Article: A Carer’s Story

A Carer’s Story

Joan’s* sister was experiencing early onset dementia, Joan didn't know much about the
condition or how to best support her sister. She thought she would have to send her sister to an aged care facility to look after her. Joan lived hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major town of Mparntwe and spoke English as a second language. She wanted to help her sister live a good life but wasn't sure how best to support her.

Through Tjungu’s information project, Joan was introduced to a video about dementia-friendly communities, made in Mparntwe by Dementia Australia. The video featured Aboriginal people Joan knew and understood. It explained the risks and challenges of dementia but also showed how families and communities could provide care and support at home.

Joan felt really inspired by the video. She thought about all the things she could put in place to help her sister. Joan decided that with some help and knowledge, her sister could stay with her. Joan felt supported and proud that her sister could stay connected to community, family and country.

This video project was funded by the Department of Social Services, which has extended
funding in recognition of the life-changing impact of culturally relevant information.

NPY Women’s Council is excited to continue rolling out the information project with new
support from the Department of Social Services, which has extended funding. Tjungu will
continue connecting directly with people with disability and their carers on the ground. With the right resources, families are proving that when they are empowered to support family members they can create good lives for all, embedded in community, culture and country.

*not her real name

Anangu Agency Sits At The Heart of Tjanpi Desert Weavers

In the tri-state border region of NT, SA and WA, distance is a considerable barrier and
Tjanpi becomes a vehicle for women to connect and reduce social isolation, earn meaningful income, and find innovative ways to fuel their creativity and share their own stories with the wider world.

Tjungungkula Palyanma - Making It Happen Together: A New Hub Helping to Keep Families Safe and Connected

Anangu children in the child protection system have been lost between three sets of rules in the tri-state region of SA, NT and WA. Each state has its own processes and systems and there is limited communication between agencies. This system has left children moved to cities in different states, different files created for the same child across three states, and families unable to navigate the complex systems. This situation has led to families losing contact with their children and children left disconnected from family, culture and country.

This is about to change - the Tjungungkula Palyanma (Making It Happen Together) Cross-Border Hub has been created by NPY Women’s Council’s Child and Family Wellbeing Service, funded by the Department of Social Services. This will give children and their families one clear, central place to turn to when navigating the child protection system. Based at NPYWC in Mparntwe, the hub will make sure Anangu families in the NT, SA and WA find out:

Where their children have been taken
Who is caring for their children
Whether Anangu kinship carers have been contacted
When they can visit their children
When their children will return to country

NPYWC staff will work with Territory Families, SA’s Department of Child Protection, and Communities WA to create a more responsive way of keeping children safe and allowing families to stay connected with children. The new hub offers families a central place to talk to NPYWC staff who will communicate with agencies on behalf of families.

The process supports communication across agencies, and places children’s wellbeing not bureaucracy at the centre.

This work directly supports Closing the Gap and reduces the number of children lost in the system, supports the use of kinship care, and will help children stay connected to their community, culture and country.

NPY Women's Council is grounded in, and continues to live and work on, the sovereign Lands of the Arrernte people, and the Aṉangu and Yarnangu people - the rightful custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands.

A Carer’s Story

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