Programs

1School Holiday Program

The school holiday program involves teams of volunteers running activities for the children of the Mowanjum community during each school holiday with assistance from adults within the community. The Boab Network combines with other programs with similar goals of supporting our young people in order to deliver the best school holiday programs possible. The activities are aimed to keep the young people in the community engaged during times when fewer organised activities are available to them. The programs aim to provide informal education, role modelling, friendship and the teaching of important skills. Attempts are made to provide opportunities for the children-youth to visit Perth and their traditional country.

“The Boab Network has been really good, especially around holiday times. … When the activities have finished the kids come back home and go to sleep.” – Kirsty Burgu

“If the Boab Network wasn’t around, we would be worse off. Just for the small amount of time that you guys are here, you guys really make a difference.  The kids are happy that the Boab Network is around. After the Boab Network has gone, then it is back to the same thing.” – Vincent Bear

2Community Resource Centre

programs-community-resource-centreOpened in 2010 and expanded in 2012, the Community Resource Centre is funded through Royalties for Regions. It gives the people of Mowanjum access to 22 computers, 11 iPads, internet access and opportunity to purchase second hand laptop computers. The CRC enables the people to develop skills that make the outside world more accessible. It provides a place for meetings and training with projection facilities and Westlink TV service. It is a safe place in the community for children and youth with the support of Manager, Lorel Holmes. Lorel  also collects Mowanjum’s mail and distributes it from the CRC. There is a dedicated Centrelink phone, printer and computer providing free access to Government and Banking websites.

“If it wasn’t for the Boab Network we wouldn’t be able to run this service to the community.” – Lorel Holmes

3Early Learning and Parenting Centre

In 2014, the Boab Network renovated an old ‘donga’ and established the Early Parently and Learning Centre with funding from the achievements-early-learning-parenting-centre2Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to employ, Gail Cresswell a qualified Montessori teacher. All such funding ceased in 2015. Fortunately Gail was appointed by the Education Department to run the nearby Mowanjum’s Pre- Year 1 School in the Community.

“I couldn’t do what I do without the support of the Boab Network.  … They are there for whatever I need.” – Gail Creswell

4Op-Shopop shop

 

The Op Shop gives the Mowanjum people access to inexpensive clothing and household goods. Led by Claire Smith, donated merchandise is collected and freighted up from Perth by Boab Network volunteers to stock the shop. Lost property is collected  from HBF Stadium and Beatty Park Aquatic Centre for the Op Shop. The Op Shop is managed by members of the Community. The Opshop is currently closed pending a move into an updated new building and is expected to reopen in 2022 as a bigger and better site for community shopping.

5Pastoral Station

The Boab Network developed the business plan that enabled Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation to raise funds for yards, bores, fencing and a breeding herd so the pastoral station operational for beef production and create employment and training opportunities for the community. A further business plan enabled MAC to install a centre pivot irrigation system for fattening beef cattle during the 8 month dry-season. The Boab Network school holiday program has often included a visit to the pastoral station to enable the young people to envision a future in the pastoral industry. However the station is currently leased as an agistment site for cattle for export and is generating valuable income for the community.

“The Pastoral Station gives us income, but the main thing is that our kids have a job when they grow up. They are not getting into town but getting out there and doing a job. They have to learn to ride a horse.” – Eddie Bear

6Healthy Kids

The Boab Network recognises the fact that the people of the Mowanjum Community suffer from very high rates of chronic diseases related to diet and lifestyle issues. These ongoing health issues affect their social, cultural and economic wellbeing and quality of life. School holiday programs aim to include activities promoting healthy lifestyle messages and to model good lifestyle choices, recognising the fact that lifelong habits can be best established in childhood. Through their holiday programs the Boab Network also works collaboratively with other community groups to reinforce “healthy living” messages.

7Administrative, Community and Cultural Support

Boab Network volunteers assist, when asked, to prepare grant applications and to advise on matters of governance to instrumentalities of the Mowanjum community. They are also actively involved in supporting Mowanjum folk who may be visiting Perth for medical or other appointments. They assist with the annual cultural festival and running of the Arts and Cultural Centre.

“We wouldn’t have got the resource centre if it were not for the Boab Network, the early learning centre, the op shop, the pastoral station. … saved us a fortune in dollars, enabled us to move forward with all these possibilities. He has been a real asset for the community.” – Steve Austin (Mowanjum CEO 2017-2019)