Top End Training

Family Partnership Workers Julie Thardim (Wadeye), Melissa Kungul (Wadeye), Margaret Nabulwad (Gunbalanya), Cheryl Nadjalaburnburn (Gunbalanya), Damascena Tipakalippa (Wuurmumiyanga) and Cecilia Brian (Maningrida) have all completed their ANFPP Unit One training. 

 From left to right, starting from top: Margaret Nabulwal, Julie Healy, Allison Kay, Nikki McGrady, Melissa Kungul, Cecilia Brian, Kym Cunningham, Marianne Haverkort, Julie Thardim, Ann Van Haaren, Minna Huotari, Vania Silva, Debbie Smith, Cheryl Nadjalaburnburn and Damascena Tipakalippa. Absent: Esther Banderson 

In Damascena's words

Damascena speaks two languages, with English as her second language. She tells us about the experience: 

“The training was good - meeting other FPW workers and NHV (nurse home visitor) workers so we all know each other. 

“In the training, the most interesting part was about *ear problems with kids and how it can affect the kids’ ears. 

“Because on my community, lots of kids have ear infections, but we can prevent it from happening again by taking our kids straight to the clinic to get checkup. 

“We had two ladies who took us for this program - Nickki and Kym - they both were good, nice ladies. 

“We had lots of fun in our room with other NHV workers.

"The fun part was NHVs and FPWs working together playing games of strings - how babies brain developing - we talk about good brain and not good brain. 

“We had a lovely time sitting outside with Nikki looking at people swimming at water pools, kids enjoying themselves. 

“The other fun part was going to the museum for culture to see painting arts from all over NT (Northern Territory). 

"I saw my *Pukumani Poles in the museum. I felt proud of my Tiwi people and the story. It made me feel good. 

“Those things we had done at the training, I was enjoying it. I hope I take good things back to my community for all my clients and bubs because I want all our bubs to grow up strong and healthy for future to come. 

“I like working alongside Ann. Ann knows a little Tiwi language which makes me proud, and I like working with ANFPP. 

"I would like to thank Nikki for training us as FPW workers. And I would like to thank ANFPP for this training and organizing accommodations for us FPW workers. 

“For me as a FPW worker for Wurrimiyanga, I’ve enjoyed this training and learning, so thank you, ANFPP.” 

*The ear health discussion was separate to the NSS Unit One training. 

* Tutini are part of the traditional Pukumani (funeral) ceremony, one of two major ceremonies of great significance to the Tiwi culture. Pukumani is connected to a major ancestral story about the first death on the Tiwi Islands, where the Tiwi ancestor, Porukuparli performed the first Pukumani ceremony for his baby son, Jinani. (Museum of Contemporary Art Australia)