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

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.

A Carer’s Story

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.

Young Men Changing The Story: A Powerful Workshop Against Violence and Stereotypes

This year, many community members raised concerns about ongoing alcohol-related violence affecting Anangu families in Mparntwe, Adelaide and Port Augusta. Young people in Mutitjulu were aware of these incidents and expressed their worry about how Anangu were being spoken about in the media.

With funding support provided by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Youth Service brought together young men aged 20 to 25 years old. The group went out on country for a hunting trip, which gave space for conversations to happen in a way that felt right.

During the trip, the young men shared how they were feeling: sadness, worry, shame and embarrassment were common emotions. They also talked about the importance of family members cutting back on alcohol, their own choices around staying away from drugs and alcohol, and how coming back to Mutitjulu from town can help keep them safe.

The young men had a lot to say and showed strong thinking around how these issues affect them and what helps them deal with such issues. They spoke honestly and shared ideas about what’s working for them and what’s not. The Youth Service then used ideas to help shape how the Mutitjulu Youth Program responds when working with issues around alcohol abuse and male violence.

This workshop was a powerful and important space to support young men feeling the weight of judgement, and the real struggle they face to remain strong in hard situations. This activity elevated the voices of these young people who we support to continue being active advocates in their communities and step forward into leadership and employment
opportunities with us and other services in the region. NPY Women’s Council believes and invests in our future operational workforce and that of the NPY region.

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.

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

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