Category: Story

Kutjungka: Community Navigators

Posted on by Olabud Doogethu

The Kutjungka ('as one') project will support the remote desert communities of Mulan, Wirrimanu (Balgo), Mindibungu (Billiuna) and Kundat Djaru (Ringer Soak) to improve access to services in each community through local Community Navigators.

Community leaders from Mulan, Wirrimanu (Balgo), Mindibungu (Billiuna), Kundat Djaru (Ringer Soak) and the Tjurabalan Native Title Land Aboriginal Corporation joined Olabud Doogethu in Halls Creek on 28-29 April 2021 to discuss the Kutjungka (‘as one’) project.

The two-day meeting was an opportunity for the community leaders to identify a governance committee that will help steer the future of the Kutjungka project, to identify the key priorities in each community, as well as the shared key priorities at a broader strategic level.

Mulan, Wirrimanu (Balgo), Mindibungu (Billiuna) and Kundat Djaru (Ringer Soak) identified similar issues in terms of what they would like the Community Navigators to focus on – from short-term to long-term priorities. This included key priority areas such as housing, health, and local community infrastructure.

The Community Navigators will work on the local level within their own communities, while the governance committee will advocate and lobby for issues that are shared among the communities.

‘When you work together, you learn from each other,’ said one of the community leaders at the meeting in Halls Creek.

The development of Kutjungka project is led by the local community leaders of Mulan, Wirrimanu (Balgo), Mindibungu (Billiuna) and Kundat Djaru (Ringer Soak) . Kutjungka is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and is supported by Olabud Doogethu and the Shire of Halls Creek.

Professor Harry Blagg: Community Justice

Posted on by Olabud Doogethu

Professor Harry Blagg from the University of Western Australia visited Halls Creek to learn from the community about how the justice system can change to better serve the community and its people.

‘I was blown away by the warmth of the welcome I received on Jaru and Kija country. It was an unforgettable trip, seeing the massive levels of commitment by Aboriginal people to making their community a safe place to live in for everyone. Local people are making a major difference to their quality of life,’ said Professor Blagg.

Professor Blagg travelled to Halls Creek on 20-23 April 2021 to meet with Olabud Doogethu and the community to talk about the justice system, their challenges, and what can be changed to support their community.

‘Early indications suggest that Aboriginal people want a system based on genuine partnership between Aboriginal law and white law,’ said Professor Blagg.

‘Local people I met with want to see a greater role for Aboriginal Law and Culture, rather than just Gardya law. For example, having Elders sit with magistrates in the court. People commented that the new court in Halls Creek was an example of colonial thinking, there are no toilet facilities for people waiting outside and the area has little shade,’ said Professor Blagg.

While Professor Blagg’s research is still in its early stages, there are a key number of themes that have emerged from his discussions with community so far. This included Olabud Doogethu and other organisations meeting regularly with police, justice and courts to develop local strategies to keep kids on country, keeping families strong and involving Elders as co-educators to help support the learning of children.

Mibala: Learning On Country

Posted on by Olabud Doogethu

The first of its kind in Australia, the Certificate II in Mibala ('Us Together' in Kriol) Learning Country is a nationally accredited course that provides an alternative education pathway.

The purpose of the course, developed by Olabud Doogethu is to develop children’s sense of identity and connection to culture, while re-engaging them in schooling.

‘[Through Mibala], we want to help empower the children to become the next generation of leaders… and to help find their voice through their sense of identity and through a stronger connection to culture’ said Arron Little, On Track Coordinator.

On 12-15 April 2021, Olabud Doogethu leaders, including Arron, completed formal training to develop their skills to teach children on country.

‘We learnt how to create lesson plans, learnt how to break skills down for children, and the different ways of teaching.’ said Arron.

The first of its kind in Australia, the nationally accredited – Certificate II in Mibala Learning Country – is led by Olabud Doogethu in partnership with the Shire of Halls Creek.

Through its accredited status, this course will be soon be able to be adapted and implemented in any language and Country in Australia. Olabud Doogethu will work closely with the schools to

identify the children that need the additional support and what they can do to help.

‘We’ll correspond with the schools… [children] being in the right headspace and a lack of attendance at school are some of the key issues faced by teachers working in Halls Creek,’ said Arron.

A team of men and women in Olabud Doogethu will ensure that Mibala can work effectively to identify the children falling through the cracks and provide that support that isn’t available through mainstream education. ‘People drop off school… due to whatever circumstances…. it can be hard for kids to get back into it,’ said Arron.

Mibala will bring children out on Country to pass down traditional Aboriginal knowledge to them while helping children develop a strong sense of identity and connection to their culture.

The teaching units that are included in the Cert II in Mibala Learning Country involve students learning about local community leaders, exploring their own family history, learning how to use digital devices and more.

For more information on the Certificate II Mibala Learning Country, click here.

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