Atitjere News

Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May until 3 June every year. These dates commemorate the 27 May 1967 referendum and the 3 June 1992 High Court Mabo decision. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 To commemorate this Reconciliation Week, after four years after it came out, here is the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ as spoken by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich and Troy Cassar-Daley, with music by Midnight Oil.

Last week was Atitjere’s turn to be visited by the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Roads team and their grader for some grounds maintenance Desert Style. 

The team had spent two days at Irrerlirre and Mount Eaglebeak working on access roads and firebreaks as part of CDRC Homelands works, before moving to Atitjere.

“On Friday it was the Atitjere football oval and softball diamond that were getting a spruce up.  The roads crew were doing their own special take on circle work!” said Warren Kenney, Community Services Coordinator Atitjere.

All the staff from Central Desert Regional Council’s (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) attended training in Alice Springs on 17 and 18 May.  Staff from Yuelamu, Laramba, Atitjere, Engawala, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya, and Lajamanu attended, and it was the first opportunity for the staff to get together since biosecurity restrictions were introduced in the communities in March 2020.

On the first day staff received a refresher in Council Policies, and had a chance to ask questions of the General Manager People and Culture, Irenee McCreevy, and Work Health and Safety Advisor, Carmen Hunter.

First Aid and Manual Handling training was delivered at Atitjere Aged Care for Atitjere and Engawala staff last week. The Atitjere Aged Care and CSP staff completed the First Aid training and the Manual Handling training was undertaken by the Atitjere and Engawala Aged Care staff.

Photo above: Phillip Carter, Kayleen Mills, Elizabeth Ross, Jacinta Glen and Cameron Reiff in the First Aid training session.

 The April 2021 edition of the Central Desert News is out now! You can view it by opening the attachment below.

In this edition:

- Nyirripi Childcare centre reopens

- It's raining training at CDRC!

- A lot of actual rain

- Imparja Cup

- 2020/21 Year planner

• and much more!

These are the premier Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) awards, now in their third running. The value of the awards has been increased as the standard has increased. The awards were formally acknowledged at the last All Staff meeting in March, where winners received a certificate, $200 voucher and a mug commemorating the value the winner is demonstrating.

Congratulations to all the winners, well done on demonstrating the values and your strong contribution to Council.

On 17 March more Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) staff members attended a four wheel drive course, after another course run on 17 February. This time there were staff from Community Development Program (CDP), Community Safety Patrol (CSP), Works and Aged Care.

Main photo: Practicing four wheel driving on dirt roads.

Every March 8^th is International Women’s Day. Today we are celebrating with an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC), Diane Hood.

What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?

The inherent challenges to women in our society are sexism and unconscious bias against them. It is assumed that women should act in a certain way; nurturing and caring, but at the same time when in a leadership role they are expected to be logical and decisive, which are traditionally seen as male traits. When a female executive doesn’t act the way they are expected to it is hard for them to be seen as an individual with individual strengths and weaknesses.

The Atitjere Local Authority (LA) decided they wanted barbecues in their community – and they got them. Two fixed barbecues were located at sites that the community wanted for family gatherings and social events, and a barbecue trailer is an asset to both Atitjere and the surrounding outstations, as it can be used for a variety of functions ranging from birthdays to funerals and everything in between.

Back in July 2020 the first barbecue was installed at the rear of the Recreation hall by Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC). It included an LED light.