IN THIS ISSUE

> Tackling heart disease in remote NT

> Dreaming of two sheds and a couple of dongason

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May 2009

CEO’S MESSAGE

We do things with people, not to them

and not for them

HEART TO HEART

Collaboration in Santa Teresa to

get every child’s heart okay

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EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS A SHED

A Noongar community helps realise

its cultural and economic hopes

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ICV HUMAN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BUILDING BLOCKS

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2 ICV NEWS

May 2009 ICV News

Front Cover: Dianne Bruce and

Rhys Ulamari, Santa Teresa.

Photograph: ICV

Artwork: Rowena Lynch, acrylic

dot painting 2009, Santa Teresa.

Copyright 2009 Indigenous

Community Volunteers

ABN 900 9312 3418

Editor: Toni Hassan

editor@icv.com.au

This newsletter is printed on

Australian made, recycled paper.

If you would like to be included

on or removed from our mailing

list please contact the editor

by email or call 02 6122 6444.

Indigenous Community

Volunteers (ICV) is a

not-for-profit, non-government

organisation promoting human

and community development

through volunteers.

OUR PURPOSE Indigenous Community Volunteers exists to provide

opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people to develop human and community capacity in order

to improve their quality-of-life, health, social and economic

wellbeing and participation in Australian society.

OUR VISION An Australia where all Australians live in harmony and

where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people share

the same rights, respect and access to opportunities

and rewards, and where their culture is valued and

recognised as an asset to Australian society.

OUR CORE VALUES The spirit of ICV’s Core Values applies to all our

interactions—within and outside our organisation.

> Honesty, Integrity, Trust and Respect

> Look, Listen, Learn and Respond

> Flexibility

> Mutual Reciprocity

> Community Development

> Invitation

> Best Practice and High Quality

> Volunteer Support

Contents

3

Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) is in an

independent, non-profit organisation that provides

direct, practical and participatory development with

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our

vast continent.

We have a mandate to do so. In fact, we have a strong

moral obligation to act, and wisely invest monies

that have been entrusted to us to assist Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander Australians achieve

locally-driven outcomes.

ICV is, first and foremost, a human and community

development organisation that uses volunteers who

engage in creative and diverse projects to achieve

the goals and aspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander individuals, families and communities

we serve.

We do things with people, not to them and not for

them. Our work is collaborative, proactive, evidence-

based and committed to listening and learning at the

grassroots. We provide choices to Indigenous people.

They remain in control throughout a project.

ICV draws on the strengths of communities, not

their deficits. A big part of that is respecting the

dignity of individuals and their culture and entering

into partnerships based on mutual reciprocity.

Reconciliation is central, with projects that contribute

to the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Australians.

There is an overwhelming case for work of this kind.

Past practice has fallen short. Disadvantage remains

at chronic, or, some cases, worsening levels.

I don’t need to bombard you with statistics that

highlight the gulf between Indigenous and non-

Indigenous Australians in terms of health and

education. However, a fact that still bites into my

heart is that if you are born in Australia and you

are Aboriginal, you are three times more likely to

die before the age of one. If you are Aboriginal and

born in the city, you are five times more likely to die

before reaching the age of one. Every such statistic

is a story, a tragic and preventable one.

In one of the world’s wealthiest countries, there is

no reason why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

children cannot reach their full human potential

through improved health and school systems.

Except a lack of will, collaboration and imagination.

Founded in 2000, ICV has evolved into a robust

organisation that supports staff and volunteers to

act as advocates and change agents of community

development in the field.

There have been countless positive results. The

number of projects we support has steadily risen and,

in general, an increasing number of volunteers—from

all walks of life—have gone away feeling that they

have got more out of the project than they put in.

ICV is committed to better measuring our success

and capturing the experiences of participants as we

expect more quality engagement with communities

we work in.

A new outcome performance measurement system

is being trialed and will be implemented from

July 1, 2009.

As we grow our funding sources outside of the

Commonwealth Government, ICV also intends to

increase its visibility and work in urban Australia where

most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live.

This is exciting, as is every project ICV is part of.

We are targeting our investments to make a bigger

difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people, and will strive to continue to do so,

making a tangible contribution to closing the gap

in every sense.

Gregory Andrews, CEO

May 2009

“ A fact that still bites into my heart is that

if you are born in Australia and you are

Aboriginal, you are three times more likely to

die before the age of one. Every such statistic

is a story, a tragic and preventable one.”

Strengthening partnerships

CEO’s message

4 ICV NEWS

School student, Ryhs Ulamari, with

radiopgrapher and ICV volunteer,

Dianne Bruce, performing an

ultrasound to examine the heart

called an echocardiogram.

ICV is helping prevent heart disease among

children in remote Central Australia

Heart to Heart

Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) is a partner

with the Menzies School of Health Research in a

project in central Australia with Arrernte people that

will prolong and save lives.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a disease prevalent in

developing countries, is a serious problem for young

Indigenous people. It is a disease of disadvantage that

causes early death.

Central Australia has the highest rates of RHD in the

world. Indigenous children aged 5-14 years of age

account for over 50% of new cases.

The Menzies School of Health Research, a highly-

regarded, Aboriginal focused health organisation

based in Darwin, is being supported by ICV to check

the hearts of school children in Santa Teresa, a small

community 80 kilometres from Alice Springs.

“We don’t normally have the same opportunities as

people in the big cities. It’s very hard for families to

travel in to town,” said Imelda Palmer, the Deputy

Principal of Santa Teresa Community School.

“Our children are very lucky that the Menzies School

of Health and ICV have brought this opportunity to

us here,” she said.

ICV contributed to the project by sending radiographer

Dianne Bruce to Santa Teresa from Melbourne. She

underwent training in cross cultural awareness, ICV’s

principles and community development model.

“The complications of rheumatic heart disease on

children can be devastating. It makes it very difficult

for kids to concentrate and learn in the classroom,”

said John Reid, Central Australia Research Assistant

with the Menzies School of Health Research.

“As an educator and a former teacher I’m delighted

that we are working to find out how big the problem

of RHD is in the Northern Territory. Early detection

will mean that we can treat children and give them an

opportunity to thrive and live a healthy life,” John said.

Santa Teresa, known in the traditional language as

Ltyentye Apurte, is one of many communities that

the Menzies School of Health Research is hoping to

reach in the Northern Territory with its preventive

Rheumatic Heart Screening Project.

Research Study Coordinator with the Menzies School

of Health Research, Loraine Kelpie, knows that

every poor statistic represents lost human potential.

“The most important thing is changing policy and

procedures to identity problems early. This is a disease

of poverty that can be eradicated,” Loraine said.

RHD is the result of repeated and prolonged attacks

of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) causing worsening and

permanent heart valve damage.

ARF is caused by a reaction to a group A Streptococcus

bacteria infection of the throat, or possibly the skin,

when it is left untreated, and usually results in lasting

damage to the valves of the heart. It is a very painful

condition, requiring hospitalisation.

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Unlike all other heart diseases, RHD is easily

preventable with screening and penicillin injections.

The high rates of ARF and RHD in Aboriginal

populations are not due to any inherent susceptibility

or ethnicity, but are related to overcrowding and

continuing poor living conditions—just as similarly

high rates of ARF were recorded in non-Indigenous

people in Melbourne during the depression years.

The Santa Teresa project is different from ICV’s past

ways of working because the health research school

initiated the three-way partnership between Menzies,

the Santa Teresa Community School and ICV.

ICV Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Andrews, said

it represented the strategic direction ICV is heading

in. Stakeholders, such as health providers and

researchers, in addition to Indigenous individuals

and communities, can proactively approach ICV to

partner with it on development projects that improve

Indigenous wellbeing and help to close the gap on

Indigenous disadvantage.

“ICV plans to support the Menzies School of Health

Research with more volunteers to screen thousands

of children in other remote communities. It has

enormous potential.”

Yuendumu, one of the largest Aboriginal communities

in Central Australia, is one community earmarked for

support in the future.

Imelda Palmer, the Deputy Principal of Santa Teresa

Community School, said her community is enthusiastic

about what the local project can deliver:

“The school is very happy to cooperate. There has been

strong support for this project from the families. We

have about 130 kids here and we want them to grow

up strong and healthy and have a good future,”

Imelda said.

There is recognition of the project in the wider

community. Josie Golder Palmer, the caretaker of

Santa Teresa’s church (famous for its mural interior

combining Christian symbolism and spirituality with

Aboriginal spirituality and art practice) said the RHD

project is vital.

“We are proud of our ancestry and cultural heritage

and care deeply about our children’s futures,” she said.

“ The complications of rheumatic heart

disease can be devastating. Early detection

will mean that we can treat children and

give them an opportunity to thrive and

live a healthy life.”

John Reid, Central australia Research Assistant, Menzies School of Health Research.

“ It’s very hard for families to travel into

town. A real advantage of the project is

that it has brought the service out here.”

Imelda Palmer, Deputy Principal, Santa Teresa Community School with volunteer Dianne Bruce.

“ Menzies is very pleased to be working

in partnership with ICV on this project.”

John Reid, Central australia Research Assistant, Rheumatic Heart Disease Project, Menzies School of Health Research, with ICV CEO, Gregory Andrews.

Josie Palmer and ICV Regional Coordinator, Bob

Durnan inside the Santa Teresa church. Santa Teresa

is one of many Central Australian communities

where rates of RHD are unacceptably high.

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ICV NEWS6

While it’s said that ‘every bloke needs a shed’, a couple

of sheds and demountable cabins known as ‘dongas’

built in regional Western Australia have brought a

community together, and strengthened economic and

social development at Coobabla Farm, two hours east

of Perth.

“The final building inspection was a triumphant

occasion as the community’s dreams took shape,” said

Robert Vincent, a volunteer with ICV on the project.

Coobabla Farm is a 650 hectare mixed farming property

purchased with the assistance of the Indigenous Land

Corporation (ILC) for the Woolah Wah Land Aboriginal

Corporation (WWLAC) as a land base for the Coobabla

Farm community and its future generations.

WWLAC wanted to improve accommodation and build

a workshop and multi-purpose cultural centre. It used

Indigenous Community Volunteers and funding from

ILC to make it happen.

ICV senior project officer, Doyen Radcliffe, facilitated

a planning workshop with WWLAC. That workshop

paved the way for ICV’s involvement.

Retired engineer and teacher Robert Vincent, 67, was

one of two ICV volunteers who spent a couple of

months at Coobabla Farm working with Community

Development Employment Program (CDEP) employees

and the wider community. Robert coordinated the

construction of a 6x12 metre shed to provide workshop

space and a 12x12 metre shed that now acts as the

community’s new Cultural Centre.

Nevell Hungerford, a volunteer with an agriculture

background from Queensland, helped survey and

prepare the site for the two new sheds and oversaw

the construction of a breeze-way between two portable

buildings or ‘dongas’. The dongas were installed in

order to house city-based family members who want

a break and reconnect with family and country.

Cultural and economic hopes

of a Noongar community in

Western Australia were realised

with a local shed construction

crew, practical support from ICV

volunteers and collaboration with

the Indigenous Land Corporation.

SHED DREAMING IN THE WEST

“ It was a project that allowed members

of the community to get first-hand

experience on a project that was not

only for them, but built by them.“

Left to Right: ICV’s Doyen Radcliffe, ILC’s project

officer, Kylie Tame, Elder Denis Hayward and ICV

volunteer, Robert Vincent. The project represented

a unique partnership between the Indigenous

Land Corporation, the Woolah Wah Corporation

and Indigenous Community Volunteers.

Levi installing a roller door.

7

Woolah Wah Aboriginal Corporation senior Elder,

chairperson and property caretaker, Denis Hayward,

was also instrumental, as was his son, Hedley and the

ILC project advisor Kylie Tame.

“Everyone got on very well, despite our disparate ages

and stages in life. While I drove the technical and

teaching aspects of the project, the rest was left to

elder, Denis, who kept things rolling,” said Robert.

It was a project that allowed members of the

community to get first-hand experience on a project

that was not only for them, but built by them.

While the community realised a dream, Robert utilised

his considerable experience in engineering and project

supervision. In the absence of detailed drawings he

consulted the team and made practical changes to

make the sheds more user-friendly.

“The young blokes were strong and they were careful.

They had had safety training and were attentive when

shown things. I could rely on them to do things well,”

said Robert.

Their schedule was tight but flexible. Team members

prepared the slabs, installed the framework, had

drawings approved by council, obtained quotes and

grasped the intricacies of what was required with

what everyone had.

“There were no dramas. We solved problems on the

spot. We built what the community wanted with the

materials we had: supplies provided by ILC and other

recycled farm materials,” he said.

Robert is a keen traveler of Celtic background who has

worked overseas over many years. He grew up in rural

Victoria enjoying the bush.

“Where I grew up there were no Aboriginal or Torres

Strait Islander people around. Being at Coobabla was

refreshing. I felt comfortable there.

“It was wonderful sharing the aspirations of Coobabla

residents and to make some small contribution,”

he added.

“We constantly sought better ways to perform tasks.

In all, it was a respectful learning environment where

two catchphrases applied, ‘If you haven’t made a

mistake, you haven’t made anything; just figure out

how to fix it’, and ‘By the end of the day you will be

an expert, so give it a go’.”

Elder Denis Hayward said he was happy with the

process, and specially pleased that it helped his

grandsons, Lindsay and Levi, learn new skills.

Denis chuckled, “It has been a good learning

experience. The boys now go into town bragging how

they helped build the sheds! It is good to see the boys

have ownership of something they helped build.”

Denis continues to keep in touch with Robert as

a friend.

“ It was wonderful sharing the aspirations

of Coobabla residents and to make some

small contribution.”

Robert Vincent, volunteer

“ It is good to see the boys have ownership

of something they helped build.”

Denis Hayward, Woolah Wah Aboriginal Corporation senior Elder.

Left: An assessor gives the construction the thumps up.

Right: In the thick of it: Eric, Levi and Lindsay.

Community Elder Denis Hayward as the team

mixes and positions the cement fill.Ph

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info@icv.com.auFREE CALL1800 819 542 www.icv.com.au

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8 ICV NEWS

What is Human and Community Development?ICV’s key building blocks

Thank youICV receives generous funding from the Commonwealth

Government, Shell Australia, National Australia Bank,

ENI Australia and the Western Australian Government.

We receive in-kind support from Acton Corporate Partners,

AusAID, Australian Business Volunteers, Engineers

Without Borders, Ernst & Young, and Icelab Pty Ltd.

ICV welcomes enquiries from organisations who

would like to become partners.