Jannali

Meet Jannali, Rumbalara’s newest Family Partnership Worker

Twenty-two-year-old Wurundjeri/Kamilaroi woman, Jannali Fermor is the newest Family Partnership Worker (FPW) to join the Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program team at Rumbalara in Shepparton, Victoria.
 
Jannali, a mum of one, has firsthand experience of the program because she recently graduated after being a client for two and a half years.
 
Nothing was stopping me
 
Whilst in the program, Jannali developed great relationships with Lutfiye (Lulu) Elmaz, her Nurse Home Visitor and Aunty Judy Wate, her Family Partnership Worker. Jannali recounts what it was like doing the program and why she wanted to work in it.
 
“When I was in the program, I absolutely loved what everyone did - the nurses and the FPWs. I loved it. For me it was great. I had a great connection with them and knowing that the program was going to end soon, I was going to miss it because they were the only people that I could talk to. I thought this is great. This is so good for mums. They can help with so many things. And it’s a struggle when mums don’t reach out for help.
 
"I thought this is a great way for me to help mums and I can be a very big inspiration to them, because I’m young, I’ve done all these things. Nothing was stopping me. And I can then show them and be a mentor for them. And then when they told me there was going to be a position soon, I was ‘I’m gonna apply for that. I’ll be great. I can’t wait’. I was so excited, and I was over the moon when I heard that I got the job.”
 
Can’t wait to start uni
 
Jannali values education and worked hard to finish her year 11 and 12 equivalency and Certificate 4 in Community Studies for which she got an award. She is nearly finished her Diploma of Community Services. Jannali plans to go to university next year to start her Bachelor of Social Work.
 
“I can’t wait. It’s very exciting and I’m really proud of myself too because I know myself that there’s not many Aboriginal, Indigenous people my age that would do steps like this. So, I am hoping I can be a very great mentor for those other young people out there; That you can do it if you put your mind to it, if you want to work with the community."
 
Jannali said it can be hard for some people but it’s important to ask for help. “There are so many Indigenous and nonindigenous people that can help. And I think that’s what’s really pushed me the most, is the support that I get from everyone.”
 
Goals: a car and a house
 
Jannali says she aims to save to buy a car and a house. She has already worked hard to get her driver’s license; She is on her provisional license (Ps) and will be on her full license next year.
 
“For me applying for this job, one dream was to save for a car so that is what I am very determined to do, while working here, is to save for a car. I want to achieve things.”
 
She should be proud
 
Elizabeth (Liz) Eliason, Nurse Supervisor for ANFPP Rumbalara, says one of Jannali’s goals from the start was to work with the program. “She loved the program and loved what we did,” says Liz. "When we’d visit her, she used to always say, ‘I want to work with you guys one day’.”
 
Liz says Covid didn’t deter Jannali. “Honestly, she’s more motivated than she even realises. During lockdown last year, she signed herself up to a Diploma of Community Services and she’s still working at that now. She started that in lockdown and she knew it would be really helpful to work in Community and work at Rumbalara, so she finishes that in about six more months. But the fact she got that all underway and started it all herself is a real credit to her.
 
"She’s done really well to be where she is and she should be so proud because we definitely are.”