Interim Evaluation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Projects - Attachments
4.6 Angurugu
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4.6.1 Community
Groote Eylandt is located about 50km off the east coast of Arnhem Land. The community of Angurugu is located on the banks of the Angurugu River halfway down the west coast of Groote Eylandt. It was established as an Anglican Church Missionary Society in 1943. Its current population is around 800; however there is considerable movement between the various communities and outstations. Groote Eylandt and various adjacent smaller islands are the homeland of the Warinindilyakwa People. These people speak a unique language known as Anindilyakwa. The Warinindilyakwa People have freehold title to their entire homeland. Their rich and distinctive artistic tradition has survived, largely intact.By the early 1960’s, Groote Eylandt was being prospected for manganese and other minerals. In 1964 the Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) was formed and began mining in 1966. The Anglican Church Missionary Society was instrumental in the negotiations between GEMCO, the Australian Government and the Aboriginal people on Groote Eylandt, resulting in special mining leases being granted and other benefits flowing to the local Aboriginal people, including employment and training and full industry pay rates106.
Until recently, Angurugu and other communities managed their affairs through the former Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra Community Government Councils. Following recent reforms the communities on Groote Eylandt are now part of the East Arnhem Shire.
Facilities in Angurugu include an airport, general store, school, church, library and linguistics centre, a sports oval and basketball court, sports and recreation hall, aged care and respite centre, Council offices and a health clinic which services seven outstations from Angurugu. These facilities comprise the primary sources for employment in the community.
There is a significant prevalence of Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) in Groote Eylandt and surrounds, and has been for around four generations. MJD is an hereditary neuro-degenerative condition and occurs because of a fault in a chromosome that results in the production of an abnormal protein. This protein causes nerve cells to die prematurely in a part of the brain called the cerebellum. The damage to the cerebellum initially causes muscular weakness and progresses over time to a total lack of voluntary control and very significant permanent physical disability. MJD is an inherited, autosomal dominant disorder, meaning that each child of a person who carries the defective gene has a 50% chance of developing the disease. In addition the mutation is typically expanded when it is passed to the next generation meaning that symptoms of the disease appear around 8-10 years earlier and are more severe.
There is no known cure for MJD. Progression to dependence occurs over five to 10 years and most people are wheelchair bound and fully dependent for activities of daily living within 10-15 years of the first symptoms emerging107.
The Angurugu clinic provides general health care services locally and outreach services to 7 outstations. It is the main clinic for medical emergencies on the Island involving local Indigenous people. In 2009, the clinic was staffed by:
- 5 nurses
- 2 Aboriginal mental health workers
- 2 Doctors who spend 3.5 days per week in the communities
- 1 Junior Doctor Program participant
- 1 general admin staff
- 1 Medicare Admin who travels with the doctor
- 1 cleaner
- Driver/gardener.
- Physician every 3 months
- Surgeon every 3 months
- Gynaecologist every 3 months
- Cardiologist 1 or 2 times per year
- Dentist once per month
- Ophthalmologist 1 or 2 times per year108.
4.6.2 Aged Care Service
Mungkadinamanja Aged and Disability Services is a flexible aged care centre providing day care services to 14 elderly and disabled clients (is funded for 10 places). It also provides HACC services for 29 clients (funded for 24) in the form of meals, transport, social support, and respite for HACC carers. In addition, the service is funded to provide respite services under the National Respite for Carers Program and provides advocacy services for homeless people. The centre expects demand for the respite centre to increase as the population grows and as more incidents of MJD are diagnosed. GGJ were unable to visit the centre due to community issues; however they did interview the coordinator and sourced photographs of the centre. As the centre has clients with significant disabilities the coordinator identified that the training needs were very specific including the need for manual handling training, personal care and assisting with activities of daily living.4.6.3 Pre-Training Telephone Interview
At the time of the pre-training interview the total number of staff at the service was 15, including one coordinator. Seven staff were mainly involved in direct care and were in converted positions. Three staff were mainly performing domestic assistance and were also in converted positions. Of these workers, five had previously been on CDEP. Four staff were mainly involved with kitchen/cooking responsibilities and of these, three were in converted positions. All staff, apart from the coordinator and one kitchen worker are Indigenous.The service reported that service delivery and staff attitude had improved as a result of the CDEP conversion process. The coordinator cited that it had added stability to the workforce, had a positive impact on workers’ self esteem and improved the relationship between workers and clients.
4.6.4 Post-Training Site Visit
At the time of the site visit the following training had been delivered.CHCAC316B - Provide Food Services - 6 participated
106. http://www.gemco.com.au/content/view/67/80
107. http://www.mjd.org.au/2-what-is-mjd.html
108. Australian Government Department of Families, Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Grooote Bickerton (BCP), SGS Economics and Planning September 2009 A Baseline Community Profile of the Groote Islandt and Bickerton Island Communites of Angurugu Umbakumba and Milyakburra
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