In announcing 'A new approach for determining eligibility from 1 July 2016' the Tasmanian Government earlier this year stated that it
has changed its approach for determining eligibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services to be more consistent with the Australian Government’s approach.
Like the Australian Government, the Tasmanian Government uses a three part test to determine eligibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services.
The three part test requires a person to:
- have Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ancestry, and
- self-identify as an Aboriginal person and/or Torres Strait Islander, and
- be recognised as an Aboriginal person and/or Torres Strait Islander by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which they live or have lived.
Under the state's changed approach to determining eligibility:
- Tasmanian Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services which only require self-identification will continue to only require self-identification.
- Other Tasmanian Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services will require applicants to complete an eligibility form. The form includes a statutory declaration that the applicant meets the three part test and a statement of communal recognition from an Aboriginal organisation.
The announcement noted that
Communal recognition statements can be signed by an Aboriginal organisation incorporated under the Commonwealth Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 or from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association, Flinders Island Aboriginal Association or Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association.
People found to be eligible under the previous Tasmanian Government Policy on Eligibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific programs and services are not required to complete the eligibility form to access Tasmanian Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services.
Eligibility to participate in the use and management of Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 will be considered at a later stage as part of a broader review of the land return model.
