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Funding Secured For Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS)
ALPA recently received confirmation that we have been refunded $2.2 million to continue delivering the Federal Government’s Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) in 2023 across the communities of Ramingining, Milingimbi, Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak and Yirrkala.
This announcement secures the jobs of 50+ local staff across these communities for the year ahead, as well as support services for hundreds of school students.
We are also excited to be working with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) on the priorities for the program. In 2023 we hope to trial new approaches to improving school attendance and engagement, such as a focus on family engagement and building the social work and youth work capacity of local community members.
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ALPA Healthy Food Provision Guidelines
Although ALPA has had a firm Nutrition Policy in our retail stores since the 1980s, it has now been extended across all divisions of ALPA to include our Corporate Services, Enterprise businesses and Community Service Programs.
Our Nutrition Team and Executives saw the need for guidelines to be used across the organisation to help improve the health of all employees.
Earlier this year, four students studying a Masters of Dietetics from Monash University partnered with our ALPA Nutrition team to develop 'Healthy Food Guidelines', the students, Jessica Conser, Rachel Ebert, Ally Mannix and Karla Lowder-Laidler interviewed external organisations that already had a nutrition policy or guidelines in place to learn what worked well and what could be improved. The students then interviewed 50 staff within ALPA to find out what they would like to see in the guidelines.
After a draft copy was formed, feedback was gained from those who had participated in the interviews to finalise the guidelines.
These final guidelines are practical and educational, providing ‘grab and go shopping lists, ‘how to build a healthy meal’ and ‘healthy and non-food gift ideas.’
The guidelines are being rolled out across the organisation through ‘lunch box learning’ sessions and discussions with our teams out in the community. The most recent rollout was in Galiwin’ku with our CDP ladies, Activity Coordinators, and Employment Consultants.
It is essential for all organisations to consider the health of their employees and at ALPA the focus has always been to make healthy choices easier.
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Bak'Bididi Festival Ramingining
October was fun-filled with Ramingining's Bak’Bididi festival. A support crew from the Darwin office was assembled to assist with various aspects of the festival including Corporate Services, Community Services and Retail.
This year's festival saw Hip-Hop workshops delivered by Yolŋu Radio, performances by Wirriŋyga Band, Arafura Swamp Band, Andrew Gurriwiwi Band and many more local acts.
Other festival activities included dance performances and bush cook-ups.
ALPA's support team had an integral role in ensuring the catering went off without a hitch. It was a huge triumph for ALPA in providing healthy options for this festival, in line with our new provisional health eating guidelines.
More than 400 meals were catered each night including lots of delicious roast vegetables and fruit. and was enjoyed by festivalgoers. The Ramingining store was generous in offering up the kitchen after hours to allow food preparation to occur.
The festival provided a great bonding experience for people who work across different divisions in ALPA. Everyone is looking forward to the festival season in 2023!
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New CDP Pilot Projects Approved
ALPA’s Community Development Program (CDP) team has been busy developing a range of new projects, aimed at creating new jobs and economic development in remote communities.
The Federal Government has committed to reforming CDP into a program that focuses on ‘real jobs and real wages' and the first part of this has given CDP Providers like ALPA the opportunity to design and pilot a number of job-creation trials.
We are delighted to announce we have received approval from the Federal Government for all of our locally-driven pilot proposals to include;
- Commercial kitchen in Galiwin’ku to provide meals to local workers and community members
- Family-run fishing enterprises and a fishing co-op in Milingimbi
- Shower and Laundry Service in Gapuwiyak
- Range of paid work experience and wage subsidy packages across the Gove Peninsula
Works are already underway and we are really excited by these pilot projects and look forward to sharing more about them as they get off the ground. |
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Minjilang Store Rising Superstar
Etitera Robertson is a rising superstar and has recently been promoted to ALPA's relief team which means she'll be travelling to work across any of our 29 stores in the Northern Territory and Queensland. She is an all-around asset to the Minjilang store and community.
Recently undertaking her Certificate III in Retail, Etitera has been recognised for her confidence in managing the store including stock controls, organising the storeroom, opening and closing procedures and supervising the kitchen team.
Her loyalty, commitment and hard work will see her achieve anything she puts her mind to and we are so excited to share Etitera’s journey with her.
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RSAS Up & Running in Nhulunbuy
Every Friday, RSAS Yirrkala take several Yirrkala students into Nhulunbuy, where they link up with other young people to practice running and other track and field sports.
These are fantastic opportunities for our young people to build confidence and expand their social networks outside of the community.
Remember these young faces. Perhaps we might see some of them at the next Olympics!
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Congratulations Emily!
A couple of weeks ago, Baluntjapin Emily Marawili was a CDP Participant in Yirrkala completing Bush Bakers and coffee makers training, a certificate in food safety and hygiene, as well as Drive Safe and cleaning courses.
We are lucky to now have her joining our CDP team as an Activity Coordinator.
Her dedication to her community members, organisational skills and enthusiasm to learn is a credit to her!
We look forward to working with you for years to come.
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Planning for our Higher Education Hubs in 2023
Emma Kelly, General Manager of Community Services, and Ryan Buckley, Education & Training Manager, recently attended the National Conference for Regional, Rural and Remote Education in South Australia.
The conference brought together regional and remote education experts from across the country, providing a rare opportunity for ALPA to showcase what we are doing to support students from East Arnhem Land into higher education, while also connecting with and learning from a range of other providers working in the Regional University Centres sector.
We look forward to harnessing this network to help us build the aspirations of young people across Arnhem Land and create pathways for them into higher education.
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ALPA pays respects to the late Judy G Ramingining
In mid-October, ALPA sent a delegation of eight Darwin-based staff to join the Ramingining community members at the memorial of the late Traditional Land Owner of the land where Ramingining stands.
Community Engagement Officer, Eddy Alder, presented a eulogy on behalf of ALPA, including memories of the strong leadership and big decisions that the old lady had to make to support her community.
Goodbye, old lady, we will miss you!
Photo and message shared with the express permission from the family.
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Local Artist Project - Fishing Shirts
Madkeen & ALPA have been working together to bring out a fishing shirt with a local artist's painting on the shirt.
The local artist's name is JB Fisher, JB spends most of his time between Ramingining & Maningrida.
It is amazing to be able to support a local artist and to have these shirts go to communities and hopefully be able to get them across Australia.
The #outcome is incredible and feels amazing to be able to launch these. Huge thanks to Edward Alder for helping Madkeen find an artist. #alpavalues #outcomes #teamwork
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ALPA team heads to Alice Springs for Leadership and Governance Conference
Last month our Training team; Ryan Buckly, Tony Webb and Ezekial Baker, along with Media and Communications Specialist Charmaine Ingram travelled to Alice Springs to attend the Northern Territory Aboriginal Leadership and Governance Forum.
The forum featured keynote speakers such as former AFL star Eddy Betts and head of NAAJA, Priscilla Collins. The conference is designed to create a space for sharing, learning and exchanging how Aboriginal people and groups govern and influence to ensure culture is at the heart of decision-making.
ALPA's Charmaine Ingram said it was a great opportunity to hear from Aboriginal leaders in all different industries.
" I really enjoyed the breadth of speakers and listening about their journeys to the top. There were some really raw and inspiring stories about how we as Aboriginal people face challenges in different workplaces but also how to overcome these obstacles."
 
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Ramingining Dharpa / Lorrpu Buŋgul 2022
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Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra feature film wins award
" We are so thrilled to announced that Luku Ngarra: The Law of the Land won the 'CHANGE AWARD' at this years Adelaide Film Festival. This was awarded to the film that was identified as being the most inspiring documentary for change for social and environmental change. We cannot wait to share the film with you all! Keep in touch via our subscribe button to find out first when we are touring in 2023." - Director Sinem, Saban
For more info on the film visit here
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Dinybulu Making a Difference for Homelands Residents
Did you know that Dinybulu Regional Services is the homelands service provider in Ramingining?
The team includes Andrew, Scott and Jonathan (pictured above) who all take care of the municipal and essential services to six homelands. Some homelands like Gatji are 22 km away from Ramingining but can take as long as one hour to travel there due to road conditions.
Part of Dinybulu’s homelands service is a programme set up for residents to make fortnightly contributions to Dinybulu so they can save up for high price items such as stoves, fridges or washing machines. White goods that are essential to a healthy home.
In the past month, the Homelands team have been busy installing these white goods in residents’ homes. For this to happen, Dinybulu assists in making the purchase from the store using the saved-up contributions and is then collected by the homelands team and taken to their home for installation. It takes away the stress of the residents needing to transport these large items themselves.
“I feel proud of myself and it’s enjoyable work always. It keeps me happy by working hard”, says Scott Gaykamangu, from our homelands team.
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OPENING NIGHT
Aboriginal Bush Traders Partners with Mnapan Furniture to launch exhibition!
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Bukmak Miny'tji Manapanmirrnha Exhibition Launches in Darwin
In November, the teams from Manapan Furniture and ALPA opened the: Bukmak Miny'tji Manapanmirrnha (Bringing all art together) Exhibition.
As part of the Australian Government's RISE funding, ALPA partnered with Aboriginal Bush Traders to feature artworks from Manapan Furniture and independent artists across Arnhem Land in an exhibition to run until February.
Bukmak Miny’tji Manapanmirrnha celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of Yolŋu artists and furniture makers from Ramingining, Gapuwiyak, Galiwin’ku, Minjilang and Milingimbi.
This Exhibition is a part of the celebrations that marks 50 years of the ALPA. The works are from Galiwin'ku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Minjilang and Ramingining.These pieces represent Yolŋu culture, stories and the industrious period of enterprise and ingenuity across Arnhem Land.
The team from Manapan created five signature pieces that were partly inspired by existing Manapan pieces for this exhibition and also inspired by the celebrations.
The Exhibition also has other works including traditional and contemporary storytelling and design, upcycled metal sculptures, paintings and ceremonial film.
Check out the Full Galley album here
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Brand New Ensuites For Rulku Lodge
Exciting news for Rulku Lodge as the new ensuite rooms are now complete. These five new ensuites are now on offer to guests when they book at Rulku for their next trip to Milingimbi. It is a much-needed upgrade for the Lodge as the original four ensuites were booking-out weeks in advance, keeping in demand throughout the year.
The $220 thousand dollar ensuite extensions are expected to offer a more convenient and comfortable stay in Milingimbi while also generating higher income for Rulku Enterprises (a joint business venture between ALPA and the Rulku Family Trust). Bookings have not slowed down and the Lodge is at 100 per cent occupancy up until the Christmas break.
These upgrades would be not possible without the work of the local construction company Bukmak Constructions. The works took a total of two months to complete and generated local employment in Milingimbi with one local man gaining full-time employment with the Bukmak team. While the Lodge had rooms closed for the duration of the project, accommodation remained at high occupancy.
Rulku Lodge appreciates the support from the whole community and guests visiting Milingimbi. The team looks forward to welcoming you on your next stay!
Book here
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ALPA's Nutrition Efforts Celebrated on an International Stage
In October we were invited to share ALPA’s nutrition journey at the International Congress on Obesity. The Congress attracted more than 1 thousand delegates from around the world who came from a range of disciplines (policymakers, UN representatives, health professionals and researchers), all working to prevent and manage the global obesity epidemic.
The focus of this section of the Congress was “Mind the Gap: how policies can be used to shape the food system to reduce inequity”. The Nutrition team from UNICEF East Asia opened the session with a presentation on how their research on the prevention of overweight and obesity among children has been used to advocate for policy action in Thailand. Following this, our Nutrition Manager, Khia De Silva, showcased how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have successfully created and implemented policies that have created healthier stores in remote Australia.
ALPA Director, Djamalaka Dhamarrandji, opened our presentation via video. Djamalaka highlighted why nutrition is an important focus of the ALPA Boards. Following this, Khia presented the key objectives of the ALPA Health and Nutrition Strategy, that being to improve the affordability and availability of healthy foods and drinks in ALPA stores, and to support our customers to make healthier food purchases.
Khia took the audience on a journey, highlighting the major strategies that the ALPA Board of Directors and Independent Store Directors have put in place to achieve these objectives over the last 40 years. Our achievements in healthy retailing resonated with the audience, with many celebrating the presentation on Twitter and Linked In. People were amazed to see a retail business in remote Australia leading the way in healthy retailing.
We thank the Congress committee for allowing us to share our story. It allowed us to connect with strong public health advocates who we have started working with to influence public health policies in the Northern Territory.
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