Night Patrol at Belyuen. A framework now exists for Council and the community to work through to develop the Night Patrol.

Meetings have also been organized with ATSIS and the Department of Work Place Relations to engage consultants to develop business plans in a number of areas that Council have identified they would like to set up enterprises within the community.

These are: establishing the workshop as a business, setting up a nursery, establishing a social club, community transport (mini bus), hostel type accommodation, art/craft museum centre.

The outline of the Business Plan has been included in the Annual Report because the Plan is not yet finished. It identifies what areas Council and staff have been working on and what directions Council are taking in the community.