The CDEP in town and country Arnhem Land: Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Abstract

This Discussion Paper presents the findings of research undertaken in 2000 on the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme administered by the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation (BAC). BAC is located in the township of Maningrida in central Arnhem Land, and the CDEP scheme has participants residing both in Maningrida township and at outstations in the hinterland. A feature of the research is the comparative focus on 'town' and 'country'. The primary aim of the research is to assess the net benefits generated by the operation of the scheme in these two contexts. Benefits are defined not only in terms of employment generation, but also more broadly to include social, cultural and other economic benefits. The discussion is couched in terms of current social policy debates that highlight the apparent negative impacts of welfare dependence and especially 'passive' welfare. This case study focuses on a situation where what could be termed 'active' welfare-CDEP scheme participation-has been an important option, and concludes that there is evidence of significant net benefit from the scheme in a range of areas. On balance, the positives of the scheme outweigh the negatives in the Maningrida regional context, but this does not indicate room for complacency: the workings of the scheme can be improved and some recommendations for change are made.