Attach 4a Third Trip to Goldfields Region – Second Trip to Leonora

20-25 January 2018 (Accompanied by Bev Dufty)

Prevention of Trachoma Hygiene Project

Report

Purpose: This trip was undertaken to assess the extent of community support for the project, identify locals who wish to collaborate and ascertain any barriers/impediments that will have to be managed during the course of the pilot project.

The following we contacted. They were informed that Rotary intended undertaking a 2-year pilot Trachoma Hygiene Project, possibly commencing 1 January 2019. How it was operate was described, including plans to evaluate the project outcomes.

  1. Richard Evans, Aboriginal Elder, Wife Sandra, Kuwarra Language Group, Ex-Mt Margaret Mission People, Resides in a Green House at the northern most end of Gwalia Street, Leonora (Ph 0439 537 818)

Richard was contacted on 4 September 2017. Richard confirmed that infectious diseases associated with poor hygiene were a significant issue in the town. He thought that many families would welcome such an initiative. He implied that a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness pervaded amongst the Aboriginal Community. Richard emphasised that utilizing Aboriginal people to bring about behavioural changes would be an essential element for the success of the project. He thought that Aboriginal children and families and youths respond best to Aboriginal workers.

Telephone contact was maintained with Richard between visits.

Richard and Sandra were absent from Leonora during the 21-25 January 2018 visit. They were on a Pacific Cruise.

  1. Dr Clare Huppartz (Population Health), Alysha ?? (Dr Huppartz’s Population Health Superior), and Linda McLerie (Child Health Nurse) – Meeting held withBruce and Bev Dufty, and Dawn Brodie on 8/9/2017

-Bruce commenced by describing the Rotary Club of Melbourne’s public health initiative to End Trachoma by 2020. Dr Huppartz said that the Melbourne Club’s proposal also had flow-benefits for the prevention of Scabies,Impetigo and Rheumatic Fever because all these highly infectious conditions could be prevented by good family and school hygiene practices. She was strongly supportive of a project being conducted at Leonora where many Health Department initiatives had been only partially effective. Leonora was a good community to undertake a pilot to assessment an intervention strategy.

-The focus of discussion changed to intervention strategies that appeared to have come empirical support in respect to achievable outcomes. Dr Huppartz agreed that experiences from a number of Aboriginal communities in Western Australia that community bathrooms and laundries were not effective by themselves. Maintenance, repairs and supervision appeared to be required to make this option more effective.

-Similarly, soap programs and provision of mirrors were also not very effective by themselves.Dr Huppartz and Naomi Sprigg said that were not effective because effective residential and school hygiene practice were difficult to sustain for any length of time.

-Bruce then described some Rotary projects that appear to achieve sustainable behavioural change. The first example was the Kimberley Dental Health Program. It employs part=time local Aboriginals who work in both schools and family homes. This program has been operating for almost 10 years and there is strong evidence of sustained improvements in dental health care at schools and in Aboriginal communities. A second example, is the PATCHES Paediatrics Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) that Rotary is aware of in the Fitzroy Valley. They have employed local Aboriginal staff in schools and the community to undertake early intervention treatment and continually encourage the community to exercise responsible drinking. The third project was a Rotary Truancy Program at Punmu in the Pilbara that involved local Aboriginal workers in the construction, maintenance and management of an outdoor school and community facility. The project achieved community ownership, increased community participation in sport and reduced truancy levels. The model was adopted by the State Education Department and replicated in other areas of the State. Dr Huppartz asked whether Rotary could employ such workers. BD answered that it was on a contractual basis and in the case of the Kimberley Dental Health Program via a contract under the umbrella of a Dental Health Foundation. Dr Huppartz suggested that a combination of community bathrooms and laundries, soap or hygiene packs and mirrors with the involvement of local Aboriginal workers might be a good model to pilot in Leonora to determine its effectiveness and whether it is sustainable.

-Discussion then turned to promotion of healthy living. It was agreed that many past initiatives (posters, “Squeeky-Clean Kids” etc.) were not very effective. Dawn Brodie (Rotarian) suggested that “Hip-Hop” music has been successfully used to communicate messages in some communities. Aboriginals like seeing themselves and their community members in such programs. People present at this meeting liked this approach.

  1. Jennette Mansfield, Principal of Leonora District High School–Her State school comprises a High School, Primary school, Pre-school, Kindergarten and a Kindee Link Service, in block surrounded by Gwalia Street to the West, Rochester Street to the South, Hoover Street to the east and Trump Street to the north (School administration is at 157 Gwalia Street, Leonora – Ph 08 9037 6143, Personal Mobile 0408 092 308, Email )

Jennette had been contacted in 4 September 2017. During this visit Jennette reported that her school had experienced significant issues in trying to maintain effective hygiene practices to prevent Trachoma, Scabies, Impetigo and Rheumatic Fever. Washing with soap was difficult to maintain when home practices differed. Durable and larger size mirrors needed to be put in place in school bathrooms. She said she had a good teaching team but there was a constant struggle to offer meaningful education in a town with so many child and family issues and limited support from other human services. She said her own Department sometimes wanted to apply standards that are not appropriate to her population of students (e.g. NAPLAN Assessments).

-During the current visit (21-25 January 2018) she again expressed strong support for the project because it would prevent these highly infectious diseases re-occurring.

-She was excited about the possibility of this project coming to Leonora.

-She liked the plan to use part-time “Aboriginal Workers” to coach and facilitate good hygiene practices, particularly in families.

-She was aware that Evans family was strongly supportive of the proposed project. She diplomatically recommended that contact be made with other family representatives speaking different Aboriginal languages. She suggested contact with the following families:

  • Elder Gayle Harris (Mother of Fifi)
  • Fifi Harris (Ex-school employee – currently employed by Shire Council – whom she highly respected for her teaching skills and would like to have back in her school team) – Telephone 0437 968 493, Email
  • Diane Vincent (School employee not yet back at work)Excited about Project coming to Leonora
  • Maurveen Muir (nee Harris), Leonora Community Centre
  • Hogarth Family
  • Jade Harris (Fifi Harris’s Daughter), Leonora Community Centre

She also nominated the following Non-Aboriginals be contacted:

  • Chris Symonds, Maori, Leonora Community Centre
  • Sergeant Isaac Rinaudo, Leonora Police
  • Naomi Sprigg
  • Jim Epis, CEO, Leonora Shire Council

-I emphasised that the project that the project should not be an exclusive Aboriginal Community project. She thought the whole Leonora Community would be more accepting of the project if it had an Aboriginal focus, but not exclusively so.

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-She approved of adding the prevention of Scabies, Impetigo and Rheumatic Fever to the project. She would like to see dental health as also part of the project. She acknowledged that dental health required a slightly different strategy.

  1. Naomi Sprigg dos Santos, WACHS Community Health Nurse, Community Health Centre, Tower Street, between Rajah and Forrest Sts, Leonora, (Ph 08 9037 6083)

Naomi had been contacted in September 2017. She is an ex-Rotary Exchange Student who has worked as a WACHS Community Health Nurse for twenty years. She impressed as very competentperson who had a thorough understanding of her community. This impression was strongly reinforced by many Leonora community members and her superiors in Kalgoorlie. She was a strong advocate for an effective, family and school orientated preventative Trachoma Project.

-During this visit (21-25 January 2018) she again expressed strong support.

-She stated that a multi-faceted strategy needed to be piloted to determine its effectiveness. By this she meant;

  • 1-2 tranportable safe bathrooms for people who cannot bathe safely at home or for visitor overflow;
  • laundrette having two large washing for bedding and large items. She said she had found that the majority of homes in the town had small washing machines for personal clothing;
  • Employment of two Part-Time Aboriginal workers as coaches and faciltiators who cold visit families and the school to regularly visit to encourage routine and behavioural change to ensure improved hygiene practices;
  • Provision of mirrors in homes for children and adults to encourage good hygiene standards.

-The town had access to significant soap supplies through the “Squeeky Clean Kids Program, donated towels would also be beneficial to many families.

-She thought the Leonora as a whole would be more accepting of the project if it simultaneously aimed to prevent Scabies, Impetigo and Rheumatic Fever as the hygiene strategies for prevention of these conditions are identical to that for preventing Trachoma. Furthermore, the project would be more acceptable to the Leonora if it has an Aboriginal Community focus, but not exclusively so.

-In addition to the people recommended by Jennette,she said we should talk to:

  • Cado Muir, a local community leader
  • Cheryl Cottrell, Distance Education, Leonora School
  • Denese Mahoney, Director of Nursing, Leonora Hospital)
  • Gayle Brownley, Leonora Hospital
  • Chris Symonds, Centrecare, Leonora Community Centre
  • Lola Jones.
  1. Laura Litek, Co-ordinator, Leonora Community Centre, Tower Street, Leonora – Ph 0421 770 062

The Leonora Community Centre is a new facility constructed by the Leonora Shire Council. It consists of a computer centre for community members, interview rooms, conference rooms with video conference facilities and an outdoor garden function area. The facility also includes offices for Centrelink and Child Protection and Family Services.

-Laura believed that the Council was supportive of the proposed Prevent Trachoma Project.

-Laura stated that the facilities to the project team. There is a cost for using them but the Shire CEO is prepared to negotiate a different cost structure for the Project should a decision be made to utilise the facilities.

-Community ownership of the facility is strong. Many Aboriginal and non-indigenous community members refer to it as “their facility”.

-Current Booking information and prices are attached to the end of this document.

  1. Jim Epis, Chief Executive, Shire of Leonora, Tower Street, Leonora (Ph 08 9037 6044, Fax 08 9037 6295, Mobile 0418 118 220 Email )

Jim Epis had been contacted by telephone 20 days prior to the trip. He had requested a copy of the Prevent Trachoma Hygiene Project proposal that he wished to discuss with his Councillors.

-On arrival at his office he advised that he had taken the proposal to Council and that there was unanimous support for the project.

-He had also spoken to his Federal and State Government representatives and he reported that they were also supportive.

-He was anxious to provide Council support to ensure that the project was undertaken in the town. He said it had been reported to him that there was Trachoma would return to an high incidence level if there was no prevent program. He was relieved that the project had an Aboriginal focus but not exclusively so. He said that many Councillors wanted it to apply to the whole of the community. He said that this emphasis was important for the success of the project, especially in the light of recent vandalism at the Leonora Motor Inn.

-He was happy to make available the facilities at the Leonora Community Centre and indicated he was prepared to negotiate a better price for the use of the facilities.

-He was impressed that the pilot was being evaluated.

-He asked about funding and whether we had approached mining companies in the Northern Goldfields. He said he had good relationships with the companies and that he was prepared to advocate for funding of the project.

-He also discussed transportation to Leonora. He said that he thought we could probably get the most economic outcome with Skippers Aviation subject to negotiating in advance of the commencement of the project. He did not rule out the possibility of being able to negotiate a good outcome through the mining companies who frequently have vacant seats on their charter flights, though Skippers would probably offer the best deal for the duration of the project.

-When I mentioned that I needed to present the proposal to an Aboriginal Forum in Kalgoorlie, Jim expressed annoyance that this had to occur. He considered that the Northern Goldfields were uniquely different from other Goldfields towns, and that his town should be given responsibility for deciding what was appropriate for their community. He accepted my argument that it was important to keep the whole Region on side and that the meeting is really a rubber stamp.

  1. Sergeant Isaac Rinaudo, Officer in Charge, Police Station, Leonora(Ph 9037 6100 Email )

-Sergeant Rinaudo was pleased to be advised of the impending project.

  1. Chris Symonds, Centrelink, Leonora Community Centre, Tower Street, Leonora

-Chris was a Maori appointed to Centrelink in Leonora.

-He had not heard about the project but was very interested in it.

-Amongst his staff were Maurveen Muir (Nee Harris) and Jade Harris whom he considered would be valuable to talk to. He asked us to return when both girls would be in the office.

-He endorsed the project proceeding.

  1. Fifi Harris, Ex-teacher currently employed by the Leonora Shire Council, Tower Street, Leonora(Ph 08 9037 6044 or Personal Mobile 0437 968 493 Email - Resides to the north-east of Leonora – Right from Leinster-Agnew Road into Leonora-Nambi Road, then first left and then first house on the right)

-Fifi was interviewed at her home whilst child-minding and doing grandmother duties. She had read our proposal as part of Shire Council duties.

-Fifi said that the public relations and information program transmitted by television was a key factor in the success of the Fitzroy Valley FASD project. She asked whether public relations and an information program would be part of the Trachoma Project. Bruce responded that the Health Department had invested significant funds promoting good hygiene practices. The future project team and the End Trachoma By 2020 Team would probably need to consider whether further investment should be necessary.

-Her mother Gayle is a full-blood Aboriginal Elder who enjoys “going bush”. She admitted she also enjoyed the serenity of doing this too whenever she had the opportunity. She has married a non-indigenous man. She is a well-educated person, a language group leader and a very influential lady in regarding Aboriginal community issues in Leonora.

-She said most cultural groups in the town had lost their cultural links and were no longer adhering to their culture – e.g. not using kinship connections to understand their identity or deciding who to marry; not using languages; not using the Five Aboriginal Seasons; etc.

-She said that Native Title was unresolved in the Leonora area. It was the source of much tension between the language groups and families in the town. She said this would be the biggest challenge for the project. Unlike the Fitzroy Valley where June Oscar was a very dominant Aboriginal person, Leonora has no clear leadership structure. She said that the Evans family (Kuwarra Language Group) consistently out of step with the other Language Groups when resolving common community issues. She said other family groups in the town were the

  • Ngalia,
  • Martu from the Wiluna area (Manyjulyjar language Group),
  • Ngaanyatjarra-Pitjatjantjarra-Yankunytjatjarra language groups from Laverton and to the east of this town,
  • Cundeelee Wangka (small in number) from Kalgoorlie,
  • Ngaju (small in number) from the Coolgardie-Norseman are and east of these towns,
  • the Harris family (Tjupan Language Group)
  • Muir family (part Martu and ???)
  • Vincent Family (Yamatji)
  • Dan Family (???)
  • Hogarth Family (???) – Who related well to the Evans Family
  • Elliott Family (???)

-Fifi recommended we also consult Denese Mahoney, Director of Nursing at the Hospital, Gayle Burnley at the Leonora Hospital, Cheryl Cottrell in District Education, Gayle Harris and Cado Muir. She suggested that we speak to Maurveen Muir (nee Harris) to obtain directions to Cado’s home.

-Fifi made available two hours to talk with us, when she was flying to Perth the following day. During this period, discussions spread to other issues not germane to the Trachoma project. One such issue was the universal nature of the School Breakfast Program whereby responsible families who had given their children breakfast prior to attending school, were no longer required to provide breakfast for their children. This meant that their parents had become less central in their children’s lives, they had surplus money and they had invariably chosen to spent their surplus on alcohol. She believed that the program needs to be reviewed and made more needs-based so that it does not erode parental responsibilities.