Interim Evaluation of the Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Projects - Attachments
4.9 Yirrkala
Table of contents
4.9.1 Community
Yirrkala is located on the eastern side of Arnhem Land on the Gove peninsula about 700km east of Darwin and 35km south east from the mining township Nhulunbuy (Gove). The community has a population of about 990116 and the main language is Miwatj with English as a second language. There are 12 clan groups. The Laynhapuy Homeland Resource Centre operates out of Yirrkala. This organisation is responsible for the large homeland population of 600 dispersed over 21 homeland centres. The largest of these is Baniyala with approximately 110 residents117.Although already settled, the size of the community increased significantly when Yirrkala was founded as a mission in 1935. The community played a pivotal role in the development of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians when a bark petition was created at Yirrkala in 1963 and sent to the Federal Government to protest at the Prime Minister's announcement that a parcel of their land was to be sold to a bauxite mining company. Although the petition itself was unsuccessful in the sense that the bauxite mining at Nhulunbuy went ahead as planned, it alerted non-Indigenous Australians to the need for Indigenous representation in such decisions, and prompted a government report recommending payment of compensation, protection of sacred sites, creation of a permanent parliamentary standing committee to scrutinise developments at Yirrkala, and also acknowledged the Indigenous people's moral right to their lands118. The bark petition is on display in the Parliament House, Canberra.
Yirrkala is considered to be the traditional home of the didgeridoo (Yidaki). It is also home to a number of leading Indigenous artists whose work can be found in galleries around the world. Each year the community hosts the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures, considered one of Australia’s most important Indigenous festivals.
Yirrkala is governed by East Arnhem Shire. Facilities include an education centre (which provides education to the community and surrounding homelands), health clinic, the Bukularrngay Museum and Arts Centre, community store, Women’s Resource Centre and child care centre. These facilities provide the majority of employment positions in the community.
In 2006, the health clinic reported that is was staffed by Indigenous health workers and a registered nurse. Because of its close proximity to Gove, where there is a hospital, the health clinic does not employ large numbers of people119.
4.9.2 Aged Care Service
Yirrkala Aged Care provides personal care, meals, domestic assistance, transport and social support to 12 HACC and 10 CACP clients. The centre is in a picturesque location and there are plans to encourage clients to attend the centre for day respite. Many of the staff have worked for some time with some new, younger staff recently joining the team. These younger staff are mentored by the coordinator and said that they were learning new skills through the support offered by the other staff at the service. The service used to provide day centre services, but this was not a service currently offered; however, the coordinator said that they may commence this service again if the clients wanted it.The new staff stated that they were enjoying learning new skills such as providing personal care support to clients and that they hoped to develop further skills as they were trained.
4.9.3 Pre-Training Telephone Interview
Yirrkala Aged Care has five staff, including one coordinator. Two workers are Indigenous and filled converted positions. At the time of the pre-training interview, the coordinator had only been in the position a short time and therefore could not comment on whether there had been any impact as a result of the CDEP conversions. However of the 3 staff interviewed, one worker reported they were on wages but had previously been CDEP. This worker commented that things were much better since the conversion.The coordinator identified that training was required in general aged care, dementia and basic work ethics development. The coordinator and all three workers interviewed reported they were looking forward to participating in training.
4.9.4 Post-Training Site Visit
At the time of the site visit, the following training had been delivered (includes community participants).CHCCOM302C - Communicate effectively with clients and colleagues - 8 participated and three achieved a statement of attainment
CHCOHS312A - Follow safety procedures for direct care work - 10 participated and six achieved a statement of attainment
HLTFS207B - Follow basic food safety practices - 6 participated and four achieved a statement of attainment
116. Grants Commission Report 30-06-07 http://www.bushtel.nt.gov.au/northern_territory/community_search_display?comm_num=148
117. LGANT Report 2006 Audit of Employment Opportunities in Remote Communities in the Northern Territory
118. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yirrkala,_Northern_Territory
119. LGANT Report 2006 op cit
Top of page