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.
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.
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.
- 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
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.
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 .
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
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