Aboriginal poet and playwright Jack Davis has turned his talent to helping promote better family relationships in the Aboriginal community.
Mr Davis - the author of plays such as 'The Dreamers', 'No Sugar' and `Burungin' - has written the script for a unique new television promotion.
The promotion, to be aired from tonight, is one of the first specifically targeted at the Aboriginal community, produced for mainstream television.
Family and Community Development Minister Eric Ripper said today it was part of the Government's 'Grow Together' campaign.
The campaign promoted the value of children to society and provided information, practical help and support to families, to encourage more effective parenting. It sought to help resolve family problems early in a child's development, before he/she developed into crisis situations which could involve truancy, family breakdown, youth homelessness or drug abuse.
Mr Ripper today launched the new 'Grow Together' promotion - plus brochures and posters specifically for Aboriginal families - at the Black Swan Theatre in St George's Terrace, Perth.
Black Swan Theatre Artistic Director, Andrew Ross, is co-director of the television promotion. Mr Ross is currently directing the play 'Sister Girl' by Sally Morgan.
The campaign includes phone numbers for the Parent Information and Referral Services (PIRS) at the Parent Help Centre in Mount Lawley (272 1466 or 008 807 648 for country callers) and an Aboriginal parent helper is on staff. The posters and brochures are being distributed widely, and to agencies which offered services to the Aboriginal community.
The Minister said the Aboriginal Advisory Committee had a central role in developing the campaign, which was in line with the Government's Social Advantage philosophy to provide early, practical help to families, parents and children.
"The first stage of the 'Grow Together' campaign has proved very successful, with, for example, 40,000 copies of the brochure 'Enjoying your Children' already distributed throughout the community," the Minister said.
"The campaign stems from recommendations from a range of independent research groups, involved in exhaustive public consultation."
