Utopia SCFC - known locally as Apmer akely-akely has now been running for over 12 months and is  progressing well.  An initial plan was generated through community consultation and has been continually reviewed and updated as some original ideas have been achieved new needs have been identified. The plan is reviewed at regular meetings of the local Apmer akely-akely committee, progress is reported upon and local stakeholders give feedback and have input into the way that activities are run.  
 
The current projects that are being supported by Apmer akely-akely are as follows:
 
Family Engagement and Literature Project - Ingkerrenhek mpwaretyek   Pip-rnem mpwaretyek

The Arlparra school and families work together to produce resources in local languages and about locally relevant themes. This project also aims to provide local language reading materials that kids and families can take home with them.
 
After a successful 6 month trial this project has now been extended for 12 months. Books and other resources are being produced and distributed and these are being linked into classroom activities. A partnership has been formed with The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy and Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University (ANU). Staff from CAEPR provide advice and support to the program and in the longer term may assist with evaluation.
 
Country in curriculum project-  Akalty-antheyel pwety-itwek

This project supports the school to build country visits oriented to botany and biology into the school curriculum. The visits are seen by the school and local committee as a way of integrating local knowledge and places into school activities and encouraging participation by the wider community in activities of the school.
 
This is a small project that is now 8 months in. Regular small scale visits have been conducted so far. The school and CAYLUS are in discussions with the Central Land Council about working with the CLC land management unit to expand the scale of the visits and linking this with developing ranger work in the region. This project is also being supported through the CAEPR partnership detailed above.
 
Language support Services - Angkel angketyek

The Apmer akely-akely group have allocated funds to a brokerage that can be used to provide local language translation and liaison at community and local agency meetings and to provide local language lessons to agency staff working in Utopia. The brokerage is managed by CAYLUS.
 
Now 11 months in this project is well used and has provided casual employment to more than 15 local people who previously were often working unpaid in translation/ liaison roles. The project has also enabled regular Alyawarr lessons to be held at the local school for school staff and staff from other agencies. It has also funded the development of a work book that is now being used to teach Alyawarr translation skills to senior students at the local school.
 
Quick response brokerage- Arwa anamerl arrernerl-ayney

The Apmer akely-akely group have also allocated funds to a brokerage that CAYLUS administers to support small opportunistic projects that align with the groups wider plan and vision. Now 11 months in this project has allowed for flexible and prompt response to issues and needs that arise. Examples of the sort of projects that have been supported include a hairdressing project, a school holiday program, a mural project, equipment for the youth program and radio ads in local languages encouraging return to school at the end of school holidays.
 
Service Network Meeting support- Ingkerrenh angkerretyek ikwer-angkwarr.

The local group have allocated a small amount of funds for staff time so that a local organisation can convene and provide secretariat support for a local interagency forum. The forum aims to provide support and coordination for local agencies that work with children and families. 11 months in this forum has met regularly leading to a range of positive outcomes.
 
Youth program- Amerrk-rnem aleyak-rnem arntarnt-arem
 
The group have contributed funds so that the Local Shire Council can run a youth program. The group have made funding contingent on the program prioritising activities in the school holidays and trialling provision of activities at outstations as well as continuing provision in the central hub of Arlparra. This program has run successfully for more than 6 months and is meeting project objectives. The local group have also recently used this funding relationship to talk about changes they would like in other aspects of the program.
   
Maternal, Child and Youth Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
Amenheng-rnem, ampa akely-rnem-then ilkwernem-then arntetyirrey-angenh mwerr anayntetyek ingkerr
 
The local health service has been funded for 3 activities:
 

• A baby boxes program that provides 3 ‘baby boxes’ to expectant mothers during the course of their pregnancy and when the baby is 6 months old. The boxes provide information, health and personal care items for mothers and babies. The boxes also include a fresh /healthy food voucher.  
• To install a playground area at the local clinic so that it is easier for families with young children to attend the service.  
• To run a youth health festival to promote health check-ups for children and to bring together services that are working for children and families

Healthy Food Healthy Families- Amern mwerr Ingkerrenh mwerr anayntetyek, arntety-weny
 
The Apmer akely-akely group identify affordable good quality food as being central to the health of mothers, babies and children so have allocated funding to support the store in making good food more accessible and in setting up systems to monitor the amount of good food being sold. As the FP CAYLUS was able to source external funds to make this project happen. This project is now underway. A new fresh food fridge has been installed in the shop (prior to this they were storing fresh food in a drinks fridge) and monitoring systems are being set up.
   
Helping Kids to Hear at School-Ampernemel mwerr awaynetyek kwerl-itwek

73% of children in the Utopia region have ear-health issues and this can affect their ability to participate at school. Funds were allocated to buy sound specialist sound-field systems for four classrooms at the school, the school is collecting information to evaluate the effectiveness of these systems. If the systems work well our aim is to support the roll out of systems in all school classrooms. Initial feedback is very positive.
 
Comic Report
 
As a way of circulating information about the work of Apmer akely-akely and SCfC and reporting to local board members we have developed a comic showing the process of project development from conception through to action.