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Aged Care to expand across the ËÄÉ«AV Lands
Nov 29, 2023
The ËÄÉ«AV Health Service has received a significant funding boost ensuring it can continue to look after elderly Yarnangu through its vitally important aged care services.
The service, provided through the Kungkarrangkalpa residential aged care facility, based in Wanarn, and through the various Home and Community Care (HACC) services across the lands, ensures our elderly Yarnangu community members are looked after, by providing cooked meals and various levels of care depending on the individual’s need.
In the past 12 months, the increasing costs of providing services, like the cost of food, transport, and resourcing, has made providing the high-level service that our communities deserve more challenging than ever. However, despite these challenges, the ËÄÉ«AV Health Service has continued to provide exceptional quality care.
The funding increase is a result of the diligent and effective advocacy of ËÄÉ«AV Council Group deputy chief financial officer Andrew Black, who worked with the health team to lobby the Federal Health Department to significantly increase the funding.
This will allow the service to increase its employment opportunities for Yarnangu workers, upgrade and purchase new equipment for its facilities, upgrade its respite and palliative care service delivery and host more community events to ensure older members of the community are engaged with social activities to keep connected with family and friends.
The outcome reflects the importance of this valuable service for our communities and reinforces the dedication of our health team in ensuring older Yarnangu are cared for.
It would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts involved, with Andrew Black and the health team playing a pivotal role in fighting for more funding for aged care across the lands.
When we all work together, we achieve great things. It’s a testament to the kind of difference we strive to make in our communities.
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With a career spanning decades in remote education and community leadership, Leigh Nelson’s appointment as the new General Manager – Community and Sustainable Development at ËÄÉ«AV Council brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the land. In this role, Leigh will support Yarnangu through employment programs, essential municipal services, financial well-being initiatives, and year-round community engagement. Leigh has long been associated with ËÄÉ«AV lands, having spent much of his career in education across remote locations, including Warburton, Wanarn, and the Cocos Islands. Most recently, he served as Director of Education, Goldfields, for the Department of Education—Australia’s largest education region. Born in Esperance and raised on pastoral lands in Salmon Gums, 100 km north of the town, Leigh’s connection to these lands spans over three decades. “My wife and I worked together in Warburton, and my first opportunity as a Principal was at the school in Wanarn,” Leigh shared. “That role began my journey as a School Principal across various schools, which lasted for 23 years.” Leigh’s leadership journey took a significant step when he became part of a cohort of education leaders selected for a Harvard Principal Fellowship, which catalysed his move into system leadership roles within the department. In recent years, Leigh also contributed to the Goldfields District Leadership Group (DLG)—a network coordinated by the Department of Communities to address local issues and drive improved outcomes. “The DLG brought together the Shire, the Council, Department of Justice, WA Police, NIAA, and the Department of Communities to collaborate for strong, shared outcomes in Warburton with a focus on youth engagement and food security,” he explained. Leigh’s leadership in the DLG deepened his connection to the ËÄÉ«AV lands. “Within the DLG, we had a sub-group focused on Warburton, which reaffirmed my ties to the area. As Chair of this group since its inception, I will now lead from my new role within the Council, ensuring continued collaboration across agencies.” He emphasised his belief in authentic co-design between community members and organisations. “The strongest outcomes on the Lands will come from genuine community voice and all the agencies working together towards lasting, collective impact.” With a strong commitment to the ËÄÉ«AV lands, Leigh intends to spend time in communities each month. “Improvement happens at the speed of trust, so I’m eager to strengthen those relationships with our leadership team on the ground, enabling us to make meaningful contributions to the Council’s shared vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.” Reflecting on his new role, Leigh said, “The most important thing for me—and what attracted me to this position—is the opportunity to work alongside Yarnangu, who are so integral to our country. Together, we’ll navigate the challenges and possibilities that developments like the Outback Way will bring to the lands.” Leigh’s appointment is also a full-circle moment. Fred Twine, the Community Development Advisor he worked alongside during his first Principal role in Wanarn, continues to serve the Council as Municipal Services Manager. Their renewed partnership, after 25 years, promises to further strengthen the Council’s commitment to the ËÄÉ«AV community and foster long-term, sustainable outcomes for Yarnangu.
The ËÄÉ«AV Council Group's Leadership Team recently convened for two half-day workshops to initiate a comprehensive change management process across the organisation. The Council’s vision of 'Helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country' drives our commitment to building a more resilient and effective organisation. To become an efficient, high-performing organisation that sets a benchmark for Aboriginal agencies, the Council recognises the need to break down existing silos, restructure our operations, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery. This is not a small or short-term assignment—it’s a vision that encompasses the entire organisation. The two half-day sessions were facilitated by Change Management specialist, Tracy Cooper , who helped our managers become comfortable with sharing, interacting, and discussing change with one another. Tracy highlighted the challenges and possibilities of leading change, equipping our leaders with tools to navigate the process of change effectively. The workshops identified the economic, social, and organisational opportunities and challenges we face collectively. They also addressed the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the status quo, which can be difficult to communicate broadly. “We understand the significant consequences of maintaining the status quo,” said Thomas Williams, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer. “These consequences, along with some prevailing challenges, are often difficult or inappropriate to communicate widely. However, we recognise that the current economic climate, which is impacting all industries, also affects the Council,” Thomas said. “Many of the opportunities and challenges identified through this change management process must be addressed to ensure that our foundations and processes are robust, enabling us to fulfil our core vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country,” Thomas said. This transformative journey is vital for supporting Yarnangu and the future of our communities. By engaging in this change process now, the Council is confident it will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. “Our goal is to enhance service delivery in education, health, and employment, ensuring the sustainability of the ËÄÉ«AV Council Group. Our collective efforts will contribute to the flourishing of our communities and the preservation of our cultural heritage,” Thomas said. “We recognise that any change of this sort requires mindful and strategic planning and communication across the organisation—we’re progressing through the equipping of our Leadership Team for this change management process. Established in 1981, the ËÄÉ«AV Council Group (NCG) represents the interests of Yarnangu across 11 communities in the Central Desert region of Western Australia. With over 450 employees across city and remote locations, the Council provides a wide range of services, including health, utilities, construction, employment, community development, shops, roadhouses, art centres, and land services. It is one of the largest and most successful Aboriginal agencies in Australia.
The ËÄÉ«AV Board of Directors, together with the Council Group's Leadership Team, gathered in Warburton earlier this August to undertake the initial phase of the 'Foundations of Directorship' program offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Our Board is a unique blend of community-elected chairpersons from each of the eleven communities in ËÄÉ«AV lands, four female-elected women directors, two non-member directors, and Chairperson Richard Kanari. During the two-day workshop, the group completed the 'Governance for Directors' training, which focused on deepening their understanding of governance obligations, the roles and responsibilities of directors and management, and best practices for board meeting protocols. A key focus of the workshops was understanding and respecting the significant role of traditional culture, law, and practice, alongside the legislated requirements for Aboriginal Corporations. With directors from most communities in attendance, we ensured a safe and inclusive learning environment in each session. Content was translated into language, and ample time was allocated for questions and feedback, fostering open communication and a culture of continuous learning. As Australia's leading body for director education, AICD provides essential training that the Board and Council are eager to embrace. This program equips us with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out crucial governance work for the communities we serve. This Director Training is a vital part of the broader change management efforts within the Council, aligning with our vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.
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