Tribute to ‘Thapich’ (1937 – 2011)We would like to acknowledge and honour Napranum’s beloved Thanakwith elder ‘Thapich’ who passed away on 23 April 2011.

Thapich enriched the lives of many people through her wise teaching and her life-long mission to keep her culture proud and strong.

It is with great pride that we dedicate this first newsletter to NPG’s Patron,‘Thapich’ and her inspirational life that she shared so generously with others.

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Thapich had a love of family and a special place in her heart for children. She worked in education for over 50 years through her work as a teacher in the mission school, then as a kindergarten teacher in the 1960’s in Napranum. In later years she established a children’s holiday program on her traditional homelands of Bouchat.

She possessed a special ability to talk with people from all walks of life, enriching the lives of many

people through her courage and artistic talent. Her art was an expression of her people’s – Thanakwith – ancestral narratives and law handed down from one generation to the next. She was Australia’s first Indigenous ceramic artist and in her later life was honoured by Honorary Doctorates from Griffith and James Cook University. In 2005 she was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia. One of her artworks can be seen below.

A Love for Family and Education

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PAL COMMUNITIES There are currently 15 PaL Communities which can be found all over Australia. Which Community is closest to you? (page 2)

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TUTOR CONNECT With the support of the Telstra Foundation, PaL is meeting the needs of PaL tutors and families in remote Indigenous communities (page 3)

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THAPICH ART. Thapich was Australia’s first Indigenous ceramic artist. Her art was an expression of Thanakwith Ancestral Law and Narratives passed down generations (above).

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THE PAL POSTPARENTS AND LEARNING - ENGAGING FAMILIES IN EDUCATION

ISSUE NO.1 - APRIL 2012!

CONTENTS!

Our PaL CommunitiesAbout Me! 2Program Design/ InnovationTutor Connections! 3Research & DevelopmentLittle Star in Noonkanbah! 4Planning for the FutureAchievements! 5Building PartnershipsPaL’s Top Tips! 6

ABOUT ME

Name Rebecca Smith

Community: Bayulu, WA

Position: PaL Tutor

Duration: 12 months

Favourite Book: I Won’t Bite by Rod Campbell. I like this book because the kids love it. They get to feel different textures and learn to describe them.

Favourite Game: Odd One Out (in this game children develop their close looking and language skills by finding the similarities and differences in animal cards)

What I love about PaL: Parents want their kids to get ready for school and they want them to learn. PaL provides parents with books and games that both they and their kids like and can learn from. This helps our kids get ready for school.

Rebecca has been our longest serving tutor in the Kimberley. She has assisted with the start-up and implementation of PaL in Bayulu and Noonkanbah communities and has also travelled on behalf of PaL as a community liaison. Thank you for your work Rebecca!

PAL HAS GROWN AND HAS NOW BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED IN 15 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

2011 saw the PaL program enter its 10th year of operations. PaL has grown and has now been successfully established in 15 Indigenous communities across Australia.

The PaL program is continuing to expand its reach to other remote communities in Queensland and Western Australia.

Through DEEWR and the PaCE funding program PaL has begun operating in Umagico, New Mapoon and Lockhart River in Cape York. 2011 saw the program successfully begin in the Kimberley Region of W.A. with the communities of Bayulu, Yungngora, Beagle Bay and Ardyaloon.

We look forward to sharing more about these communities throughout 2012 as these programs grow and become more established.

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Communities

15Dedicated Staff

Members

24Number of Families

Participating

134

Program Design & Innovation

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Book Program / PaL Early

Literacy Films:The PaL Book Program, recently re-badged ‘BookStart’ has proven to be the ‘best fit’ design for our new communities delivering PaL. Bookstart is supported by PaL Early Literacy Films for both Level 1 and 2. The DVD’s produced strengthen this program as tutors can view parents modelling reading and using early literacy learning strategies specific to each book being delivered.

Curriculum Manual:The production of Level 1 and 2 Curriculum Manuals for the BookStart program has recently been completed. This additional resource consolidates the program by bringing all aspects of the curriculum together with the support material for tutors.

PAL - BRINGING EDUCATION TO YOUR DOORSTEP

Lurline Callope, one of our PaL Directors shows a PaL kit to an Aurukun parent.

Thala Wallis shares an early literacy film and story on an electronic ‘tablet’ with her family.

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TUTOR CONNECT: CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIESVirtual Training Using Tablet Technology (VTTT)

The Telstra Foundation through their Social Innovations Grant supported us in developing this VTTT project. This project is about making education more ‘accessible’ to Indigenous parents and families living in remote communities. This project focuses on training and support for PaL tutors and families in remote locations through the utilisation of new communication technologies.

In 2011 we purchased 18 Samsung Galaxy Tablets (7 inch) and worked in collaboration with Carbon Media (an Indigenous Brisbane based media company) to develop a communication device with specific software material and individualised applications to meet the needs of PaL tutors and families in remote Indigenous communities.

The creation of ‘Tutor Connections’, a custom built application designed for PaL tutors and families, has been the highlight of the project. Carbon Media have worked closely with us to create this innovative application that will offer diverse opportunities to both tutors and families as well as take our organisation and program to a whole new level. The next 12 months will be very exciting as we progress the project from Developmental Stage to Trial and Implementation Stage and use it in communities.

Operations Manual:This is a step by step guide to assist people involved in implementing the PaL Program in their Community. It guides users of PaL through the start-up phase.

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Research & DevelopmentNPG and Griffith University have been working together on a research project to help measure the impact of PaL within communities and to develop a long term evaluation strategy. Building on previous work done in 2010 a collaborative approach between NPG and Griffith University was used to plan a way forward. By August 2011, Bev Fluckiger and Helen Klieve (Griffith Staff) were on site in Napranum and Stage 1 of the project began. Follow up work and a second site visit was undertaken in October. Since then, the data collected by the University staff has been collated and analysed and is currently being compiled as a report. The information and findings will provide us with some valuable feedback and will also be used to help prepare an application for a larger Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant.

Written by Donita Button

“Ulana is 4 years old and goes to Kindy at Kulkarriya Community School. When she started the PaL Program last year, she would just look at the pictures and listen to the story. Now she is a confident ‘out of context’ reader. I’m proud of her achievements and hope she becomes a great reader and writer in the future.”

Ulana recently received excellent results in her Early Literacy Achievement tests at big school and is now completing Level 2 of the PaL program with the support of her family. She is also an honorary ‘PaL Special Helper’ as she helps her Aunty Lurlene deliver PaL packs every Monday.

Well done Ulana, we’re very proud of you too!

Little Star in Noonkanbah!

INTRODUCING - JOYCE BROWN

Hi, my name is Joyce Brown and I have been a PaL Tutor in the community of Napranum since early 2010. Napranum was the first community to begin PaL back in 2001 so I feel pretty proud to work with these women here who started it all.

I have 3 children of my own; two boys (age 5 & 10) and one girl (age 11); that’s how I came to know about PaL, by taking part with all three of my children. They really loved the time I spent with them reading books and playing games and they still love to read books now that the older ones are at big school.

When PaL was looking for another Tutor I put myself forward for the job. I wanted to help other parents have fun with their kids while learning. Being a PaL Tutor makes me feel good. I have learnt a lot more from PaL training and know that sharing this information with other parents is really helpful for them and their kids.

When I’m not working I like to take my kids fishing down at Jessica Point. In the next edition of ‘The PaL Post’ I’ll share some of my favourite things about PaL with you.

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JOYCE reads ‘The Echidna and the Shade Tree’ to two of our eager PaL participants

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Strategic Planning• • •

The Napranum PaL Group is now firmly established as a not for profit group in its own right. It’s greatest challenge lies ahead in remaining a viable and sustainable not for profit business.

The NPG members met at the end of 2011 to review the year that had passed and to build new action plans for the year ahead. The areas under discussion included: PaL Programs and projects in new and existing communities; Achievements – Projects completed; Training and Development; Partnerships / Relationships; Tablet Technology; Funding / Reporting; Marketing; Research and Governance.

GROUP MEMBERSCurrent Napranum Parents and Learning Group Members and Patron

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Napranum(PaL(Group(Members(

Lurline!Callope:!Director! !!!!!!!!!!!!!Relena!Ara:!!Director!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Corine!Matasia:!!Director!

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Lavinia!Kris:!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Lucy!Hudson:!!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sonia!Schuh:!!Member!

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Michelle!Perry:!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Roy!Chevathen:!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Chris!Hanrahan:!!Member!

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Roshni!Senapati:!!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Paul!Wand:!!Member!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Patron:!Chris!Sarra!

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ACHIEVEMENTS: HARD WORK DOES PAY OFF

Relena Ara (NPG Director) giving her acceptance speech at the Reconciliation Awards, May 2011.

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NPG’s hard work and credibility as a not for profit business has been recognised in the following achievements so far:2011: Winners - Queensland Premiers Reconciliation Award – Community Organisation

2010: Finalist (top 8) – National Indigenous Governance Awards – Reconciliation Australia2007: Finalist – Prime Ministers Business Partnership Awards

PAL’S MISSIONOur mission is to help other’s to help themselves; empower families to engage in their child’s early education by building confidence, capacity and providing them with practical resources and ongoing support

PAL’S VISIONAs a proud and strong Indigenous Organisation, Napranum PaL Group’s Vision is for every child to be provided with the opportunity to achieve their full potential with the support of an empowered, confident and capable community behind them.

PAL IS BASED INNapranum, QLD.

EXTRA INFOWe are a home-based parent engagement program that supports parents to participate in their young child’s early literacy learning by providing resources and training delivered to family homes.

THANKS TOCorine MatasiaTrish BuxtonChris HanrahanLurlene ButtonDonita ButtonUlana Button Rebecca SmithJoyce BrownAli Hiscocksfor their contributions to this newsletter.

The PaL PostIssue No. 1 April 2012

For any more information please contact:info@parentsandlearning.com

Cairns Early Years Centre (The Benevolent society)

• • •A new partnership was developed in 2011 with the Benevolent Society, who are the governing body supporting the development of the Cairns Early Years Centre. The Cairns Early Years Centre offers services to families with young children from pre-birth to 8 years old – health clinics, playgroups, parenting programs, come yarn and play (Indigenous families); kindergarten, etc. The service area covers from Balaclava south to Gordonvale and activities are held in the centre, as well as many other venues from Earlville to Gordonvale.

The PaL team worked to further develop a ‘Train the Trainer’ package for the Cairns Early Years Centre. At the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 training sessions were held with the CEYC staff in readiness for the PaL program to begin in Term 2 2012. The program will be accessible to families across a broad range of cultures and backgrounds. This partnering opportunity is a first for NPG and is being considered as a ‘pilot project’ as we are working from a new and different platform.

Building Partnerships

PaL Top Tips1. Always sit with your child close when you read or share a book with them

2. Turn off the TV or radio when you read to your child - it helps them hear your voice clearly and really tune into the book and the time they spend with you.

3. Let your child hold the book and help turn the pages - they learn more about books and how to take care of them when they do this.

4. See if they can tell you which is the front and back of the book and which way is the ‘right way up’ to begin reading.

5. Reading the same story over and over again helps children remember, guess what comes next and builds their confidence to ‘pretend read’

FROM THE TEAMThanks for joining us for our very first PaL Newsletter. We look forward to you joining us next time!

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