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Parenting and Early Childhood Development
in Wiluna and Surrounding Communities, WA

Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.5 Autumn 2004 p.39

First glimpse - project responses to a series of questions

The project setting

Located 950km from Perth, Wiluna is an isolated community on the edge of the Little Sandy Desert. It is the starting point of both the Canning Stock Route to Halls Creek and the Gunbarrel Highway to Alice Springs. The Wiluna Shire covers an area of 184,000 square kilometres and has a population of 1200. This includes station families and mining personnel. The township's population of about 300 is predominately indigenous. Support structures are limited in Wiluna and many families are living in poverty.

This is a partnership project with several State and Commonwealth departments and is auspiced by Nganagganawili Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation.

Why is the project needed?

There are several major issues that impact on the health and wellbeing of people in Wiluna and surrounding communities which have direct consequences for the health and wellbeing of the young children. There is very limited formal and informal access to parenting supports in the community. Alcohol consumption is at an alarmingly high level and children's safety and security as well as nutrition have been identified as problematic.

What are you trying to do in this project?

The major aim of this project is to enhance family functioning, parenting skills and child health and development. Positive parenting is an essential element of improved health and wellbeing of young children. The project will therefore aim to promote positive interactions and improve relationships between parents and young children, enhance the knowledge, skills and confidence of parents and improve family circumstances such as the home environment and family health.

The early intervention project will work towards assisting young children in the community (0-5 years of age) to progress towards age appropriate health, education, social and cultural development levels. Preparation for the school system is also a particular focus of this project.

How are you going about it?

A Project Coordinator has been appointed and a steering committee and community based reference group are being established. Once these are in place the appointment of indigenous trainees will be a priority. The staff will receive education and training in all aspects of the project, building on existing skills and strengths to ensure that programs continue in the community once the project is completed.

Through community consultation, numerous strategies have been developed.

Plans include:

• playgroups for young children and their parents and grandparents;
• mentoring and role modelling programs involving new mothers and mature mothers and grandmothers;
• cultural activities including art/craft, bush picnics, story telling;
• educational workshops on such topics as nutrition, caring for new babies, hygiene, budgeting, etc;
• immunisation and health clinics/ education;
• personal development and training opportunities;
• parent education to enhance parenting skills and coping strategies;
• integration into pre-primary/formal schooling;
• and self-esteem and sexual health programs for adolescent girls and young mothers.

A focal point will be a new purposebuilt facility where educational workshops, children's activities and social gatherings can take place.

Many women have contributed to plans for the centre through the consultations. Their ideas are already adding to the strategies for supporting young mothers in particular through the documenting of their own stories about growing up and their experiences with their parents and grandparents. These are being recorded as photo stories to be shared with the next generations.

Collaboration with other local initiatives of the Wiluna Shire and the Aboriginal Medical Service included a recent elders' barbecue to encourage young people to show their respect and love for the senior members of the community. It was organised by the shire's Youth, Recreation and Community Development Officer with youngsters cooking, preparing and serving the meal and cleaning up afterwards. This event was a great start to our strategy of bringing youngsters and positive older role models closer together while promoting healthy lifestyles and working cooperatively. Around forty elders attended and were so enthusiastic and appreciative that it will become a monthly event.

A teenage ball was held in December. Young girls are continuing to attend workshops around health, hygiene and self esteem that began as preparations. This includes designing and sewing their dresses for the big event.

The activities undertaken so far and the invitations to share ideas for the centre have contributed to really positive energy at the prospect of a new project and building focussing on families and younger children.