Fitzroy Crosing Students Paving Their Own Way in Early Childhood

What changed and how

The Issue or Desire
  • It was identified at Learning Circle 2 held in Fitzroy Crossing that communities in the Fitzroy Valley required Child Care Qualifications to be able to develop and operate their own child care services.
  • Students asked where they could obtain funding to buy hand washing and cleaning materials to use at play group.
  • TAFE students asked for the seeds from the paw paws the TAFE lecturer had bought over from Broome for morning tea. There are only a few fruit trees in Fitzroy Crossing. The students wanted to grow the seeds at home.

Actions Taken

Child Care Qualification

Discussion amongst Fitzroy women and a TAFE lecturer during a learning circle at Fitzroy in March 2007 culminated in some of the women indicating they would like to undertake child care training at Kimberley TAFE. Fortunately, the TAFE board was able to respond immediately and worked with the women to organise enrolment into Certificate III in Children’s Services. It was agreed that the TAFE delivery would take the form of one- week blocks once a month. It was of great benefit to the TAFE children’s services program to build student numbers in this way.


The lecturer who would deliver the training contacted the potential participants via telephone or road mail to confirm attendance and to provide dates for the first learning block. It was agreed that the lecturer would pick up the students from their communities and transport them to the learning area.

The learning area was provided by the Fitzroy Crossing Early Learning Centre which was closed for business at the time due to qualified staffing issues. This venue proved quite suitable as students often brought their children to class and a child- friendly environment was needed. This location was used for the first two blocks of study and assimilated an early childhood setting to facilitate practical experience. This proved useful due to the absence of model venues for practical placements in the area.

The students are currently able to demonstrate their learning at each block. On days that the children were absent, the students concentrated on looking at theory and working on written tasks. The women’s confidence in writing is currently growing.

The students have been exploring telling 'identity' stories in the Learning Circles. This important teaching and learning exercise has now been included in the Children’s Services course. The students are also enrolled in a short course called Introduction to Traditional Art. The course provides opportunities for creativity and for expressing cultural knowledge. The students utilize materials provided by TAFE to paint and write cultural stories for teaching children about identity, health and well-being.


The teaching faculty at TAFE has been in communication with the state-funded South Metropolitan Youth Link. This organisation delivers short children’s services courses in the Fitzroy Crossing area. It may be possible to credit some of the course with SMYL to the TAFE course so the women could complete the course quicker. It is envisaged that the course could take 2 years to complete.

Teaching Resources

The students and TAFE lecturer discussed the possibilities of teaching the children about growing food plants while at playgroup.

The TAFE lecturer asked the horticultural manager at TAFE (Broome campus) if the women at Bayulu Community could have some paw paw and banana plants to grow with the children at their own homes.

In class, the students developed a program for playgroup, which included:

  • Cultural stories from students painting
  • Miniature play
  • Water play
  • blocks
  • Hand washing
  • Supporting children to prepare morning tea (bread and spreads, paw paw and banana)
  • Discussion with children about fruit growing cycle
  • Students took plants home to plant with children in the garden

The students asked to get cleaning supplies so the children could wash their hands before eating at playgroup and at the SRA breakfast program.

During TAFE, the students considered how they could get the supplies needed to provide this learning for the children. Some suggestions:

  • Cultural Health
  • Children’s Services Officer (CSO), Department for Communities (The women were unaware of this department and the potential support available).

Marninwarntikurra Playgroup agreed to write an interim grant submission to Cultural Health in Fitzroy Crossing to get the hand washing, food preparation and cleaning supplies, as the students were keen to get started. The play group leaders said they would include all the communities they visit in the application.

The CSO suggested an Early Years activity grant.

Outcomes

Five blocks of studies have been delivered in Fitzroy Crossing. There is an increase in enrollment - from 8 to 12.

TAFE offers a flexible delivery and incorporate student needs. To be able to bring their children is one of those needs.

Increased student literacy as evidenced by the quality of the written assessments presented. There is also a marked improvement in the students' contribution to the classroom discussion as the relationship between students and lecturer becomes stronger and more trusting.

The valuing of their cultural knowledge is a key factor in the growth of students' confidence.

Students have produced a number of art pieces and stories, which they are keen to publish. TAFE will work with the learning circle team to achieve this objective.

The TAFE teaching staff are also working closely with the Marninwarntikura mobile playgroup coordinators and students to establish a playgroup at the Bayulu community. Both TAFE and the mobile play group focus on learning from the natural world which is consistent with Indigenous perspectives.

The students have planned the program for the first playgroup which includes routines for children which support the development of self- help skills and understanding their need to stay healthy. Students will support children in preparing morning tea. Students will also present puzzles, stories and paintings prepared during study blocks.

The TAFE lecturer recently used the learning circle bush meeting in July 2007 as an opportunity to further explore the students' learning journey. Working in this collaborative way means there is consistency between the content that is explored in the learning circle and the TAFE course.

TAFE also work with the Fitzroy Crossing Early Learning Centre staff since they have employed a coordinator. The service has admitted three TAFE students and provided traineeships for them.

One student from Junjuwa seems to be dropping out. There are issues involving alcohol affecting participation and also because she is the only student from her community. Bayulu and Wangkatjunka students have demonstrated competencies in 2 units during their practical placement at Fitzroy Valley Early Learning Centre and at playgroup in their respective communities.

Marninwarntikurra mobile playgroups have sent an application to Cultural Health for some supplies for communities to get started.

Wangkatjungka and Bayulu students (during TAFE classes) have written grant applications to Early Years to request funding for more specific equipment including a small fridge for Wangkatjungka. The application will provide supplies for at least 1 year.

Women included plastic adult sized chairs in their application for use of elders when they visit . Hose and fittings were also requested to enable access to water for hand washing. The Bayulu women requested a tap for the playgroup park area.

Bayulu women will use the equipment and knowledge in other SRA programs in the community, for example, breakfast program for school children and CDEP workers' lunch group as they have the same volunteers and share the same space.

In both Wankatjungka and Buyulu communities, there was much desire to get the plants I bought and the paw paw seeds which were intended for play group use.The TAFE students took the plants for children to plant. Many people in the community are enthusiastic about growing fruit trees.

The TAFE lecturer has spoken to horticulturists about the enthusiasm of community members to grow trees in their own gardens. The traditional way to support communities by the government has been to establish communal gardens, where a few people are responsible for the growing, nurturing and harvesting of produce. If those people responsible leave the community or for other reasons quit, then the whole community is seen to have failed.

It seems worth documenting people’s personal success in growing fruit in their own yards rather than having a large communal garden project fail time and again with every new government initiative.



The next steps
TAFE aims to continue to respond respectfully to community needs. Delivery of Certificate III in children’s services, and the development of playgroups in communities is a response to identified desires to create change.

Delivery will combine a mixture of classroom sessions and on the ground practical experience. Communities will have the added bonus of developing their own services from their own cultural perspective as well as gaining knowledge and qualifications from TAFE.

TAFE lecturers will continue to reflect on practices and ways to improve, using action research model. They will encourage services and students to learn in this way also.

TAFE have had success in the past when they have worked closely with services to maximise students' learning and to support the development of the child care service.

TAFE lecturer visited the student from Junjuwa. Student agreed to ask other women from the community to meet one afternoon when the TAFE lecturer was in town at the Murra Murra child care centre (not currently running). We hope to run a play group there and for the women to enrol in a shorter course (non accredited)

The Wangkatjunka and Bayulu communities are keen to improve their existing facilities or start an application to get their own premises. Air-conditioned premises are important and necessary for the extremely hot wet season (November –March).

Plan to speak to Karrayili about supporting another application through the Adult Literacy program. TAFE can ask CSO to visit Bayulu community to support application and explain requirements. The application will also require comprehensive consultation with the whole community, including children. The project coordinators could support the consultation process.

TAFE will continue to work in a holistic way to support the development of the community’s children’s services through cultural understandings and to contextualise TAFE certificate III in Children’s Services.

Continue dialogues with TAFE horticulturists about supporting smaller family gardens first before larger ones. Consult with communities about what they think might work best. Horticulturists at TAFE also propagate bush foods and are interested in investing in a project to grow and harvest these for industry within communities.

Continue gardening theme in TAFE and playgroup. TAFE could provide willing community members disposable cameras to document the process involved in growing fruit trees.


Tracking the change, tracking the learning
Who were the people involved?
- Kimberley TAFE-Broome
- Kimberley TAFE -Derby
- Bayulu women: Ann Yaloot, Lisa Smith, April Jones, Rebecca Smith, Marilyn Cook, Deanne Yaloot,
- Junjuwwa community: Kymica Oscar, June Oscar
- Fitzroy Valley Early Learning Centre: Belinda Collard, Michelle May
- Wangkajanka community: Olive Knight, Delaney Cox, Noelia Jack
- 8-Mile community: Robyn Shaw, Kallarney Munday
- Marninwarntikura Womens Resource centre: June Oscar, Shaha Bin Sulaiman, Lisa Capewell
- Child, carer & country project team
- Karrayili Adult Learning Centre

What needed to be challenged?


  • Students needed to be assured that the delivery of the training would be tailored to suit their needs and learning styles.
  • Finding suitable TAFE lecturer to support an increasing demand for delivery in the West Kimberley
  • Find a venue to learn in
  • Transport
  • Availability of accommodation for visiting lecturer during busy tourist season
  • TAFE wanted to keep the Junjuwa student engaged. Needing to find another way to support her

Updated: September-December 2007CSO had not developed a relationship with Bayulu Community. Bayulu Community women had never heard of a Children’s Services Officer. New CSO has also indicated Bayulu community is not on her list because they don’t have a registered child care service.

What made a difference?

  • The timing was right, even though many tragedies affected participation at times.
  • Commitment from participants.
  • Finding an extra lecturer to join the children's services team.
  • The learning circle bringing people together; relationships between TAFE lecturers and community women being established.
  • Fitzroy Crossing Early Learning Centre staff offering use of their centre.
  • Karrayili currently renting space for TAFE.
  • TAFE being able to provide transport to students.
  • TAFE lecturers' consistent contact with all students kept people motivated.

Updated: September-December 2007

The new CSO is willing to meet and support Bayulu Community and support the development of a service. She is willing to participate in the learning circles and to be a part of a more effective network.

Broome campus of TAFE has a horticultural section and was willing to support the initiative of the students by providing fruit trees for planting.

TAFE lecturer was willing to do extra work to get trees picked up and delivered to students in their respective communities and to respond to initiatives/requests to enable students to proceed as they want and as appropriate.

Reasons for delays
When TAFE was invited to Fitzroy Crossing to deliver training to 8-Mile community and Junjuwa community completion was unsuccessful because:

After the lecturer commenced the orientation process in 2006, she was notified by the coordinator of Junjuwa community that there had been a number of deaths/suicides and that it was not a good time to undertake study.

8-Mile community later cancelled their training saying that SMYL had come to the community and offered free training. The Coordinator also said that the Children’s Services Officer from the then Department for Community Development had told the students that they were "not smart enough" to do the TAFE course. The 8-Mile community also told this story to the CCC project and was very displeased because no one from SMYL showed up to deliver the training.

Updated: September-December 2007

Work loads delayed the application written by Marninwarntikura to Cultural Health for cleaning materials.

The CSO officer also was delayed in delivering the application to the TAFE lecturer as she was often travelling away in her job.

TAFE lecturer supported students from Wangkatjunka and Bayulu Communities to write an application for hygiene products as well as chairs to encourage elders to stay and participate.

What did we in the CCC project do?


The project facilitated learning circles, which fostered a safe and comfortable environment where people's aspirations could be identified and responded to

Ongoing support through teleconferencing and learning circles.

Professional development

TAFE lecturer Quote (Liz Thomas):

The Learning Circles have provided valuable opportunities for women from Derby, Broome, Baylu, Eight mile, Junuwa and Fitzroy to come together and discuss their goals and aspirations for their communities with various local agencies and TAFE WA, Broome campus. From a TAFE point of view the learning circle has proved to be an excellent opportunity to build relationships and ascertain the training needs of the some of the women in these Communities.

It has been very useful for TAFE lecturers to participate in the Learning Circles. Lecturers have been very inspired by the process Melbourne University used to work with the women during the learning circles. The learning journey has centred on the importance of language and building identity through the process of story telling. The project has invited the use of traditional painting and drawing to encourage the women to express their stories, culture and their knowledge. Following these learning circles the TAFE lecturer has provided similar opportunities for the women to relate their stories during the TAFE sessions on children’s health and well being.

This action research project is an important opportunity for TAFE lecturers to document their work with Indigenous students and critically reflect on their practice and theory with lecturers from Melbourne University. Given the deeply complex challenges faced by Communities in the Western Kimberley. TAFE lecturers have benefited from being able to discuss these complex issues and challenges with such experienced and insightful educators.

Updated: September-December 2007

Ongoing telephone link up and the project supported TAFE lecturers to attend CEIEC annual conference and also present paper on work in Fitzroy Crossing.

CEIEC worked closely with TAFE and have provided a video camera to document change in the communities. The project also provides journal articles, resources and communication support as required.

Timeline of events

May 2006

Initial contact with Fitzroy Crossing Communities for orientation to course.

March 2007
Learning circle in Fitzroy Crossing. Fitzroy Valley required Child Care Qualifications to develop/operate their own child care services.

TAFE was notified by the coordinator of Junjuwa community that there had been a number of deaths/suicides and that it was not a good time to undertake study.

8-Mile community later cancelled their training saying that SMYL had come to the community and offered free training. The Coordinator also said that the Children’s Services Officer from the then Department for Community Development had told the students that they were "not smart enough" to do the TAFE course.

April 2007
Communication between TAFE and communities to establish a time of delivery.

May 2007
First study block delivered.
The 8-Mile community told the CCC project that the children’s services officer said the TAFE course was too hard for them to do and that they should do the course with SMYL. The community lost a year of potential training time.

June 2007
Second Block delivered.
Introduced Introdustion to the Traditional Art.

July 2007
Third Block delivered.
Mobile play group commenced and collaboration with TAFE and came to a class to meet.

August 2007
Fourth Block delivered.
Students decided to start playgroup up and asked Mobile play group to help.
TAFE lecturer got agreement to try another way to get participation from the student from Junjuwa. The student will try to rally other mothers to join a play group session in September.

September 2007
Fifth Block of Study delivered.
First play group on the 22 September at Bayulu.
First Play Group at Murra Mura in Junjuwa is proposed.


Updated: September-December 2007

November 2007
Sixth Block of study delivered.
Students questioned how they would be able to implement health and hygiene practices without the materials needed in their community.

Request to Marninwarntikura to help write interim submission for products for basic cleaning and personal hygiene.

Requested CSO officer to help with long term application.

TAFE colleagues communicate about potential for gardening program.

December 2007
Marninwarntikura sent application to Cultural Health.
TAFE students completed application for Early Years grant.

Useful links for finding funding and building skills
Data sources
- Kimberley TAFE-Broome
- Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre
- CCC data files.
- Department for Communities
- Cultural Health Fitzroy Crossing

Marninwarntikura Mobile Playgroup



What changed and how


The Issue or Desire
The mobile playgroup has not operated in the Fitzroy Valley since it was funded by FACSIA in 2004. Funding was allocated to Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre, Fitzroy Crossing, in 2006. The CEO of Marninwarntikura wanted to recruit local women to establish the mobile play group service. It was deemed that recruiting locally might address the issues of accommodation shortage and the need for coordinators who are local language speakers to be involved in developing playgroups.



Actions Taken
Through Learning Circle, two women were identified as potential play leaders -Shaha Bin Sulaiman and Lisa Capewell. The women had both completed Diploma in Children’s Services and had operated the mobile playgroup attached to Jalygurr-Guwan MACS in Broome.

The Children, Carer & Country (CCC) project coordinators worked with the CEO of Marninwarntikura and the potential playgroup coordinators to negotiate a way to employ the women (on a short term contract) to set up a mobile service, recruit local women and then train them into the playgroup coordinator positions.

The CCC project coordinators assisted with budget development for the mobile playgroup and drafting a written proposal to FaCSIA as the CEO was unfamiliar with operations of children’s services programs.


Outcomes
The women agreed to set up, operate and recruit staff for the mobile service, within a six-month time frame. Their contract commenced in August 2007 and finished in February 2008. The women were contracted as co-coordinators as they had equal experience, training and workload.

The coordinators prepared an operational budget, developed policies and procedures, purchased equipment and mapped a consultation plan.The women delivered a mobile playgroup service to 12 communities in and around Fitzroy Crossing.



The next steps

Who were the people involved
  • Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre
  • Fitzroy Valley Early Learning Centre
  • Kimberley TAFE, Broome
  • Communities involved in the consultation (47)
  • Children, Carer & Country Project Coordinator
  • Bayulu Community (first playgroup)
  • Wangkatjungka Community
What needed to be challenged?

Skills and confidence
Recruiting local playgroup leaders was initially unsuccessful as people with the appropriate skills and training were not identified. The mobile playgroup has not operated in Marninwarntikura since it was funded in 2004 due to lack of qualified staff.

The newly trained women, employed from Broome, needed confidence in setting up a children’s service.

Accommodation
Accommodation was not available at the start. The CEO allocated a house (planned for another program) to be used by the mobile playgroup when the two coordinators began the program.

Trust
Many young women were unwilling to participate in programs the communities were offering. Gaining trust from local people takes time.
Significant outcomes were difficult to achieve in short term projects.
The mobile coordinators noted that some women mentioned their partners did not lwant them to go to play group or other women’s groups.



April Jones, Ann Yaloot, Vicki Hynam, Shaha Bin Sullaiman
Yarning after play group at Bayulu Community




Ann Yaloot telling a story of two snakes, her own composition



Crisis
The expectations of the organisation (Marninwarntikura) on attending organisational training as well as training identified by a strategic task force in Fitzroy Crossing, aiming to address social issues in the town, conflicted with the mobile program goals. There was a lot of training to do, which is good in one sense, but it made it hard to be consistent in your core business. It was good to be included in the ‘big picture’, but it was overwhelming sometimes. People blamed Marninwarntikura for getting the ‘good grog’ (full strength) cut off, so we got abused a lot. (Shaha)

Communication
Communication was a constant barrier in developing and delivering the program. Often the phones in the communities were out of order, sometimes due to electrical storms, particularly in the wet season… sometimes we’d drive all the way out to a community over 200km away and no one would be there. If there was a funeral or some other business on, then people would leave. They have no way to contact you. (Shaha)

Distances
Travel was challenging for the mobile playgroup and the large number of communities in the Fitzroy Valley are too many to service. This raised equity and access issues for the coordinators.

The most distant community the coordinators serviced was Millajidee in one direction and Yilyi in the other direction. Both communities are over 200km away. This means that at least 440km per day may be travelled. The area needing servicing is unrealistic. Lisa and I worked out that from Monday to Thursday we travel over 1200kms to and from work. (Shaha)

Transport
Transport was also identified as challenging. Most people in Fitzroy Crossing didn’t own vehicles. Service providers and taxis were the main means of transport. Some communities own a bus and or a troop carrier, which services the whole community.

The mobile service coordinators were often called upon to transport elders, community or committee members to meetings or functions. This was seen as a part of their role in the organisation. Transporting people was time consuming and interferes with service deliver. Transporting people is expected because there are so few vehicles. People in communities needed lifts into town to go to hospital appointment, Centrelink or court. People needed a lot of help with reading letters sent to them. Letters worry people because they don’t understand them. (Shaha)

Governance
Governance is hard to enforce in an organisation when people are related to each other. Governance training is not enforced in organisations where staff turnover is high.
Absentees from work impacted on all programs at Marninwarntikura. There were no relief staff to fall back on. Often the Mobile Coordinators would fill other positions within the organisation, such as reception, for example. Absentees were often due to ‘sorry business’ in the case of a death.

Grief
In the case of a death, many or most people are affected throughout the Fitzroy Valley. Deaths were frequent in Fitzroy Crossing. According to Shaha and Lisa, there were incidents of 3 suicides and 1 attempted suicide happening in less than a week at one stage.

Dealing with constant grief was identified by Shaha and Lisa as the most challenging and the greatest barrier in delivering their mobile service. Three weeks after the mobile coordinators moved to Fitzroy Crossing, they were involved in a tragedy (out of work hours) where a child drowned. The coordinators were not responsible for the care of the child nor did they know him. The women were unable to revive the child as he had already passed away when he was found.

Lisa and I talked about this a lot, trying to come to terms with what we‘d experienced…you never get over your grief before a new tragedy happens…I felt bitter about the drowning. Nothing could have prepared us for the issues and grief people experience every day of their lives here. (Shaha)

It strained our relationship (the drowning); we were working, living and grieving together. We couldn’t help each other…I lost my confidence…you never get a break from the emotional turmoil. (Lisa)

People don’t have skills to deal with emergencies…No first aid training… People are afraid to take responsibility because they don’t want to be held responsible for a tragedy…when the little boy drowned, everyone was blaming everyone…I wanted people to learn first aid. (Shaha)

Social Issues
Another impacting issue in Fitzroy Crossing and Fitzroy Valley, which affects all aspects of life and all services delivered, is alcoholism. The recent coronial inquiry
conducted into deaths in Fitzroy Crossing were alcohol related.

Hunger
In some communities, people came to play group because they were hungry.
It wasn’t everyone’s motivation for coming, but some people were hungry (Shaha).

Heat
The hot climate in September to April (
often in the low to mid 40s) prevented people from coming out out of their houses to join the playgroup.

Shaha and Lisa playing a game of elastics with children from Bayulu Community




This was a November day and the temperature was 43 degrees Celsius


What made a difference?

Relevant experience

Both women were newly trained (Diploma of Children’s Services) through Kimberley TAFE, Broome. The women had worked together in the mobile out reach program in Broome for Jalygurr-Guwan MAC service. The women were energetic, enthusiastic and held appropriate experience in the Indigenous sector.

The women have received professional development opportunities and mentoring in their previous employment with the MAC service and as students at Kimberley TAFE, Broome.


Support network, observing local protocols

At the inception of the Children, Carer and Country Project, the mobile coordinators became active members of the learning circle. They have been involved in the circle from the beginning. The women were conversant with critical theory and worked within an action research framework.

The women both identified as being Indigenous and had family connections in the area or had previous lived in Fitzroy Crossing. Yarning about family and country is considered important in establishing relationships. (Shaha Bin Sulaiman).

Initial consultation with communities was difficult as staff members from the resource centre were not always available to introduce the new Coordinators to chairpersons or representatives in communities. The Coordinators felt it appropriate and respectful to be introduced into a community by a local Indigenous person.

It was great when we had Cissy Nugget come with us because she knew everyone, but she had her own job to do so couldn’t come all the time (Shaha).

The TAFE Children’s Services lecturer; Vicki Hynam, invited the mobile service coordinators to meet children’s services students during a block study in Fitzroy Crossing.

Bayulu Community students were willing to launch their first playgroup in their community. A meeting between Mobile service, TAFE and the students, resulted in a program, and promotional materials developed.

Wangkatjunka and Bayulu communities have a regular commitment to playgroup, with a reasonable participation. Many children come after school to Bayulu for a Wednesday afternoon session.

Managing what you can

The mobile coordinators agreed to deliver their service to 12 communities that seemed willing to participate in establishing a play group for young children.

The CCC project coordinators mentored and supported the mobile coordinators in their critical reflections .

Alcohol reform
After the restrictions on the sale of take away, full strength beer and mixed drinks in Fitzroy Crossing, we observed changes in the communities. You could see a difference in the community. Children seemed to be playing out in the parks more. The number of women in the women’s shelter dropped and we noticed a significant reduction in suicides (Shaha).

June Oscar CEO Marninwarntikura reported attending 50 funerals in a year.
Reflection
Regular contact between the mobile coordinators and TAFE lecturers Vicki Hynam and Liz Thomas helped with reflective practices and identifying appropriate support mechanisms for grief counselling. Marninwarntikura also provided counselling.

The former mobile coordinators reflected on their experience, on the whole, as being profound. They reported that relationships with children and families were strong and their memories of them will stay with them forever.

Many people in Fitzroy Crossing and outlying communities are strong and resilient, despite many disadvantages compared with other Kimberley towns, and the impact of social issues. I want everyone to know that it was a wonderful experience for us as well. (Shaha)



The Bayulu Team

Lisa Capewell, Lisa Smith, Shaha Bin Sulaiman & Ann Yaloot in front
Pictured after the first Playgroup at Bayulu Community


Reasons for delays

The mobile playgroup coordinators developed policies and procedures that would serve as guidelines for future coordinators. A consultation process was carried out with all communities to design a program and delivery strategy. Unfortunately, many communities they visited at the time were unavailable to speak with the coordinators because of ‘sorry business.’

Communication, transportation, sorry business, confidence, heat, distances and organisational goals all contributed to the delays in setting up the mobile service and delivering consistently. These barriers still exist.

What did we in the CCC project do?

The CCC project coordinators mentored and supported the mobile coordinators by engaging them in critical reflection. Regular contact was provided to the mobile coordinators as well as to the Marninwarntikura CEO and other staff. The project helped develop budgets, letters and policies relevant to the development and running of the mobile playgroup service.

The CCC coordinators initiated the first playgroup session at Bayulu to support and help build hte confidence of the mobile coordinators.

The project provided resources and equipment to support play experiences for young children. The playgroup coordinators requested natural resources, which were better suited to Indigenous communities.

The Coordinator of CCC in Broome drove the women to Fitzroy Crossing to begin their work.

The Coordinator of CCC wrote a letter to support the liquor ban.

Timeline of events
March 2007
Positions advertised in local newspapers

July 2007
The Mobile Playgroup began operating.
Community visits have taken place and protocols set up for other Communities in the Fitzroy Valley.

November-December 2007
The mobile coordinators advertise their positions.

February 2008
Interviewed and inducted two trainees.
New Coordinators commenced
Shaha returned to Fitzroy Crossing to provide two week- training and to introduce new coordinators to communities
New coordinators attended the 5th learning Circle and linked in with local women from communities.

March 2008
New coordinators enrolled in Certificate III in children’s services
Linked with Fitzroy Valley Early Learning Centre for mutual support


Useful links for finding funding and building skills

Data sources

www.lotterywest.wa.gov.au/grant

Vehicles and equipment for early childhood services can be applied for through Lotterywest.

The Grog Book: Maggie Bradley -
source through the Health Departments in each state