With the new childcare facility on Bathurst Island, the development of a nutrition and family health program is helping the community to focus on healthy living.
Some 80 kilometres from Darwin are the Tiwi Islands. They comprise four communities which are situated on the two islands of Bathurst and Melville. Nguiu is the main town centre of the two islands, with a population of 1,500.
“Originally Nguiu had the Jet Creche and a playgroup and after a number of years it became evident that we needed a licensed childcare centre,” said Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Jirnani Childcare Centre, Mandala Pupangamirri.“After much lobbying by both the then Nguiu Council and the Creche, the Commonwealth Government agreed to fund the idea of a one stop shop for families which would provide family and nutrition programs in addition to childcare.”
In April 2001, the Jirnani Childcare Centre was officially opened. It is a 55 place day care and after school care centre for children aged up to 12 years old.
Operated by the Nguiu Management Board for the Tiwi Island Local Government, the Centre is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services and the Northern Territory’s Department of Health and Childrens Services, also known as Territory Health.In providing care for children in the community, the Centre has also developed a nutrition and family health program. The nutrition program initially aimed to provide healthy meals for the children attending the Centre.
Following research of recipes and consultation with a Territory Health Services Nutrition Officer, Mandala Pupangamirri developed a Nutrition Policy for the Centre.
“Once these policies were in place, I began to focus on the community, which was a more challenging task,” she said.
Some of her achievements with the program have included the production of healthy living educational material which is distributed throughout the community, liaison with health organisations to develop action plans for helping mothers and young children with their health, and establishing the Jirnani Childcare Centre vegetable garden and fruit orchard. She has also lobbying Bathurst Island Housing for improved housing conditions. Currently the Centre provides one on one nutrition programs for parents and cooking classes; and is training a young Tiwi cook as a Nutrition Program Coordinator as part of an apprenticeship program.
“The number of children and parents using the Centre is growing rapidly, and the high percentage of children and families using the service is a positive reflection of the community’s appreciation,” Mandala Pupangamirri said. “Overall, the nutrition program has already assisted in improving the health in children and families of the Nguiu community. I hope other communities will be able to access funding for them to obtain a multi faceted childcare centre like Jirnani Childcare.”
The Centre received a National High Commendation at the 2002 Heart Foundation Kellogg’s Local Government Awards, and Best NT Health and Nutrition project in the Northern Territory.
For further information, contact Mandala Pupangamirri on (08) 8978 3798.
