Engawala News

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) gives notice in accordance to section 158 of the Local Government Act (2008) that the following rates and charges were declared to apply to the financial year ending 30 June 2022 at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Friday 30 May 2021. Rates Declaration for 2021-22 is available on our website at  Rates Declaration 2021-22  or at our Council Offices in community as well as at 1 Bagot Street, Alice Springs.

The Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) People and Culture Recruitment Team have been busy over April and May running recruitment training in communities. This was the first time the team had been to most communities so it was a great opportunity for them to get to know more of the staff.

The training was aligned to the Recruitment and Selection Standard Operating Procedure with an aim to increase the accuracy and compliance of recruitment paperwork received as well as compliance to the procedure, policy and Local Government Act requirements.

On 23 and 24 June, Aged Care staff from all of the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Aged Care Centres - Anmatjere, Atitjere, Engawala, Lajamanu, Laramba, Nyirripi, Wilora, Willowra and Yuelamu came together in Alice Springs for two days of training with Culturally Directed Care Solutions (CDCS). CDCS assists remote aged care services to be more efficient, meet compliance standards and provide quality care to their target group.

CDRC is dedicated to training its staff to create the best possible outcomes for its residents.

Photo: The CDRC Aged Care staff.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Aged Care workers are now being vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. In Engawala, all staff and clients have been fully vaccinated, having received two shots. The staff were a little unsure at first but after Traditional Owner Kevin Bloomfield volunteered to go first the staff followed.

In other communities the staff have had only one shot, and in others still they are waiting for the next round of vaccines to arrive.

Photo: Wayne Porter, Aged Care Coordinator in Nyirripi, receiving his first Pfizer vaccine shot.

Atitjere and Engawala Aged Care staff are currently completing a certificate II in Family Wellbeing with Batchelor. The training, taking place at Engawala and Atitjere, is a program that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues that impact on an individual’s wellbeing, family unity and community harmony.

Through the certificate, staff will gain knowledge on how to face their own personal issues and to help others in community when help is needed, especially Aged Care clients.

It will also open a pathway to higher level qualifications in Aged Care for the staff.

On 6 June, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) teams from Yuelamu, Laramba, Nturiya, Pmara Jutunta, Atitjere, and Engawala travelled to Alice Springs for three days of training in Introductory Mediation and Peacemaking.  The program was delivered by Troy Degenhardt and Matthew Panayi of Northern Territory Alternate Dispute Resolution.

Over the three days, the group discussed traditional processes of dispute resolution and peacemaking, and were surprised to find that they were so similar to a formal mediation process.

Players from Atitjere, Engawala and Laramba will travel to Ti Tree on Wednesday 23 June to play in the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Intercommunity Softball Tournament. The four communities will play in a round robin competition, with the winner to represent CDCR at the upcoming Mparntwe Shield in Alice Springs.

It is expected that there will be a big crowd and the Pmara Jutunta community will make plenty of noise to support their home team.

Games will commence at Pmara Jutunta softball oval from 11:00am, with a community BBQ from 12:30pm. There will be giveaways for participants and medals for those lucky enough to win the tournament.

Nyirripi, Engawala and Laramba now have mobile phone coverage.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) has had 4GX-lite Satellite Small Cells installed in the communities with funding assistance from the Federal Government.

The Small Cells, installed and maintained by Telstra, will give residents access to email and basic data and voice calls and text with a phone, tablet or other compatible device.  

Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May until 3 June every year. These dates commemorate the 27 May 1967 referendum and the 3 June 1992 High Court Mabo decision. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 To commemorate this Reconciliation Week, after four years after it came out, here is the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ as spoken by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich and Troy Cassar-Daley, with music by Midnight Oil.

All the staff from Central Desert Regional Council’s (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) attended training in Alice Springs on 17 and 18 May.  Staff from Yuelamu, Laramba, Atitjere, Engawala, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya, and Lajamanu attended, and it was the first opportunity for the staff to get together since biosecurity restrictions were introduced in the communities in March 2020.

On the first day staff received a refresher in Council Policies, and had a chance to ask questions of the General Manager People and Culture, Irenee McCreevy, and Work Health and Safety Advisor, Carmen Hunter.