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What are Night Patrols?
Night Patrols arose from the Aboriginal community and exist in that uneasy space between the Aboriginal domain and the whitefella domain. The social engineering performed by Night Patrols is still at its most effective when based in the Aboriginal domain of family roles and relationships, with whitefella sanctions such as Police and courts used as a negotiating tool. However, the resources required by Night Patrols come from the whitefella domain, giving Night Patrols a more formal role and profile, but also extending the reach of the whitefella domain into Night Patrol agendas through accountability requirements for funding and resources.
Aboriginal cultural imperatives are very different to those assumed and imposed by whitefella organisations. What this means in practice is that Night Patrols' actions are sometimes in conflict with whitefella laws, and that Night Patrols are locked out of supportive relationships with whitefella agencies. RANP is a project that offers the NPs support.
The Tangentyere Remote Area Night Patrol (RANP)
RANP is a Territory Health Department funded project that works with the remote communities in the southern half of the Northern Territory (approximately 20 communities) to help Aboriginal people in the region to address issues of substance misuse and violence. The RANP service is unique in Australia. There is no other agency that provides regional systematic support for Night Patrols. RANP helps write submissions for funding, and networks and provides training and ongoing contact. Click here for details of the resources available.
Tangentyere Council also run the urban Night and Day Patrol
service in Alice Springs. Robert Hoosan, the coordinator of the Tangentyere
Night Patrol can be contacted via the Tangentyere Home Page.