A care provider in the Northern Territory has opened the doors to a purpose-built residential facility for First Nations elders — 20 years after the idea was first suggested.
The 33-bed centre in Nhulunbuy, a remote community on the eastern-most tip of the Gove Peninsula about 600km from Darwin, offers nursing and personal care, palliative care and holistic support including access to bush medicine.
Each of the rooms offers privacy but allows residents who wish to share their space the opportunity to do so. Verandas provide direct access to the outdoors.
“It’s very much about bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out,” says Sheila Kelly, Marketing and Fundraising Officer, ARRCS (Australian Regional and Remote Community Services) Regional Office.
“The facility caters for our First Nations elders from the local community, the homelands and surrounding areas.”
The first residents were admitted in December following years of community outreach and consultation, spearheaded by a community Elder 20 years ago and culminating in an intensive, year-long consultation process and Commonwealth-funded building program.
“Since ARRCS became part of the project several years ago, we’ve asked: ‘What do your people want in this facility? What will make them more comfortable? How do you see this happening?’” Ms Kelly said.
“We’re thrilled it’s finally here because it has been a long, drawn-out process — trying to build something in a remote area and dealing with the challenges of COVID-19.
“It's not an easy place to get to, especially in the wet season.
“To have made it happen is a massive achievement.”
Community has been at the heart of the centre, every step of the way – from concept design through to completion.
Some of the area’s young men were taken on as trainees to work with builders during construction.
“That was really important, as it provides an opportunity for local young people to enter a trade that they can use later in life if they choose to do so,” Ms Kelly said.
“We were able to recruit five ladies from the local community to learn how to be ‘Riyala’ – or wellness workers – assisting them to gain their Certificate III in individual support.
“These workers are assisting our non-indigenous staff to understand cultural norms and speak to residents in their own language, making them more comfortable and helping them feel at home.
“We want our residents to feel it’s a place they can call home.”
Before the facility opened, elders with care needs either had to be looked after at home where families can struggle with the burden of chronic illness or travel 600km to Darwin for care.
Nhulunbuy’s remoteness has had unexpected benefits.
“Although the NT is very, very vast and it’s difficult to attract and retain staff — which is not unique to the Territory; this is pretty much what's happening across the world — we are lucky in that we are able to offer unique experiences for people where they can come and learn about our First Nations people and how to care for them,” Ms Kelly said.
ARRCS has been providing regional and remote area care and support to people and their communities throughout the Northern Territory and beyond since 2014.
The organisation supports people from Darwin to Kaltukatjara (Docker River), through residential aged care and disability services, regional home care services, childcare and even school nutrition programs.
A deep respect for all elders and Aboriginal cultures is at the heart of its work.
“We want our new centre to be a first-class place for care,” Ms Kelly said.
“We want it to be a shining example of how care could be and as a purpose-built facility for First Nations people, that it really can be comfortable and welcoming for them.”
ARRCS has been a member of Ai Group since 2020.
In late 2022, Ai Group was engaged to formally represent ARRCS with the renegotiation of our 2019 Enterprise Agreement. The service, professionalism and attention to detail provided thus far has been outstanding, with Stewart Rinkevich, Principal Advisor – Workplace Relations, invaluable in leading this process for us. With so many options to seek regarding IR support and expertise, Ai stands apart and will remain my first choice into the future.” — Peter Antal, Regional Manager, People and Culture, ARRCS NT Regional Office
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
