CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ISSUE 29 APRIL 2020
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STEPHANIE H A R V E Y, C E O COMMUNITY FIRST DEVELOPMENT
CEO MESSAGE As we mark our 20th Anniversary, we are conscious of the health issues and concerns of the COVID 19 pandemic. Our best wishes are with you, your family and friends during this time. This 20-year milestone has given us the opportunity to spend time in reflection - to review and evaluate the impact we make towards the vision we have for our organisation in working with community. This is why we are changing our name to Community First Development. We’d like to share more about the important story behind this decision with you and you can find this on page 6.
Our 20-year milestone has given us the opportunity to spend time in reflection.
Readers should be aware that this newsletter may contain images and names of deceased people. Cover photo: Community First Development Officer, Jackson, with Elder George Pitt at the Yule River Meeting for the Wangka Maya project. 2
The Yurrampi Child and Family Centre printed their new logo on a large rug to show the Warlpiri meaning of the place.
Throughout this issue we use our new name, Community First Development, and you’ll also see we’ve given Stepping Stones a refreshed look to go with our name – I hope you like it! On page 8, you can read about the brilliant business idea of a Warlpiri man to meet the transport needs of his remote community in the Northern Territory. And on page 10, you can read about the Yurrampi Child and Family Centre in Yuendumu who involved the whole community to bring their new branding to life. Thank you again for your generosity to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can use their own strengths and local knowledge to achieve community goals.
HAPPY READING AND STAY SAFE! 3
OUT AND ABOUT M U L L U M M ULLUM IND IGENOUS GAT H ERI N G P LAC E C R O Y D O N A N D E A S T R I N G W O O D, V I C
Located in Croydon and East Ringwood VIC, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place (Mullum) is a community organisation committed to preserving, promoting and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity in the Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR) of Melbourne. The Gathering Place became a reality when members of the local Indigenous community found there was a great need for somewhere to gather and have meaningful, culturally based programs and activities. Mullum’s services for local Indigenous families and community members include Elders, Men’s and Women’s networks, youth/culture group, a fantastic singing group (Yeng Gali Mullum), and a weekly Foodbank that services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within seven Local Government Areas across the EMR. Our volunteer, Ken, has done a great job working alongside Mullum on his first project with us to create and update new operational management policies plus prepare a new Board governance manual. Strengthened policies and procedures will ensure Mullum continues to be a positive and enriching space to interact, and will support the Board, staff, community and volunteers to maintain a strong cultural overlay in their ways of working. Volunteer Ken (left) with community members.
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S U P P O RT I NG T HE NEXT GENERATION MOSSMAN, QLD
We were recently invited to work with Goobidi Bamanga Community Advancement Cooperative Society, located in Mossman, North QLD. This wonderful community organisation offers accessible and culturally appropriate programs and services for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community throughout Douglas Shire Region. Our skilled volunteer, Allan, built great working relationships with their CEO and Board members, who are a committed team with strong long-term partnerships and connections to the community. Goobidi Bamanga sought Allan’s assistance to update and improve their business plan as they look to grow and support the next generation. Having this new plan in place means their range of free and heavily subsidised community programs can continue effectively, including affordable and long-term housing, playgroup and vacation care, and services to support aged clients and clients with a disability within their region.
Goobidi Bamanga board members.
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THE STORY BEHIND
OUR NAME CHANGE Why we have changed our name to Community First Development Indigenous Community Volunteers is now Community First Development. Importantly, our values, principles, beliefs and approach to working with community remain as always – committed to the respect and recognition of our people. It is fundamental to our beliefs that we listen to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – to put their voices and their leadership first. As a name, Community First Development represents the focus in the way we work with community.
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We have long recognised the need for our name to reflect what we do, rather than who we are, and have only changed our name after lengthy consultations with the communities we work with, our supporters and volunteers. Our partnerships with communities are by invitation only, and are always determined and led by the community. Over the past 20 years, it has been our privilege to partner with our people and their communities as they achieve positive change. With the generous support of people like you, we have completed more than 5,000 projects in partnership with communities around Australia since our inception 20 years ago. Our previous name, Indigenous Community Volunteers has served us well over the past 20 years but our work will continue under our new name, Community First Development. We will continue to put community first - connecting and collaborating with communities to create opportunity in education, health, infrastructure, business, economic planning, and cultural preservation. We are driven by the vision of a better world for all First Nations people; to work with all cultures for recognition, respect, and the right to be treated and valued with equality.
THANK YOU
for your continued support and friendship.
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Robert at the Community First Development office in Alice Springs.
XTRA MILE TRANSPORT T HE F I RST WA RLPIRI OW NED AND RUN T R AN SP O RT BUSINESS Y U E N D U M U, N T
An idea to meet vital transport needs for the Yuendumu community. Robert Robertson, a Warlpiri man in the remote community of Yuendumu, 330km northwest of Alice Springs, has great aspirations to start his own transport business and a desire to show young people what self-determination and leadership look like at a grass roots level.
I think this business will change our people’s way of thinking, talking, and living, not just in Yuendumu, but for the Warlpiri Nation. My idea was to help people think differently about starting a business… to show them young ones it’s possible.
Having lived in the Northern Territory his whole life, Robert knows how important accessible transport is for people’s mobility and safety on the roads – especially in a remote community. 8
Too many young people are having accidents driving cars that aren’t safe. And our families have no way to get to community events, funerals and ceremonies.
Robert’s business ‘Xtra Mile Transport’ will provide regular transport to and from Alice Springs, charter buses for community events, NDIS patient transport, and vehicle recovery. Robert reached out through a Community Development Officer at Central Lands Council for skilled volunteer support to make his community-led business a reality. The Central Lands Council contacted us and two of our long-time skilled volunteers, Taffy and Marella, were invited to work alongside Robert to create a business plan, register the business as a company, and apply for his first funding grant (which was successful and will help Robert purchase the company’s first two vehicles!). Taffy and Marella also spent time working with Robert doing market analysis interviews with community stakeholders and exploring opportunities with local organisations. We have more projects in the pipeline in partnership with Robert and his first transport service is due to launch in September. Robert is even paving the way for the possibility of other public transport systems in remote NT communities as Xtra Mile Transport is the very first of its kind. If it wasn’t for Community First Development, I wouldn’t be this far into the business. I waited seven years, just talking and thinking about the business, but then I was introduced to you mob and that’s when things started to happen. You’ve done awesome work helping me and you don’t force anything. I’ve learned so much and I’m still learning! ROBERT ROBERTSON, FOUNDER OF XTRA MILE TRANSPORT
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A N E W I D E N T I T Y B U I LT
ON COMMUNITY CONNECTION T H E Y U RRA M P I CHIL D AND FAMILY C E N T RE I NV O LV E THE W HOL E C O M M UN I T Y I N THEIR REBRAND ING P R OJ ECT. Y U E N D U M U, N T
We were recently invited to work alongside the Yurrampi Child and Family Centre, located in the thriving remote community of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory. The Centre is led by a strong group of Yapa (Warlpiri) women who provide direction and advise on the best ways to ‘grow children up strong.’ The Centre’s Aboriginal Reference Group approached us seeking support after discussing the need to develop their own identity and branding - something that represented the Centre’s connection to the community as a Warlpiri-led space. While the Centre is officially led by the Department of Education, this reference group, and the entire community, feel very strong ownership of its work. Our skilled volunteer, Marion, used her extensive graphic design and brand development experience to work with the group. They held an art competition across the entire community in search of the right artwork to inspire their new brand and logo. The competition was promoted at the local school, art centre and within many other organisations in the community to ensure every aspiring artist had their chance to enter. 10
Volunteer Marion with the women from the reference group working together.
Yuendumu is home to many talented artists and there were a great number of people who submitted their art for consideration. Marion and the group selected the winning artwork together (not an easy decision with so many fantastic entries!). Marion then assisted in digitising the artwork and worked with a select few young people in the community who were looking to learn new skills in graphic design. Together, they created logos, branded templates, icons, website content and other promotional materials. The wonderful women of the reference group shared how excited they’ve been to see their new branding come to life. The new logo displayed on a sign over the entry way to the building and printed on a large rug in the foyer make a clear statement showing the Warlpiri meaning of the place.
THANK YOU
for supporting this project to ensure the community ownership of the Yurrampi Child and Family Centre is truly reflected in its visual identity.
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SAFETY FIRST A First Nations business lobbying for safety and providing employment opportunities in their community. TRAC International is a First Nations small business located in Northern NSW, running since the 1990s. Andrew and Deborah are the husband and wife Directors of the company specialising in safe solutions for difficult to access areas. Their services include providing safety equipment, training courses, labour hire, and accident investigation. TRAC are the makers of the safest and most practical height safety equipment available, named the Roper System. Andrew and Deborah developed this remarkable safety system themselves after spending many years working in all aspects of the height safety industry. The unique features of the Roper System enable the operator (or someone else) to haul or lower themselves to safety should they fall. It is a simple, multipurpose, shock absorbing system controlled from either end, to raise or lower at any time with an integrated 30 second rescue plan, greatly reducing costs and associated risks.
First Nations Business working to provide the most practical safety equipment and employment opportunities.
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Deb being pulled out of a confined space, with Roper System set up as 3:1 Mechanical advantage.
Andrew and Deborah invited us to work alongside them on a community government lobbying project. They’ve been working with our skilled volunteer, Ian, lobbying politicians in NSW and QLD to have the safety standards and regulations on construction sites improved for workers by making the engineered Roper System standard mandatory equipment. Specifically, Ian has been working in partnership with Andrew and Deborah to re-write a submission for the NSW Minister of Innovation and Better Regulation and prepare a pitch document to support their submission. TRAC equipment has already proved its exceptional abilities in the mining industry for rescue and recovery and is also becoming popular within air and sea search and rescue operations. Andrew and Deborah dream of further building their business’s capacity – not only to improve levels of safety but also to create significant and sustainable employment opportunities for the Indigenous community of Lismore and surrounding areas. Thank you for your generous support to help important projects like these transform communities! 13
VOLUNTEER
PROFILE ME E T BRI A N, ONE OF OUR SKILLED VOLUNTEERS
Brian working in community.
We reached out to one of our very first volunteers, Brian, to talk to him about his volunteering experiences over the years. During his almost twenty years as a volunteer with us, Brian has supported communities to develop skills in management, maintenance and mechanics. Brian recalls his initial volunteer induction “The trainer on the first volunteer course said, “Your involvement in our projects will change your life forever.” And he was right.” After Brian’s involvement in our very first project, with a community in WA, he and his wife were invited to move to the community and continue working alongside them to achieve their goals. After living and working in community for a year, Brian and his wife returned home, forever changed from their experience. Brian continued to volunteer with us completing various projects in WA, SA and QLD. We’re so thankful to have the committed and passionate support of volunteers like Brian! I have some skills learned across a wide working life and it’s been a privilege to have been invited to work with Indigenous peoples across Australia to share these skills and experiences… ”I thank you for providing me with this opportunity. It changes your life forever.”! B R I A N , D E D I C AT E D V O L U N T E E R S I N C E O U R F I R S T COMMUNITY PROJECT
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C O M M U N I T Y D E V E LO P M E N T O F F I C E R PROFILE M E E T JACK SO N, O N E O F O U R C O M M U N I T Y D E V E LO P M E N T OFFICERS
See cover for photo of Jackson with Elder George Pitt.
What inspired you to work with Community First Development? I’m a Noongar Yued man from the Cuimara’s and Dimer’s mob, with connection to Wongai mob as well through my great grandmother. So, I have always wanted to work with and for Aboriginal, First Nations people - my people. What is a recent project you’ve been involved in? I was involved with a group promoting and preserving Aboriginal languages from the Pilbara. I was lucky enough to spend time with the Elders on the Board, and language groups from across the Pilbara. It was wonderful to interact with Elders, men and women, who were so strong in culture and teaching and wanting the best for all. What is most rewarding about your work as a Community Development Officer? I get to work with amazing Elders, including my Regional Manager, Doyen, who I see as a mentor. Some are from my mob and I get to connect and learn more as the projects continue every day. It is special to learn songlines and histories I have never heard before. I see how much communities care about their people, their culture - and how welcoming they are, to myself and to volunteers. What have you learnt from working with First Nations communities? To be a better listener. To move at a community pace. It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, but important things take time and care. Communities have taught me to enjoy the little things, as well as the big.
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ISSUE 29
Call 1800 639 565 or visit www.communityfirstdeveloment.org.au/donate