Civil Celebrations Network Inc
PO Box 3113, Robertson NSW 2577
Convenor:  Rona Goold  BSc (GenSc) DipEd. CMC
Phone:  02 4885 2393  

Email:    This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web:    www.civilcelebrationsnetwork.org                                  

15^th February 2010

Health Reform Taskforce
MDP 155 GPO Box 9848
WODEN ACT 2601

Dear Taskforce Members

Please find attached a Summary of our Submission which aims to ‘embed prevention’ .. ‘into every aspect of’ ..  our lives’.

Our proposition is that the 18^th Birthday is the new Coming of Age rite of passage that

·       needs strengthening as a family and friendship based event as young Australians entering adulthood take on the full range of rights and responsibilities of citizenship, not just the right to drink and drive,

·       can increase awareness of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship of the peer group and family support system of the young adult, 

·       can provide parents and others with a much clearer boundary between  adolescence and adulthood, to reduce early use of alcohol by teenagers.

Civil ceremonies are evolving as a uniquely Australian way of celebrating important personal and family events in an increasingly secular society.  Civil celebrants perform an valuable function in our multi-cultural society in providing inclusive ceremonies that are beneficial, not only for those that hire their services, but for the extended family and friends and other guests.

We consider the appointment of Citizenship Celebrants would be a relatively economical and effective health prevention strategy for the Government to implement as it would utilize existing resources and be partly self-funded.

In 2009, the Coalition of Celebrant Associations, a national peak body of 14 celebrant associations set up as a consultative body at the request of the Attorney General, supported these two motions:

·       Exploring strategies for broadening the role of civil marriage celebrants to meet related objectives under the Federal Attorney-General's sphere of responsibility.

·       The development of community based "adult Australian Citizenship" ceremonies for all young people turning 18 years of age.

Please contact us for more information, as above.

Yours sincerely

Rona Goold
Convenor CCN Inc

CCN Inc Submission:  National Preventative Health Strategy

Changing Community Attitudes to Promote Healthy Options for Celebration

Goals:

·      Changing community attitudes by promoting a climate of celebration, where the consumption of alcohol, other drugs and other substances such as foods with high fat, salt and refined sugars, are not the main focus of the celebration, ie, “have ceremonies in your celebrations” or “party with a purpose”.

·      Promoting a concept that healthy growth to maturity through various life stages involves the development of qualities of civility (courtesy/ respect), compassion, creativity, cooperation and justice (“a fair go”).

·      Minimizing early consumption of alcohol and other drugs and associated harm by marking 'coming of age' with formal, personalized, family or group Citizenship Ceremonies for all 18 years olds on Australian Citizenship Day (17 September), delivered by suitably trained and appointed celebrants as a community development/ community education strategy.

·      Raising awareness of all the rights, not just drinking or driving rights, and responsibilities that come with adulthood and active citizenship in an advanced democracy, including an associated process for Citizenship Celebrants to register those 18 years to vote.

Theme:

·      Keep Safe - Celebrate with Ceremony

Sub-themes:

·      Celebrate:

o      Civility (being civilized, ie, cooperation, compassion, care, courtesy, chivalry)

o      Creativity (to celebrate and encourage different talents and interests)

o      Companionship (partnerships, family and friendships groups)

o      Citizenship (valuing justice –“a fair go”, free speech, diversity and community)

Strategy:

·      The development of a family based Citizenship Celebrant Program under the Attorney-General’s jurisdiction, similar to and coordinated with the Marriage Celebrant Program, with support funding by the Department of Health.

Components:

1.  The distribution of a Citizenship Pack for all eighteen year olds including:

·      a Certificate of Citizenship with Australian Crest

·      a Voting Information Pack with Electoral Roll application

·      a Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities Kit

2.    The expansion of the annual Australian Citizenship Day to a citizenship day for all Australians turning 18 in that calendar year.  The day, 17^th September, would be suitable to avoid exam times and maximize participation.

·      This proposal does not intend to replace the existing Citizenship ceremonies for those not already Australian citizens. However it would allow all overseas born young Australian citizens to participate in such ceremonies when they reach 18 years.

·      Australia Day has a lot of existing programs and the Citizenship ceremonies for new overseas born citizens, which could build upon the Australia Citizenship Day, but not compete with this proposal.

·      17^th September celebrates the fact that Australian citizenship was first introduced in 1949 with the enactment of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948.  See: http://www.citizenship.gov.au/events/citizenship_day/.

·      The concept of family based Citizenship Ceremonies for young adults combines “affirmation” ceremonies under the one unifying title of Citizenship ceremonies for all Australians turning 18 whether Australian or overseas born – to be organized by civil celebrants.  Until recently the emphasis has been on affirmation ceremonies for Australian born people with little publicity or recognition.

2.  The role of federally appointed Citizenship Celebrants would be to apply for and distribute the Citizenship Pack – free to 18 year olds - with a set fee to the celebrant to be paid by Government.

·      This would involve utilizing civil celebrants as a community development/education strategy to bring about a cultural change in the way celebrations are conducted in Australia - through personalized, significant family and/or local group based ceremonies.  Such ceremonies have evolved in Australia since the introduction of the Civil Marriage Celebrant Program by the Federal Government in 1973.

·      Currently there are approximately 8,000 federally appointed civil marriage celebrants providing marriage services to the Australian community.  Approximately 70% of celebrants are mature people, with backgrounds in teaching, adult education, heath services, welfare services or other community services.

·      A Citizenship Pack could use the same system (Canprint) as the current marriage certificate and forms distribution.

·      Ceremonies, involving more people than the celebrant and the applicant, could be provided on an extra fee for service basis paid by the applicant’s family or other such group and delivered preferably as personal family ceremonies, thus involving different generations, or group ceremonies involving a number of different family or other groups.

Download full Submission on pdf