Interim Evaluation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Projects - Attachments
4.8 Nauiyu
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4.8.1 Community
Nauiyu, Daly River or Nauiyu Nambiyi is a small community located on the banks of the Daly River with a population of around 510, around 86% of which are Indigenous113. Nauiyu is 230klm south of Darwin. Many Aboriginal people began living in the area when first settled by Europeans. English is the prominent language spoken by residents with Ngan’gikuruggurr being the most prominent of the 10 local languages114.The Traditional Owners of the area are the Malak Malak people.
A Jesuit mission was sent to the Daly River region in 1886, following violent conflicts between Aborigines and settlers. This mission was abandoned in 1899, because of regular flooding, destruction cause by termites and largely unsuccessful attempts at religious conversion. From 1910 until about 1950 several other attempts to establish farms or stations around the area also failed. Throughout this missionary period Aboriginal ceremonies and ritual life were completely forbidden. In 1955, a new mission was established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. By the mid-sixties a viable settlement had grown up around the Mission.
Until 2008, governance was the responsibility of Nauiyu Nambiyu Community Government Council (NNCGC). On 1 July 2008, the community became part of the Victoria Daly Shire.
Facilities in Nauiyu include two schools, police station, health centre, aged care service, child care centre, sporting facilities, community store, and takeaway outlets. The Daly River is also known for its excellent barramundi fishing, which may lead to tourism opportunities in the future. The Merrepen Art Centre provides a place at which local painters and crafts persons can work and market their pieces. Nauiyu based painters have featured in the annual Telstra Art Awards exhibition and some of the aged care clients and staff are established artists.
At the 2006 Census, 172 people were in the labour force, of whom 97% were employed.
The Nauiyu Health Centre is owned and operated by NT Health and is open daily between 8.30am and 4.30pm weekdays and after hours for emergencies. The health centre also provides an ambulance service through the clinic115.
4.8.2 Aged Care Service
Nauiyu Aged Care Service provides meals, transport, social support and personal care to around 18 clients; eight CACP and 10 HACC. There has been some staff turnover in the past, but younger staff who are committed to stay in the service are now working at the service. Staff did not have a long term history working with the service, so could not articulate whether things had changed with the training, other than developing their own skills.4.8.3 Pre-Training Telephone Interview
Nauiyu Aged Care Service has four staff, including one coordinator. Currently three staff are employed in converted CDEP positions, two of which were previously CDEP workers for the service. Of these staff, two are part-time and one is full-time. All staff are Indigenous.At the time of the pre-training interview, the coordinator was very keen for all workers to participate in training and workers also expressed their enthusiasm. The coordinator identified dementia, disabilities and first aid as areas requiring training; however the RTO had not at this stage conducted a skills audit and could not identify key areas for training. The coordinator also suggested computer skills training was required should training be available to coordinators.
The coordinator reported that the CDEP conversion process had a positive impact on the service, citing that workers in converted positions were happier about coming to work and that service delivery had improved. Of the three workers interviewed, two had previously been CDEP workers and commented that things were much better in converted positions
4.8.4 Post-Training Site Visit
The following training had been delivered at the time of the site visit.CHCOHS312A - Follow safety procedures for direct care work - 4 participated (statements of attainment will be provided at the end of training)
113. Victoria Daly Shire website. www.victoriadaly.nt.gov.au/OurServiceCentres/NauiyuDalyRiver/tabid/427/language/en-AU/Default.aspx
114. ibis
115. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies 2007 Nauiyu Nambiyu Indigenous Community
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