Photo Credit: Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation – Wadeye Drop-In Centre
During school holidays, structured sport, social and recreation programs provide important opportunities for young people to stay active, connected and positively engaged.
In Wadeye, a collaboration between West Daly Regional Council and Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation recently created a tailored school holiday program that did just that.
Based on the belief that physical activity is a pillar of well-being, Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation connects with communities through everything from high-energy sports to lighter, social activities like movie nights.
Every program is led by locals because every remote community is different, and successful programs are rarely about bringing in a ready-made solution. They work best when local organisations and local people have a strong voice in what happens, and when activities reflect what children, young people and families actually want and need.
Sometimes the results can be seen in the simplest moments: a busy basketball court, children learning a new skill, a shared lunch, or young people having another reason to get together.
“All through the holidays, the program kept the kids active and entertained, but they also gave them something really important too – the chance to make new friends, work in team, build some confidence and make connections with others in healthy ways,” said West Daly Regional Council Mayor Terry Sams.
Daily lunches, supported by Wadeye School helped keep energy levels up.
West Daly and Thamarrurr Youth is the kind of collaboration that demonstrates the important role councils can play in remote communities.
About West Daly Regional Council
West Daly Regional Council’s commitment to working closely with Aboriginal communities is also reflected in the people delivering its services.
Of council’s 81 employees, 49 identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander which is around 60 per cent of its workforce.
Local Aboriginal employees bring community knowledge, relationships and lived understanding to council’s work. They help connect services with the people they are intended to serve and bring local perspectives into the everyday work and decisions of council.