Anmatjere News

As part of its reengagement strategy with clients, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Development Program (CDP) was on the road to deliver its Careers Expo. Over 13 and 14 July, three teams crisscrossed the region with a single objective: to bring together job seekers and employers in the region.

The themes of this year’s event were:

·         Continuing conversations with job seekers on the latest changes to mutual obligations by Government.

·         Surveying job seekers to capture their input on CDP servicing. 

·         Providing a pop-up jobs expo space for employers in the region to exhibit jobs and services to clients.   

The Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) People and Culture Recruitment Team have been busy over April and May running recruitment training in communities. This was the first time the team had been to most communities so it was a great opportunity for them to get to know more of the staff.

The training was aligned to the Recruitment and Selection Standard Operating Procedure with an aim to increase the accuracy and compliance of recruitment paperwork received as well as compliance to the procedure, policy and Local Government Act requirements.

In June 2021, the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Development Program (CDP) collaborated with DriveSafe to deliver remote licencing to jobseekers and residents in Yuelamu, Yuendumu, Laramba, Willowra and Anmatjere. Participants across these communities accessed theory classes and road safety education lessons towards their Learner and Provisional licences, and practical driving assessments.

A total of 137 people attended the training. 73 people gained their Learner licences, 12 obtained Provisional licences and 5 participants obtained full licences.  

On 23 and 24 June, Aged Care staff from all of the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Aged Care Centres - Anmatjere, Atitjere, Engawala, Lajamanu, Laramba, Nyirripi, Wilora, Willowra and Yuelamu came together in Alice Springs for two days of training with Culturally Directed Care Solutions (CDCS). CDCS assists remote aged care services to be more efficient, meet compliance standards and provide quality care to their target group.

CDRC is dedicated to training its staff to create the best possible outcomes for its residents.

Photo: The CDRC Aged Care staff.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Aged Care workers are now being vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. In Engawala, all staff and clients have been fully vaccinated, having received two shots. The staff were a little unsure at first but after Traditional Owner Kevin Bloomfield volunteered to go first the staff followed.

In other communities the staff have had only one shot, and in others still they are waiting for the next round of vaccines to arrive.

Photo: Wayne Porter, Aged Care Coordinator in Nyirripi, receiving his first Pfizer vaccine shot.

Anmatjere celebrated their NAIDOC Week early on Tuesday 22 June at the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) office in Ti Tree. NIADOC Week is July 4 – 11 this year but Anmatjere got in early so Ti Tree School could be involved. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country!’

There was a great turnout for the event, including local community members from Ti Tree town, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya and Wilora, Traditional Owners, CDRC Local Authority members and Councillors, CDRC staff, Local Police and Liaison Officer and of course special guests Ti Tree School.  The school students participated heavily in the NAIDOC Art Competition and produced some fantastic artwork, with the winner to receive a prize of $20 voucher to spend at Ti Tree Farm Garden.

On 6 June, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) teams from Yuelamu, Laramba, Nturiya, Pmara Jutunta, Atitjere, and Engawala travelled to Alice Springs for three days of training in Introductory Mediation and Peacemaking.  The program was delivered by Troy Degenhardt and Matthew Panayi of Northern Territory Alternate Dispute Resolution.

Over the three days, the group discussed traditional processes of dispute resolution and peacemaking, and were surprised to find that they were so similar to a formal mediation process.

Players from Atitjere, Engawala and Laramba will travel to Ti Tree on Wednesday 23 June to play in the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Intercommunity Softball Tournament. The four communities will play in a round robin competition, with the winner to represent CDCR at the upcoming Mparntwe Shield in Alice Springs.

It is expected that there will be a big crowd and the Pmara Jutunta community will make plenty of noise to support their home team.

Games will commence at Pmara Jutunta softball oval from 11:00am, with a community BBQ from 12:30pm. There will be giveaways for participants and medals for those lucky enough to win the tournament.

Last week, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Development Program (CDP) spent two days planting trees in Nturiya as part of an Anmatjere Local Authority project.

Fifty trees were planted on either side of the entrance to Nturiya. The project was led by CDP Activity Supervisor Rodney Baird with Ryan Nelson and Philip Slee (CDP Client Service Officers) closely supported by CDRC Works Team Leader Alan Davis and Works Crew Elias Birch-Baird, Jake Lerm and Michael Morozak-Smith. 

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.