GROW WELL a practical example of community engagement and capacity building to empower women in remote Indigenous communities. Culturally Responsive

GROW WELL a practical example of community engagement and capacity building to empower women in remote Indigenous communities Culturally Responsive

Grow Well is auspiced by the Anyinginyi Health Artist-Linda Dobbs, Imangarra (Murray Downs) ANYINGINYI HEALTH ABORIGINAL CORPORATION Aboriginal Health Corporation

ANYINGINYI HEALTH Primary Health Service Delivery Model ACTIVE LIFE HEALTH CENTRE CLIENT REGIONAL REMOTE HEALTH SECTION Piliyintinji-Ki STRONGER FAMILIES PUBLIC HEALTH

Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation Organisation Positions & Management Structure Human Resource (AHACPN2.1) Executive Assistant (AHAC2.3) Receptionis t- Admin Assistant (AHACPN2 Property.5) and Stores (AHACPN2 Property.6) and Stores (AHACPN2.6.1) General Manager (AHACPN1) Business Services Section Manager (AHACPN2) Senior Finance (AHACPN2.2) Finance - Payroll (AHACPN2 Finance.4) - Payroll (AHACPN 2.4a ) Policy &Research (AHACPN 2.4a ) Policy development / Board direction Financial management and program development Sports & Recreation Section Manager (AHACPN3 ) Sports and Recreation Male (AHAC Sports and PN3.1) Recreation Female (AHACPN3 Sports and.2) Recreation Casual (AHACPN3 Sports and.3) Recreation CDEP (AHACPN3.4) Regional Remote Section Manager (AHACPN6) Medical (AHACPN 6.1) Public Health Nurse N.Barkly (AHAC Public PN6.2) Health Nurse S. Barkly (AHAC Administrati PN6.6.3) on (AHAC PN Grow 6.6) Well Coordinator (AHACPN6.8) Grow Well Trainee Coordinator AHW (AHACPN6 Male NBarkly.9) (AHACPN6.10 AHW Female NBarkly (AHACPN6 Allied Health.11 Project Counsellor Male (AHACPN4.2) Team Leader Male (AHACPN4.4) Support Worker Male (AHACPN4.6) Support Worker Male (AHACPN4 Support.8) Worker Male (AHACPN4.10) Administrati on Assistant (AHACPN. 4.1) Stronger Families Section Manager (AHACPN4) Counsellor Female (AHACPN4.3) Team Leader Female (AHACPN4.5) Support Worker Female (AHACPN4.7) Support Worker Female (AHACPN4 Support.9) Worker Female (AHACPN4.11) Men s House Coordinator Public Health Section Manager.1) Administrati on Assistant.43) Eye Health.31) AHW Men s Sexual Health AHW.37) Women s Sexual Health Cultural Support.42).43) Building Healthier Communiti es Health Promotions.44).45) Dentist.2) Dental Assistant.6) Dental Assistant.9) Men s Health Nurse AHW.17) Male.15) AHW Male.15a) AHW Male.15b) Cleaner.25) Health Clinic Section Manager ) Senior Medical.3) Medical Male.7) Medical Female.10) Women s Health Nurse AHW.13) Women s Health (AHACPN1 9) Senior AHW Female.20) AHW Female.22) Cleaner Casual.27) Administrati on Health.4) Medicare.11) Senior Receptionis t.11) Customer Service/ Reception (AHAC PN5.14) Filing Clerk/ Reception Support Driver.16).18) Community Liaison.33) Cleaner Part Time.28) Clinic Practice Nurse.29) RN Outreach Antenatal AHW.30) Female Outreach Antenatal Quality Improveme.31) nt.32) H e a l t h y 4 L i f e Physiother apist (AHACPN6.12) Podiatrist (AHACPN6.13) Nutritionist/ Dietician (AHACPN6.14)

AHAC Grow Well Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing [DoHA] SOUTHERN BARKLY communities EPENARRA ALI-CURUNG (Alekarenge) OWAIRTILLA (Canteen Creek) IMANGARA (Murray Downs) MUNGKARTA (as yet, informal)

The Grow Well Program came about as a result of a 2001 needs assessment in the Southern Barkly when communities identified the need to address: nutrition-related disorders in young children (anaemia and failure to thrive) Improving the nurturing practices of mothers (particularly young mothers) The passing on of traditional parenting, nutrition and cultural practices.

Community control means community driven programs. Guiding Principles Are characterised by sharing power, community ownership, flexibility, diversity and respect. As articulated by the women- programs need to be their own, for women only and premised on keeping their culture strong.

GROW WELL PROGRAM Provides families on communities with an opportunity to be more in control of their lives by creating choice and allowing them to work out their priorities and procedures for their health programs and activities in their women centers.

Building and strengthening local Health Committee and Zone Steering Committee capacity Women s HEALTH COMMITTEES are planning forums an oversight body for the refurbishments of the women s centres organisational hubs for activities and training workshops; focal points for preparing correspondence, grants and submissions representational groups for official requests and complaints owned by the women where the will to attend or not is dependent on the importance/significance of each individual woman

ZONE COMMITTEE The zone committee has representatives from each of the communities and meets to talk about what is happening in the region and to share experiences. Policeman s Waterhole 2004 Policeman s Waterhole 2006 Ali-Curung 2005

Grow Well responds to the needs of local children and families at risk. a team approach has been taken to the GAA and HSAK screening days, involving a range of health staff feedback of the GAA and HSAK data to the communities Supporting Supporting and assisting assisting with SUPPORTING SUPPORTING and and assisting assisting with with GAA GAA HEALTHY HEALTHY SCHOOL SCHOOL AGED KIDS Program Program

Child Protection Day Supporting and Assisting Family and Children s Services (DHACS).

FIRST STAGE of the Grow Well program has included the refurbishment of the women s centres Old Kitchens New Kitchens

WHILE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE NEW KITCHENS. These are some of the activities the Health Committees decided to do

WASHING MACHINE WOMEN S WOMEN HEALTH HEALTH BY BY THE THE WATERHOLE WATERHOLE BUSH BUSH COOKING COOKING CLASSES CLASSES SEWING CHILDREN S CLOTHES BUSH TUCKER TRIPS PLAY PLAY GROUPS GROUPS

Epenarra School Morning Tea Program Imangarra School Lunch Program With assistance from the Barkly District Nutritionist (DHACS), and DEET. Received a grant to buy more utensils to make healthy lunch options.

TOMATO AND CHEESE SANDWICHES With the assistance of the Barkly District Nutritionist (DHACS) and DEET.

BUSH MEDICINE Grow Well assists and supports the Strong Women Strong Babies Strong Culture s (SWSBSC) bush medicine program at Canteen Creek

Supporting Training Requests Attendance at the Strong Women Strong Babies Strong Culture workshops Driver Education Training Sewing Classes Domestic Violence Workshop Horticulture Program First Aide Course with the support of DEET, DHACS and Charles Darwin University.

SEWING CHILDREN S CLOTHES With Canteen Creek (Owairtilla) Association and assisted by DEET Straight from the machine to the wearing the finished product!

BUSH TUCKER TRIPS strengthening culture maintaining links

Bush Cooking Classes With the assistance and support of the Nutritionist (DHACS)

Supporting art classes Information Technology Digital Camera lessons Internet learning activities Pottery Screen Printing Curtain Making Tie Dying Resource Development With the support and assistance of the Institute for Aboriginal Development and the Nutritionist (DHACS) With the support and assistance of World Vision Australia, DEET and Barkly Regional Arts.

PLAN FOR EPENARRA WOMEN S CENTRE OWN PROGRAMS WOMEN ONLY -KEEP CULTURE STRONG-!Play equipment & sand pit changed!lower slide and Relocate under trees!baby bath & change table!cooking equipment labeled!office equipment, computer, Fax!Rules for Centre!Safe for money! Haven welcoming! Homely Centre with Pot plants!hanging baskets and Outdoor private area!training for women only!move telephone (stop vandalism) Too much responsibility for coordinator need to share key and money Equipment missing vanishing Training Timetable " TENNANT CREEK Funding submissions Bush medicine business Sewing business Old people s program Breakfast program (0-5 kids) Washing for old people Employment Priority times Cooking meals Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture Program Bush medicine trips Bush tucker trips Computer classes Strengthen local playgroup Local employment No waiting for visitors Play Group Cooking classes Bring smoko program back to Centre Sewing classes Art classes " EPENARRA Stuck trying to go

some practical examples of community engagement and capacity building from some very empowered women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! women approach me and say what they want; demonstrating both a trust in the relationship and a self-confidence that had not been evident earlier in the program the health committees interviewed me to decide if I was a suitable candidate for this position. They felt respected and empowered. Women ask that all their ideas are documented and that Grow Well assist them to identify the appropriate funding sources to achieve their goals. Canteen Creek women recently prepared a letter to the Capital Works builders and designers, outlining all the problems they identified with the refurbishments. Stated that their voice had not been heard and requesting and receiving a prompt response to address the issues! Having the opportunity to work along side the women in these communities and to assist and support them to achieve their goals is such a privilege.