WoeorWellbeing?

CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

Introduction
TheMacarthurRegioninthesouthwestofSydneyisinfamouslyknownforitssocialand economiccircumstancesprofoundlyrepresentedbytheriotsinMacquarieFieldsin early2005thatplayedacrosstelevisionscreens,radiostationsandfrontpagesacross Australiaandevenelsewherearoundtheworld. YettheRegionhasmanygreatstrengths:astrongsenseofcommunity,alongandrich historyIndigenous,European,andmulticulturalAustraliaslargestindustrialarea, andacandoattitudewhichhasdeliveredgreatinnovationsuchastheMacarthur YouthCommitment,MacarthurRegionofCouncils(MacRoc),DusseldorpSkillsForum, MacarthurCommunityForumandAustool. NAPCANFoundationhasworkedwithchildrenandyoungpeoplethroughout2005tobuild theirvisionforaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegionaRegionwhichsupportsandenables thewellbeingofallchildrenandyoungpeople,andensurestheygrowupfreefrom harm. Themostpowerfullessonfromthisworkwasthatthesolutiondeterminedappears remarkablysimple.Thevisionwasprimarilyaboutrelationshipshowweinvolve, supportandrelatewitheachother.Thematerialitemsthatthekidswantedwere confrontinginthattheyweresofundamentalanditwassoconcerningtheydidnthave themlikedinnereverynight. Nowoursharedchallengeistobringthevisionintobeing. WhatfollowsisthestoryofNAPCANs6monthjourneytocreatethissolutionandway forward.Thisisastoryofrelationshipsbeingformed,challengesbeingovercome,a seriesofinnovativeworkshopswithchildrenandyoungpeopleutilisingancient Aboriginalmethodsallbuildingtoadecisionmakersforumbeingheldwithchallengeof takingthekidsvisionsforwards.

Figure1InnovativeAboriginalWorkshop,Airds

Document2

Page 1of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

AboutNAPCANFoundation
NAPCANFoundationwasfoundedin1987asAustraliasfirstnationalcommunity organizationworkingtopreventabuseandneglectofchildren,beforeitstarts.Today, NAPCANworkstoachievethismissionbyworkinginpartnershipwithcommunitiesto becomechildfriendly,freeofharmtochildrenandyoungpeople. AChildFriendlyCommunityprovideschildrenandyoungpeoplewithopportunitiesfor optimalgrowthanddevelopment:socially,emotionally,culturallyandspiritually.It embodiesalifefreefromharmfulorabusivebehaviours,systemsandservices.Families, parentsandcarersaresupportedwithinthecommunityandreadilyaccesshelpwhen experiencingdifficulties.Childrenandyoungpeoplearevalued,respectedandactively includedinthecommunity. ThechallengesfacedbyMacarthurdescribedaboveareinfactsharedbyallAustralians. AchildisabusedinAustraliaevery13minutesmorethan40,000peryearand expertsbelievethisisthetipofamuchlargerproblem. NAPCANbelievesthatabuseandneglectofchildrenisAustraliasmostserioussocial problem.Thelifelastingconsequencesincreasetheriskofunemployment,mentaland physicalillness,crimeandsubstanceabusetonamejustafew.Theeconomiccostswere mostrecentlycalculatedtobe$5.5billionperyearmorethanourannualmeat exports!

AboutNationalChildProtectionWeek
In1990NAPCANcreatedNationalChildProtectionWeekandhascontinuedtocoordinate theWeeksincethen.ThegoalsofNationalChildProtectionWeekaretoinspire individualsandcommunitiestotakeresponsibilityforthewellbeingandprotectionof children,andsupportandsustaintheseactionstobeallyearroundinitiatives.

Figure2NationalChildProtectionWeekEvent,2005 In2003nearly100,000peopleparticipatedinoneof737eventsacrossAustralia undertakenaspartofNationalChildProtectionWeek.Hundredsofmediastories, interviews,andcampaignshadacombinedcirculationof17millionpeople.

Document2

Page 2of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

55%ofindividualssurveyedindicatedtheirinvolvementinNationalChild ProtectionWeekhadapositiveontheir,orsomeoneelses,relationshipwith children. In2005itwasdecidedtoholdthelaunchofNationalChildProtectionWeekinMacarthur.

WhyMacarthur?
TheMacarthurRegionisforecasttogrowbymorethan300,000peopleoverthenext10 yearsthismeansMacarthurwillgrowbythesizeofCanberra.Thisgrowthwithbring greatopportunitiesandchallengesforthecommunitiesthroughtheRegion. InlightoftheobvioussocialandeconomicchallengesexperiencedintheRegion, NAPCANsawanopportunitytomakeadifferencethroughsupportingandenablingthe communitiesofMacarthurtobecomemorechildfriendly.

Article MacarthurChronicle Further,Macarthursproventrackrecordofinnovationanditscandoattitudelent themselvestotheopportunityofdevelopinganapproachtobecomingchildfriendlythat hasthepotentialtobecomeareplicablemodelforotherregionsaroundAustralia. NAPCANspastworkinMacarthurRegionextendedtotheprovisionofeducation materialsforparentsandservicesworkingwithchildrenandfamilies.Manyeventshad beenundertakenintheRegionaspartofNationalChildProtectionWeek.

NAPCANParentingBrochure ListeningtoYoungPeople
Document2 Page 3of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

HoweverthiscampaignpresentedsignificantchallengesforNAPCAN.Successwould requiresubstantialrelationshipstobedevelopedwithgovernment,services,local businessandcommunitymembersthroughouttheRegion.Further,toworkwith communitieslikeMacquarieFieldswhoarerightfullyskepticalofnewcomersrealtrust andrapportwasrequired.

VisionWorkshopswithChildren&YoungPeople
OveraperiodoffivemonthsNAPCANhelddiscussionsandmetwithmorethanthree hundredcommunitymembers,government,localbusinessandcommunityservices. FromthesediscussionsastrategywasdevelopedtobuildthevisionofaChildFriendly MacarthurRegion: NationalChildProtectionWeekwouldbelaunchedinMacarthuratacommunity event LeaderswouldbesoughttoworkwithNAPCANinorganisingvisionworkshops withchildrenandyoungpeople Partnershipswithkeyregionalnetworkswouldbedevelopedtoenablepromotion andcommunicationofkeyevents,activitiesanddevelopments Theresultsandoutcomesfromalloftheseinitiativeswouldbebroughttogether ataforumofdecisionmakersfromacrosstheRegion UltimatelyfourleaderscameforwardtoassistNAPCANorganizethevisionworkshops withchildrenandyoungpeople.TheworkshopswouldbefacilitatedbyTexSkuthorpe fromTuckandee,andlongtermpartnerworkingwithNAPCAN. Thefourworkshopsundertakenwere: StudentsfromAirdsHighSchool,particularlytheirStudentLeadershipCouncil ChildrenandyoungpeopleparticipatinginUnitingCareBurnsidesLinksto LearningprogramatTheDruminCampbelltown IndigenousstudentsfromEaglevaleHighSchool,BlairmountPrimarySchool, ClaymorePrimarySchool,EscholParkPrimarySchoolandKearnsPrimary School ChildrenandyoungpeoplefromschoolsacrossMacquarieFields,namelyJames MeehanHighSchool,JamesMeehanHighSchool,CurranPrimarySchool,Guise PrimarySchoolandMacquarieFieldsHighSchool. Intotaltheworkshopsdirectlyinvolved80childrenandyoungpeopleagedbetween10 and17,plus30adults.Theadultsweregiventheroleoffacilitatingandsupportingthe childrenandyoungpeopleinexpressingtheirvisionsforMacarthur. Whileeachworkshopwasunique,theybroadlyfocuseduponthesamestrategic question: Howwouldyoulikeyourcommunitytobein100yearstimeforyour grandchildren?

Document2

Page 4of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

AbouttheFacilitator

Figure3Tex Skuthorpeandstudent TexSkuthorpeisanAboriginalmanfromGoodoogainnorthwesternNSW.Texwas taughtmuchofhispeoplestraditionalculturebytheoldpeopleinthearea. TexspeoplearetheNoonghaburrapeoplefromNoonghalcountry.Astheeldestboyin thefamily,itisTexsroletorecordandteachNoonghaburralawandreligion. Traditionallyallrecordingwasinartformandlawwascommunicatedtoyoungpeople throughtraditionalstoriesandtheinitiationprocess.Assuch,allTexsartwork incorporatesastorysomearetraditionalstoriesandothers,suchashisenvironmental work,tellthestoryofmorecontemporaryissues. BeforeTexcoulduseanyofhistraditionalsymbolshewasrequiredtolearnwherehis designscamefrom.Thisinvolvedmanymonthsofwatching2particularinsects.Texwas requiredtounderstandtheentirelifestyleoftheseinsectshowtheylivedwhatthey contributedtothesurvivalofotherspecies.Finallyhehadtorelatethelearningto himselfandhisownlife. ThiswholeprocessoftrulyexperientiallearningcreatedinTexanintimate,holisticand highlypracticalunderstandingandrespectforthewholeecosystemandhisplacewithin it. ItisthisresponsibilitythatistheguidingforcebehindTexshighlyinnovativeuseofart inwidelydifferingsituations.Forexample,TexsubmittedapaintingtotheMurray DarlingBasinCommissionasamajorreportonthestatusoftheBarmahForest environment.Itwasthefirsttimeaworkofarthadbeenacceptedasaprojectreport. TheimpactofsuchadifferentapproachwassoprofoundthattheAustralianNational GalleryhassincereleasedaCDRomofthepaintinganditsexplanationaswellas featuringitinatravelingexhibitiondesignedasateachingtoolonourenvironment andthedifferentwaysofknowing.

Document2

Page 5of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

TraditionalAboriginalWorkshopProcess
Theworkshopprocesshasbeendesignedtoprovideanopportunityforthechildren, youngpeopleandadultsinvolvedtobenefitfromthemethodologiesoftraditional Aboriginalcultureandsociety.KeytothisprocessisadeepunderstandingofAboriginal valuesandtraditions,including: Knowledgemanagement IntraditionalAboriginalsociety,knowledgewasnotownedorusedasapower base.Theteachingmethodologiescreatedinthelearneradeepsenseof responsibilitytosharetheknowledgeandtouseitwiselyandequallyforthe benefitofall. Valuingdifference Theinitiationprocessgaveyoungpeopleknowledgenotonlyoftheirown communityandenvironmentbutalsoofsurroundingcommunities.Emphasis duringthelearningprocesswasonshowingrespecttoyourselfandtoothers regardingvariousprotocols,religions,lawsetc.Therewasexcitementinlearning aboutdifference,ratherthanafearofit.

Figure4 Workingtogether,respectfully Collaborationandteambuilding TraditionalAboriginalcommunitieshadtoworktogetherinordertosurvive.No singleperson,plantoranimalwasmoreorlessimportantthananyother.Very diverseindividuals,animals,andplantseachhadtheirroletoplayeachselflessly contributedtheiruniqueskillsandknowledgeforthebenefitofthewhole. Consensusdecisionmaking Traditionally,Aboriginalpeopleusedverydifferentcommunicationmethods enablingallindividualstocontributetocommunitydecisions.Timewastakento considerallpointsofviewandtoincorporatethemintoholisticsolutions benefitingwholecommunities. Empowermentandselfreliance Theworkshopprocessreflectsastrongbeliefthatifthechildren,youngpeople andadultsaregiventheopportunitytoreflectonhowissueswerehandledinthe pasttheywillfindtheirowninnovativeandappropriatesolutions.Thisapproach givescompleteownershipoftheoutcomesoftheworkshopprocess,andenables participantstosustaintheprocessthemselves.

Document2

Page 6of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

Thisemphasisonestablishingasenseofselfrelianceandoftrustinagroupor communitysowninnatewisdomisattheheartoftheworkshopprocess. Painting Intheworkshops,participantsareinvitedtoshareinthepaintingofacanvas. Participantsareaskedtoconsidertheirdreamsforthefutureoftheircommunity, oftheirchildrenandfuturegenerationsofchildren.Whenencouragedtoenvision afuturefortheirchildren,communitiesarebroughtswiftlybacktorealityand simple,yetpowerfulsolutionsemerge. Howwouldyoulikeyourcommunitytobein100yearstimeforyour grandchildren? Theparticipantsthenrespondtothequestionthroughpaintingtogether.Afterthe paintingisfinished,participantsareencouragedtoshareadiscussionoftheirpaintingin anonconfrontationalformat.Thisopenandgentleapproachallowsthegrouptofeel safeinexploringpotentialsolutionstothechallengestheyface.Thisinturnleadsto furtherideasanddiscussion,oftenrevealingsharedproblems.

Figure5PaintingtheirVision,AirdsHighSchool Usingpaintingasatool,theprocessillustratespowerfully,therolethatartplaysin traditionalAboriginalculture.Thepaintingprocessinevitablypromptsdiscussionon differentmethodsofcommunicationandtheirvalue,leadingtodeeperappreciationof othersviewsandideas. Theworkshopscomprisethesharingofstories,knowledgeandcommunalparticipationin paintingavisionofthefuture.

Document2

Page 7of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

TheDecisionMakersForum
ThepurposeandgoalsfortheForumwereto: BringtogethertheworkandinitiativesbeingundertakeninMacarthurRegionfor childrenandyoungpeople HearthechildrenandyoungpeoplesvisionsforMacarthurfromtheworkshops ExploretheopportunitiesandbenefitsofMacarthurbecomingchildfriendlyand, IdentifywaystoprogressavisionofaChildFriendlyMacarthur.

Figure6AVisionSplendid,AirdsHighSchool Morethansixtydecisionmakersattendedtheforumwithrepresentativesfromfederal, stateandlocalgovernment,national,stateandlocalserviceproviders,schools,business, andthecommunity. Inadditiontotheworkshoppresentationsmadebythechildrenandyoungpeople, representativesfromthecommunityspokeMacquarieFieldsandRosemeadow Ambarvale.OutcomesfromtherecentMacarthurYouthSummitwerepresented,andan updatefromtheAustralianGovernmentCommunityForChildrenprogramwasgiven.

Figure7CommunityForChildren,RosemeadowAmbarvale BylunchtimeattendeeshadheardawiderangeofstakeholdersfromacrosstheRegion describetheirvisionsforMacarthur.

Document2

Page 8of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

TheVisionsforMacarthur
TherewasrichnessanduniquenesstotheVisionscreatedfortheMacarthurRegion, thoughatthesametimetherewasastrongandclearcommongroundestablished betweenthefourdiversegroupsofchildrenandyoungpeople.

InresponsetothequestionofhowthechildrenandyoungpeoplewouldlikeMacarthur tobein100yearstimefortheirgrandchildrensomecommonthemesacrosseachofthe workshopswere: ABOUTRELATIONSHIPS Respect o Foreachother,theenvironment,andourselves o Thateveryoneisequal Thatthecommunitywouldbepeacefulandloving Multiculturalism o Allculturesandraces,allfamilies,workingandlivingtogether o Noracism Peoplegettoknoweachotherfriendship Goodrolemodels

Figure8AVisionGrand

Document2

Page 9of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

Theteachers,workersandotheradultsinvolvedintheworkshopsall commentedonhowwellthechildrenandyoungpeopleworkedtogether.In manycasesthesechildrenwereworkingtogetherforthefirsttime.Further, theadultsinvolvedoftenreflectedthatsomeofthechildrenwereremarkably respectful,listenedquietly,andparticipatedfullyandpassionatelyinaway thattheyhadneverseenbefore. ThevisionofrelationshipsforaChildFriendlyMacarthurwasexperiencedandlived duringtheworkshopprocessthisisexperientiallearning. ABOUTTHEENVIRONMENT Friendlyspaces o Suchaslocalneighbourhoods,shops,parks,youthfacilities,pools Thenaturalenvironmentwouldbehealthywithlotsofanimalsaround

ABOUTSERVICES Accesstohealthservicesandaffordablemedicines Affordableandsafepublictransport Morefood Moreteachersandopportunitiestodofurthereducation Lifeskillseducation Meaningfulemployment Stableservices Moredoctors,nurses,police Morechildcare

Document2

Page 10 of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

MovingForwards
Afterseeingandhearingthesevisions,thedecisionmakerswereaskedwhetherthey supportedthesevisionsandwhethertheysawvalueinstrivingtoachievethem. Thedecisionmakerswerequietwithagreement.

Figure9 BuildingaChildFriendlyMacarthur ThedecisionmakerswerethenaskedtoconsiderhowwellMacarthurwasgoingrelative tothesevisions. Thedecisionmakerswerequietwithconcern. Andfinallythedecisionmakerswereaskedhowconfidenttheywerethattheywouldbe abletofulfillthesevisionsthroughtheircurrentroles,services,programs,organizations andcommunityinvolvement. Thedecisionmakerswerequietwithdoubt.

Document2

Page 11 of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

TheChallenges
Thehumility,simplicity,anduniversalityofthechildrenandyoungpeoplesvisions confrontedeverydecisionmakerintheroom. WithalloftheknowledgeandresourceswehaveinAustraliatoday,wewerefacinga challengetoprovide: Friendly,supportiveandinclusiverelationshipswitheachother Ahealthynaturalenvironmentand Thefundamentalservicesofhealth,education,andpublictransport. Perhapsmoreconfrontingwasfacinguptothefactthatwewerentnecessarilyeven workingtoachievethesegoals.

Figure10 Friendly,supportive,inclusiverelationships Weneedtoreflectonourservicesandrefocusourworktoalwaysbeaboutrelationships aswellashealthcare,relationshipsaswellaseducation,relationshipsaswelltransport. Weneedtoreassessourinvestmentsoftime,energyandmoneytoensurethatevery childandyoungpersonisaffordedthemostfundamentalservicesandhumanneeds. Weneedtoreflectuponthegapbetweenhowwearelivingwithandtreatingthenatural environmentandthevaluethatweespouseasdesiremorethanresponsibility. Acriticalissueidentifiedwasthefactthatalmostuniversally,everyserviceandagency wasfundedtoachievegoalsdifferenttothesevisions.Infact,oftenthegoalsthat servicesandagencieswererequiredtoachievewerenotwhatthecommunitywantedat all.ThefollowingquotefromanIndigenousServicesworkercapturedthispoint:Selling prefabricatedprogramsandinitiatives(Top>Down)withNGO's,commoninterest groupsisfailingmorepeoplethanithelps. Whatsuccessandoutcomesmightbepossibleifwewereinsteadfundedto progressthesolutionsandwaysforwardthatwereidentifiedbythe communitiesthemselves?Howwouldthisapproachinfluencethecapacityof thecommunitytosolvetheirproblemsthemselves?Howmightthisapproach impactupontheesteem,confidence,andwellbeingofthecommunityandits members?
Document2 Page 12 of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

NextSteps
Itwasatthispointthatthedecisionmakersputtheirmindstomovingforwards. Howeverthenthemostremarkablethinghappenedtheystopped. Thepointwasmadethatthechildrenandyoungpeoplewerenolongerpresent.They hadinfactreturnedtoschool. Howcouldwenowmovetomakedecisionsontheirbehalf,withouttheirinvolvement? Itwasagreedthatinsteadwewould: Discussthevisionswiththechildrenandyoungpeoplewealreadyknew Askthemabouttheirviewsandopinionsaboutthevisions Askthemwhattheythinkaboutwaysforwardfromhere ItwasagreedthatwewouldallnowworktowardsarrangingthenextChildFriendly MacarthurForum,howevernexttimeitwouldbechildfriendly,childcentredandledby childrenandyoungpeopleasreflectedinthefollowingcomment: SuggestnapcanholdaYouthForumwherethekidsquestiontheadults aboutchangeandwhattheythinkwillmakeadifference.Thenthekidsrun theforumandtelltheworkerswhattheythinkwillbenefittheirschool,home lifeandcommunitiesthattheylivein.Heldatchildren'sschoolorfooty groundsclosetotheschools.LiasewiththeschoolsANDTeachersandallow thekidstoorganiseandletthemfeeltheycanmakeadifference. Isuggestattheschoolaswereallyneedtobeintouchandreachthosethat aremostvulnerablelivingindisadvantagedareas.Thevenueneedsto accommodatetoalargeamountofpeople. OutreachWorker Family&ChildCentre

Figure11 Childcentred,childfriendly

Document2

Page 13 of 14

WoeorWellbeing? CreatingaChildFriendlyMacarthurRegion

Conclusions
NAPCANisnowpresentedwithaclear,simpleandpowerfulvisionforaChildFriendly Macarthur. Yetthechallengestoovercomeinachievingthisvisionarecomplexconfrontingthe paradigmofhowfunding,resourcesandservicesaredesignedandimplemented restoringthehealthandpresenceofthenaturalenvironmentatatimewhentheregion isgrowingby300,000peopleandinfluenceaprofoundshiftinthevaluesofthe communitytobecentreduponrespectfulandinclusiverelationships. The2005MacarthurCampaignwillberememberedforitsinnovativeapproach,bringing togetherdiversecommunitiesofchildren,youngpeopleandadultsbyusingAboriginal arttoteachandlearn. NAPCANcallsuponeveryoneinMacarthurtotakethechildfriendlychallenge,tomake timetolistentothechildrenandyoungpeople,towelcomethemintocommunitylife, supportthemwitheducationandservices,andgivethemtheopportunitytoreachtheir fullpotential. AdamBlakester ExecutiveOfficer NAPCANFoundation www.napcan.org.au

Document2

Page 14 of 14