I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of this country the terrible
owners of this country the terrible
owners of this country the terrible people and also those traditional owners
people and also those traditional owners
people and also those traditional owners in lockout River in 2002 I found myself
in lockout River in 2002 I found myself
in lockout River in 2002 I found myself on a very small 10 cedar plane flying to
on a very small 10 cedar plane flying to
on a very small 10 cedar plane flying to the remote community of Lockhart River
the remote community of Lockhart River
the remote community of Lockhart River in Cape York I was executive director
in Cape York I was executive director
in Cape York I was executive director leadership and culture in my State
leadership and culture in my State
leadership and culture in my State Department of Education I was part of a
Department of Education I was part of a
Department of Education I was part of a small government in voi determined to
small government in voi determined to
small government in voi determined to make a contribution to closing a gap of
make a contribution to closing a gap of
make a contribution to closing a gap of significant disadvantage in Aboriginal
significant disadvantage in Aboriginal
significant disadvantage in Aboriginal communities and to get better results
communities and to get better results
communities and to get better results from the government investment we’ve
from the government investment we’ve
from the government investment we’ve done our initial assessment in our
done our initial assessment in our
done our initial assessment in our offices in the capital and we were
offices in the capital and we were
offices in the capital and we were flying in to meet with community leaders
flying in to meet with community leaders
flying in to meet with community leaders we would then fly out again develop
we would then fly out again develop
we would then fly out again develop plans get the right people implement
plans get the right people implement
plans get the right people implement them this is the typical white
them this is the typical white
them this is the typical white Australian way of helping remote
Australian way of helping remote
Australian way of helping remote indigenous communities in a fly-in
indigenous communities in a fly-in
indigenous communities in a fly-in fly-out solution model it’s usually
fly-out solution model it’s usually
fly-out solution model it’s usually outside experts who decide what needs to
outside experts who decide what needs to
outside experts who decide what needs to be addressed and how it’s going to be
be addressed and how it’s going to be
be addressed and how it’s going to be addressed and when it’s going to be
addressed and when it’s going to be
addressed and when it’s going to be implemented and they fly in and out of
implemented and they fly in and out of
implemented and they fly in and out of the community I thought I was well
the community I thought I was well
the community I thought I was well prepared but when we landed in the
prepared but when we landed in the
prepared but when we landed in the community I was absolutely shocked by
community I was absolutely shocked by
community I was absolutely shocked by the startling poverty and disadvantage
the startling poverty and disadvantage
the startling poverty and disadvantage that I witnessed I could not believe
that I witnessed I could not believe
that I witnessed I could not believe that this was Australia my country in
that this was Australia my country in
that this was Australia my country in the 21st century how could this have
the 21st century how could this have
the 21st century how could this have been allowed to happen
community leaders weren’t particularly
community leaders weren’t particularly interested in talking with us we could
interested in talking with us we could
interested in talking with us we could have seen this as rude or just
have seen this as rude or just
have seen this as rude or just ungrateful but clearly we didn’t have
ungrateful but clearly we didn’t have
ungrateful but clearly we didn’t have the local knowledge or cultural
the local knowledge or cultural
the local knowledge or cultural competence to do what was needed it was
competence to do what was needed it was
competence to do what was needed it was very tough going we were out of our
very tough going we were out of our
very tough going we were out of our comfort zone but a few things became
comfort zone but a few things became
comfort zone but a few things became strikingly clear
strikingly clear
strikingly clear the idea that we could sit in our
the idea that we could sit in our
the idea that we could sit in our air-conditioned city offices and develop
air-conditioned city offices and develop
air-conditioned city offices and develop plans to address the issues in a remote
plans to address the issues in a remote
plans to address the issues in a remote indigenous community were crazy the idea
indigenous community were crazy the idea
indigenous community were crazy the idea that local leaders didn’t know or care
that local leaders didn’t know or care
that local leaders didn’t know or care about the challenges facing their
about the challenges facing their
about the challenges facing their community was arrogant the idea that
community was arrogant the idea that
community was arrogant the idea that they would trust us when we walk in and
they would trust us when we walk in and
they would trust us when we walk in and say we’re from the government when in
say we’re from the government when in
say we’re from the government when in their living memory
their living memory
their living memory they have been disenfranchised
they have been disenfranchised
they have been disenfranchised dislocated forced into servitude they’ve
dislocated forced into servitude they’ve
dislocated forced into servitude they’ve had their children stolen and their
had their children stolen and their
had their children stolen and their wages stolen they’ve been punished for
wages stolen they’ve been punished for
wages stolen they’ve been punished for practicing their own culture and
practicing their own culture and
practicing their own culture and speaking their own language they other
speaking their own language they other
speaking their own language they other inhabitants this is their country for
inhabitants this is their country for
inhabitants this is their country for 50,000 years and yet today they have no
50,000 years and yet today they have no
50,000 years and yet today they have no right to own land in their own community
right to own land in their own community
right to own land in their own community the government has been the perpetrator
the government has been the perpetrator
the government has been the perpetrator or complicit in many of these
or complicit in many of these
or complicit in many of these initiatives and so for us to walk in and
initiatives and so for us to walk in and
initiatives and so for us to walk in and say we’re from the government trust us
say we’re from the government trust us
say we’re from the government trust us is absolutely ludicrous and then there’s
is absolutely ludicrous and then there’s
is absolutely ludicrous and then there’s the idea that the challenges in remote
the idea that the challenges in remote
the idea that the challenges in remote indigenous communities can be addressed
indigenous communities can be addressed
indigenous communities can be addressed without long-term sincere authentic
without long-term sincere authentic
without long-term sincere authentic engagement and working closely with the
engagement and working closely with the
engagement and working closely with the local community is simply wrong so what
local community is simply wrong so what
local community is simply wrong so what is the result of this fly-in fly-out
is the result of this fly-in fly-out
is the result of this fly-in fly-out solution model the community ends up
solution model the community ends up
solution model the community ends up more disempowered it’s not their ideas
more disempowered it’s not their ideas
more disempowered it’s not their ideas their issues or their solutions often
their issues or their solutions often
their issues or their solutions often the wrong projects are implemented and
the wrong projects are implemented and
the wrong projects are implemented and they fail because they’re not community
they fail because they’re not community
they fail because they’re not community led often this failure is then blamed on
led often this failure is then blamed on
led often this failure is then blamed on the communities and used as an excuse
the communities and used as an excuse
the communities and used as an excuse not to reinvest the end result of this
not to reinvest the end result of this
not to reinvest the end result of this is that the issues and the challenges of
is that the issues and the challenges of
is that the issues and the challenges of remote indigenous communities are put in
remote indigenous communities are put in
remote indigenous communities are put in the too hard basket
I was initially a fly-in fly-out worker
I was initially a fly-in fly-out worker after developing relationships with
after developing relationships with
after developing relationships with community leaders they asked me to go
community leaders they asked me to go
community leaders they asked me to go and help them do some planning and to
and help them do some planning and to
and help them do some planning and to stay in the community
stay in the community
stay in the community I lived there for a couple of months I
I lived there for a couple of months I
I lived there for a couple of months I agreed I ended up staying and living
agreed I ended up staying and living
agreed I ended up staying and living there for five and a half years at that
there for five and a half years at that
there for five and a half years at that time I was inspired by the people of
time I was inspired by the people of
time I was inspired by the people of Lockhart River because despite
Lockhart River because despite
Lockhart River because despite generations of adversity in their
generations of adversity in their
generations of adversity in their current unbelievable hardship I could
current unbelievable hardship I could
current unbelievable hardship I could see determination strength and pride
see determination strength and pride
see determination strength and pride determination to secure a better future
determination to secure a better future
determination to secure a better future for their coming generations strength to
for their coming generations strength to
for their coming generations strength to carry on despite so many young deaths
carry on despite so many young deaths
carry on despite so many young deaths and and a suicide rate double the
and and a suicide rate double the
and and a suicide rate double the national average and pride in themselves
national average and pride in themselves
national average and pride in themselves and their culture I was determined to
and their culture I was determined to
and their culture I was determined to become part of the community to build on
become part of the community to build on
become part of the community to build on their strengths and to work with them on
their strengths and to work with them on
their strengths and to work with them on their issues and by that I mean the
their issues and by that I mean the
their issues and by that I mean the issues that they see as important and
issues that they see as important and
issues that they see as important and urgent this is not a fly-in fly-out way
urgent this is not a fly-in fly-out way
urgent this is not a fly-in fly-out way of working building an authentic
of working building an authentic
of working building an authentic relationship it doesn’t happen in a
relationship it doesn’t happen in a
relationship it doesn’t happen in a couple of trips or a couple of hours or
couple of trips or a couple of hours or
couple of trips or a couple of hours or days it takes months or years I quit my
days it takes months or years I quit my
days it takes months or years I quit my job I established the pier foundation
job I established the pier foundation
job I established the pier foundation puya means heart
puya means heart
puya means heart or life force in a local cookie our
or life force in a local cookie our
or life force in a local cookie our language in the foundation we developed
language in the foundation we developed
language in the foundation we developed a totally new way of working with the
a totally new way of working with the
a totally new way of working with the community to get results called the puia
community to get results called the puia
community to get results called the puia approach turning many things on their
approach turning many things on their
approach turning many things on their head to the normal way of working with
head to the normal way of working with
head to the normal way of working with Aboriginal communities as a charity we
Aboriginal communities as a charity we
Aboriginal communities as a charity we work alongside the community empowering
work alongside the community empowering
work alongside the community empowering and working with everyday leaders to
and working with everyday leaders to
and working with everyday leaders to help them shape and determine and create
help them shape and determine and create
help them shape and determine and create their own bright future two-thirds of
their own bright future two-thirds of
their own bright future two-thirds of our board members are local community
our board members are local community
our board members are local community leaders our most recent endeavor the
leaders our most recent endeavor the
leaders our most recent endeavor the establishment of the crunchy coconut
establishment of the crunchy coconut
establishment of the crunchy coconut families together Center is a great
families together Center is a great
families together Center is a great example of our pure approach in action
example of our pure approach in action
example of our pure approach in action at a community strategic planning
at a community strategic planning
at a community strategic planning discussion community leaders are
discussion community leaders are
discussion community leaders are unified that the earliest education was
unified that the earliest education was
unified that the earliest education was a mess and that this was critical for
a mess and that this was critical for
a mess and that this was critical for the future of their children and
the future of their children and
the future of their children and community they asked the pure foundation
community they asked the pure foundation
community they asked the pure foundation to work with them to develop a new
to work with them to develop a new
to work with them to develop a new solution so together we looked at what
solution so together we looked at what
solution so together we looked at what they wanted and equally importantly what
they wanted and equally importantly what
they wanted and equally importantly what they didn’t want what they wanted was
they didn’t want what they wanted was
they didn’t want what they wanted was parents and carers involved in their
parents and carers involved in their
parents and carers involved in their children’s education from birth learning
children’s education from birth learning
children’s education from birth learning together giving children the best start
together giving children the best start
together giving children the best start to life they did not want a drop-off
to life they did not want a drop-off
to life they did not want a drop-off childcare center they wanted a
childcare center they wanted a
childcare center they wanted a curriculum that focused on culture
curriculum that focused on culture
curriculum that focused on culture independence and life skills they wanted
independence and life skills they wanted
independence and life skills they wanted local jobs and training not fly-in
local jobs and training not fly-in
local jobs and training not fly-in fly-out workers it was a challenge a
fly-out workers it was a challenge a
fly-out workers it was a challenge a really big challenge to make it happen
really big challenge to make it happen
really big challenge to make it happen getting funding for something new
getting funding for something new
getting funding for something new innovative and out of the box is never
innovative and out of the box is never
innovative and out of the box is never easy
easy
easy and then there’s constructing a building
and then there’s constructing a building
and then there’s constructing a building in a remote community
in a remote community
in a remote community we’re not even local traditional owners
we’re not even local traditional owners
we’re not even local traditional owners can own land getting building materials
can own land getting building materials
can own land getting building materials to site added 30 percent cost and the
to site added 30 percent cost and the
to site added 30 percent cost and the challenge associated with our roads
challenge associated with our roads
challenge associated with our roads being cut for up to six months of the
being cut for up to six months of the
being cut for up to six months of the year with monsoonal rains it was a
year with monsoonal rains it was a
year with monsoonal rains it was a massive challenge but we did it and we
massive challenge but we did it and we
massive challenge but we did it and we did it with the help of many people who
did it with the help of many people who
did it with the help of many people who helped us could see the pure approach
helped us could see the pure approach
helped us could see the pure approach working and joined in and shared our
working and joined in and shared our
working and joined in and shared our vision now crunchy Carcano Center was
vision now crunchy Carcano Center was
vision now crunchy Carcano Center was opened in June 2016 our manager is an
opened in June 2016 our manager is an
opened in June 2016 our manager is an amazing local woman and young community
amazing local woman and young community
amazing local woman and young community leader our local men played a vital role
leader our local men played a vital role
leader our local men played a vital role in working with elders to seek
in working with elders to seek
in working with elders to seek permission to visit sacred sites to
permission to visit sacred sites to
permission to visit sacred sites to gather natural materials to create our
gather natural materials to create our
gather natural materials to create our beautiful dancing circle and playground
beautiful dancing circle and playground
beautiful dancing circle and playground the day of the opening was a huge hall
the day of the opening was a huge hall
the day of the opening was a huge hall of community celebration just full of
of community celebration just full of
of community celebration just full of joy and a great tangible demonstration
joy and a great tangible demonstration
joy and a great tangible demonstration of the the success of the approach in
of the the success of the approach in
of the the success of the approach in action since the center has been built
action since the center has been built
action since the center has been built my son has been knowing a lot of things
my son has been knowing a lot of things
my son has been knowing a lot of things what’s right what’s wrong it’s not as
what’s right what’s wrong it’s not as
what’s right what’s wrong it’s not as we’re landing care for the child itself
we’re landing care for the child itself
we’re landing care for the child itself it’s also for the parent first parents I
it’s also for the parent first parents I
it’s also for the parent first parents I think it’s a good way that we can talk
think it’s a good way that we can talk
think it’s a good way that we can talk about what we’re going through and help
about what we’re going through and help
about what we’re going through and help each other be there for each other I
each other be there for each other I
each other be there for each other I think it’s a great place because we come
think it’s a great place because we come
think it’s a great place because we come together so when I look back at our
together so when I look back at our
together so when I look back at our go-to beliefs about addressing the
go-to beliefs about addressing the
go-to beliefs about addressing the issues in remote indigenous communities
issues in remote indigenous communities
issues in remote indigenous communities I know that our those go-to beliefs are
I know that our those go-to beliefs are
I know that our those go-to beliefs are wrong fly-in fly-out solutions simply do
wrong fly-in fly-out solutions simply do
wrong fly-in fly-out solutions simply do not work the good news is there is a
not work the good news is there is a
not work the good news is there is a solution
solution
solution building authentic relationships
building authentic relationships
building authentic relationships trusting in the knowledge and wisdom of
trusting in the knowledge and wisdom of
trusting in the knowledge and wisdom of the local community and empowering them
the local community and empowering them
the local community and empowering them as everyday leaders to shape and
as everyday leaders to shape and
as everyday leaders to shape and determine their own bright future the
determine their own bright future the
determine their own bright future the challenge for us is whether we can make
challenge for us is whether we can make
challenge for us is whether we can make that change
that change
that change [Applause]
”
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