2023-2024 ANNUAL REPORT
ABOUT US Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community (La Grange) is located on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia, 1590 kilometres from the capital city of Perth and 180 kilometres from Broome. The recognised traditional owners of the land are the Karajarri people. Bidyadanga is the largest remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia with a population of approximately 850 residents and is home to the Karajarri, Juwalinny, Mangala, Nyungamarta, and Yulpartja language groups. Rich in history, art, and culture and with a developing economy, Bidyadanga has many community facilities and infrastructure to support community’s people. The word Bidyadanga comes from a word for “emu watering hole” (pijarta or bidyada). Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange Inc (BACLG) was incorporated in 1975 as a not-for-profit organisation to administer government-funded programs such as the Day-care service, Municipal Services, and agencies of Centrelink and Australia Post, for the community. A Council of community representatives governs the organisation. The Council is comprised of two members of each of the five language groups that reside in Bidyadanga. Council elections are held every three years. ACKNOWLEDGING COUNTRY Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange Inc (BACLGI) acknowledges the Karajarri people as traditional owners of the land on which we live and work. We appreciate the welcome from past Karajarri Elders for the Nyangumarta, Juwaliny, Mangala and Yulparija people to settle on this land and create the community of Bidyadanga. We pay respect to all Elders. TABLE OF CONTENTS COUNCIL REPORT 4 Acquisition Of Shamrock Gardens 5 Land Activiation Project 5 Health Services Transition To Community Control 5 Pijarta Produce Partnership 6 Early Years Partnership 6 CEO’S REPORT 8 BUSINESS AND INVESTMENTS 10 Bidyadanga Store 10 Broome Investment Property 11 Pijarta Partnership 11 COMMUNITY SERVICES 12 Municipal Services 12 Bidyadanga Community Care 13 Community Resource Centre & Centrelink 14 Mentoring, Educate, and Training (MET) Project 15 Women’s Centre 15 The Bidgy Women’s Health Week 16 Orange Sky Laundry Facility 16 Art Centre 17 THE EARLY YEARS INITIATIVE 18 The Family Centre 18 The Men’s Centre 19 Kids Club 19 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 20 2 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community
There were many significant issues that the Council worked on during the 2023/2024 year. Some of these issues involve discussions that have been taking place over several years. ACQUISITION OF SHAMROCK GARDENS In early 2024, Shamrock Gardens was placed on the market for sale. Given our close ties to the farm through our Pijarta Produce partnership with Angus Galwey, Council felt that this was an opportunity that we should take advantage of. With the insight and guidance of Danny Fyffe, someone who is well-known to Bidyadanga from the 1990s when he helped in the development of the market gardens, we were successful in a grant application to the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) to partially fund the total sale price. With the support of the ILSC grant, we went through the offer process in two phases, that lead to our final offer being accepted. This exciting opportunity is going to provide longterm career pathways and employment for our community in addition to being a new investment income stream. This will see support to our community grow in time as the business grows and develops over the years to come. Settlement is expected to be finalised in the early part of 2024/2025. LAND ACTIVIATION PROJECT We have been working with Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (KTLA) and the State government on the Bidyadanga Land Activation Project (BLAP). This started with an MOU between Bidyadanga Community and KTLA, to prepare for future discussions. The MOU also showed how we can work together for the best interests of all people living in Bidyadanga now and in the future. This year, the discussions were delayed, and momentum slowed down compared to the previous year. This has impacted on the progress of the project and development of agreements. The Indigenous Land Use Agreement was originally planned to be ready for drafting and to be finalised by December 2024. However, this timeline has now been pushed back to December 2025. Council attended 3x three-day workshops and meetings during this year in addition to monthly Council meetings. HEALTH SERVICES TRANSITION TO COMMUNITY CONTROL We are continuing to work with Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) on the transition to community control of the Bidyadanga Health Service. The transition was heading toward the end with BACLGI taking over from KAMS in July 2024, however, this has been postponed to July 2025 due to funding uncertainty. We have continued to develop policies and undertake changes within BACLGI in preparation for the transition in 2025. Construction of the new clinic – Stage 1, has progressed with an architect appointed and the final site confirmed. The challenge now is to obtain funding for Stage 2. KAMS is leading this project with Council participating through the approval and advice process. 4 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 5 Name Group Eligible Meetings Attended EUGENE BUMBA JUWALINY 6 6 KATHLEEN BANGU - RETIRED JUWALINY 3 3 GRAYDON BANGU JUWALINY 3 3 WILLIAM BANGU JUWALINY 7 7 BARBARA WHITE KARAJARRI 6 6 MOSES JAMES KARAJARRI 6 4 MAUREEN YANAWANA - RETIRED MANGALA 3 3 MAREA BARNEY MANGALA 3 3 AGNES WALBIDI MANGALA 6 9 ERIC HUNTER - RETIRED NYANGUMARTA 4 1 EDWARD BADAL NYANGUMARTA 2 2 DANIKA HUNTER NYANGUMARTA 6 5 ANDREW MINYARDIE YULPARIJA 6 5 SUE MANDIJALU YULPARIJA 6 5 THE COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS ANNUAL REPORT TO MEMBERS FOR THE 2023/2024 FINANCIAL YEAR. The work of the council is challenging yet rewarding. While council members are elected by their language groups, the decisions are made for the whole community. COUNCIL REPORT:
PIJARTA PRODUCE PARTNERSHIP Pijarta Produce, the partnership with Shamrock Gardens which commenced in 2021, is continuing to develop. Employment opportunities for our people are available along with training opportunities in the agriculture sector. This is a very exciting project as the farm will grow produce that will be sold all around the state. These employment opportunities will also provide a range of career pathways in the agriculture industry. And the location of the farm allows people to continue to live in Bidyadanga, commuting each day. EARLY YEARS PARTNERSHIP Our work with the state government and Minderoo Foundation with the Early Years Partnership (EYP) commenced in November 2021. This is a long-term project that aims to help communities target issues that are important in early childhood development. The vision is a future where every child has the opportunity and confidence to flourish. The mission is learning together with communities to design and implement solutions that improve development, health and learning of children up to the age of four and create lasting change. Children, families, and communities are the focus, and listening to the wisdom, strengths and knowledge that exists within these groups will direct efforts to achieve outcomes. In 2023/2024, we have seen progress with the launch of the Community Plan at the Family Centre and the support commencing at Men’s Centre. The Bidyadanga Early Years Community Plan (Yija Tili – True Sparks). This plan has been developed with direct input from community members and support from the working group. The plan will provide the strategic direction for this project going forward. There are employment opportunities as part of this project as well, with community connectors working with children and families. In our next report, we will be finalising the transition of health services, finalising tenure and the activation of land in the community and realising upgrades in infrastructure around the community. We will also be reporting on the successes achieved in other projects including the Farm. We look forward to reporting the successes and updates to come in the next year. 6 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 7
I would like to acknowledge our hard-working, dedicated staff who contributed to the successful outcomes that took place in this year. I would like to thank our Community Services Manager Clare (Louise) McLean, our Community Capacity Building Officer Francis Fernandez, and Jemma Thompson who has recently been appointed as our Corporate Services Manager (transferring from the EYP project) for their leadership, and Latoya Thomas, Rhiannon McKenzie and Annie Brown in the Administration Office, along with Julia and Scott Dyball our Store Managers, for their support in their areas of responsibility. CEO’S REPORT The 2023-2024 year included many challenges and celebrations. 8 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 9
BIDYADANGA STORE With Broome being the closest town and a 360km round trip, the Bidyadanga Store ensures that there is a wide range of grocery and household items for sale. While we are a small business, pricing on healthy foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, bottled water, bread and milk is comparable to Broome pricing. The store operates well because our staff work hard to ensure that the store opens each day, there is stock on the shelves, and it is clean and tidy. I would like to acknowledge Marlene Bullen, Jason Dean, Holly Clancy, Dwayne Spriggs, Tanya Walbidi, and many others who have worked at the shop during the 2023/2024 financial year. The Takeaway food outlet sells a variety of healthy and fast food. Janelle Mussared has been the Takeaway Coordinator since 2015, which is a great achievement. BUSINESS AND INVESTMENTS BROOME INVESTMENT PROPERTY The community benefits from ownership of several residential and commercial properties in Broome. This investment portfolio underpins the financial stability of the organisation to ensure that future generations will have access to the services that are provided by Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange (BACLG) Inc Like much of Australia, the rental property market in Broome experienced high demand due to a lack of stock during 2023/2024, so we have seen rental income rise again this year. This does not seem to be slowing down. This year we started preparing the vacant land on Stewart Street in Broome by clearing the old Sober-Up Centre building. PIJARTA PARTNERSHIP The partnership with Shamrock Gardens is moving into the third year of production. While the sweet potato crop was not successful, the watermelon and pumpkin crops that have followed have seen better results. We expect that crops that will be ready for harvest from September to November 2024 will be very good, with the weather playing a key role working in our favour, along with shortage in the Perth Markets. This partnership has resulted in employment opportunities, with 14 community members on the payroll during 2023/2024. 10 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 11
COMMUNITY SERVICES The Community Services team includes Clare McLean as Community Services Manager overseeing the Municipal Services, Centrelink Agency, Women’s Centre, Men’s Centre, Family Centre, Community Resource Centre, Home and Community Care (HACC), and Art Centre and Administration. The team continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community, taking a collaborative approach in supporting the community through social emotional wellbeing, emergency food and power, funeral assistance, transport, postal service, digital inclusion education, support with access to banking, facilitating access with external funding bodies such as Martu Trust, and education activities. MUNICIPAL SERVICES The Municipal Services team have dedicated their time this year to care for and maintain our community. The team includes Dawn Dean, Graydon Bangu, Moses Nardada, Mark Yeeda, Eugene Bumba, Jimmarlus Jabadah, Graham Lynn and Regino Santos. The Municipal Services team is responsible for the care and maintenance of public spaces including the oval, Community Resource Centre, Administration Office, our Support/Service Centres, road maintenance, fire breaks, rubbish collection and disposal, tip maintenance, car removal, and care and maintenance of the airstrip. This year, the team have done fantastic work on the ongoing care of the oval. This was rewarded at the West Kimberley Football League presentation night with recognition in the club of the year award category. The team works tirelessly in extremely difficult environments to keep our community running. Their dedication and hard work are greatly appreciated. BIDYADANGA COMMUNITY CARE Our Community Care Centre provides support for Elders in the community. They collaborate with outside service providers to ensure Elders are connected and well supported. Sarah from Boab Health supports our team in keeping our Elders active and physically healthy. The day-to-day support services our team delivers include meals on wheels, daily welfare checks, support with transport, washing, and social activities. Our Community Care team delivered 1750 meals during 2023/2024. Highlights during 2023/2024 In addition to providing day-to-day support this year, our Community Care Centre have held an Elders Olympics, attended camps and fishing trips, participated in day trips on country, and have undertaken activities at the Women’s, Men’s and Family Centre (Support/Services Centres). Our team has been reduced to Natasha Thomas, Naomi Tumbler, Bradley Coyne and Chloe Andri as Lisa Britton returned to Perth and Rob Pimblett retired this year. We would like to thank Lisa for her efforts and Rob for his many years of service. We also support, collaborate, and coordinate several stakeholders including: Kimberley Aged Care Services (KACS) Community Support Worker and Remote Care Coordination Continence nurse and Allied Health Services. 12 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 13
COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE AND CENTRELINK The Community Resource Centre provides vital community support and access to digital resources. We run education programs, and coordinate and support service providers who visit our community. Bernadette Yambo and the Community Resource team provide one-on-one support and mentoring. Bernie does a fantastic job of welcoming and supporting community members, service providers and stake holders to access available services. Highlights during 2023/2024 • Hosting four service providers meetings. • Hosting school engagement meetings. • Providing support and resources for funeral booklets. • Running “Kids Club” in the afternoons. • Supporting Sarah from Boab Health in the “Bidgy Fit” exercise program each week.. • Hosting regular remote service delivery teams from Department of Transport, Birth Deaths and Marriages, Centrelink and Department of Justice. • Providing support for meetings with Traditional Owner Groups and other information sessions. The Centrelink Agency provides a locally based person that allows community members to obtain support in dealing with services in Bidyadanga. Paula Grey has been an essential and consistent member of our team in her role at the Centrelink Agency for many years now. Paula now has extra help with Rihanan McKenzie learning the ropes, taking some of the pressure off Paula. The following statistics highlight how valuable this service is to our community and the great work that our team are doing. MENTORING, EDUCATE AND TRAINING (MET) PROJECT The intent of the MET Project is to deliver a range of support services to families with school aged children in Bidyadanga, aiming to improve attendance and retention of students at high school level and support individuals to transition from schooling to employment. There is also a Family Support element to the project, with a series of workshops and mentoring programs being delivered around empowerment, life skills and parenting, family and domestic violence, young mums support, and leadership. The Women’s Centre team led by Ingrid Elmitt, Venetta Yanawana and Marika Jadai, do a fantastic job of ensuring great outcomes for all those who engage with the activities that are run through the project. WOMEN’S CENTRE The Women’s Centre is an important place for women in the community to access services as well as a place that supports social emotional wellbeing. The Women’s Centre provides culturally safe access to service providers and information, a place for respite, and a space where women can engage in arts and craft activities or simply have a yarn with other women. The Women’s Centre offers daily activities for women to participate in, provides support for families, and integrates some sessions with local high school girls. The Orange Sky laundry facility has been well used this year with 147 shifts and 1461 loads of washing. Centrelink 2200 Lodge Form/Document 200 Assist with Forms Completion 130 Refer to Services Australia 650 Assist Customer with self service 1965 Respond to General Enquiry 2270 14 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 15
THE BIDGY WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK To support Bidgy Health Week, the Women’s Centre ran daily activities in collaboration with the Bidyadanga Clinic and health service providers. Local High School students were also included and participated in activities such as temporary tattoos, creating body scrubs, muesli making, beading, scratch art, earrings and art. A total of 17 health checks were completed by clinic staff, and education sessions on health were run by the service providers. Along with the high school students, 50 women attended the event making it a great success. At this event the ladies who attended the Women’s Camp were given the fishing shirts they had designed. ORANGE SKY LAUNDRY FACILITY BACLG supports this service, funding a fuel and a maintenance agreement so that Orange Sky can undertake an annual maintenance visit. The facility has become an essential service over the past three years, with 138 shifts delivering 2066 loads of washing (or approximately 20 tons of washing). ART CENTRE It has been a busy and successful year for Bidyadanga Artists, working hard and producing quality original works of art with many having had their work presented in exhibitions and art awards around the state. Our artists are actively engaging in future planning for the Art Centre ensuring the centre is continuing to grow strong and more artists are engaging all the time. Artists have been learning about materials development including stretching, priming and paint mixing using professional quality artist materials. This contributes to the Art Centre’s journey to become a successful and viable creative arts space. The Stories Art Money (SAM) data base is also being used to ensure that consistent best practise documentation around artwork stories and provenance, and money story is in place for artists. Member artists that are in Broome for dialysis are also being supported to continue their practice with Bidyadanga Artists signing up to be one of the partnering art centres involved in Broome CIRCLE’s Artists Away from Home program. This innovative program is supporting artists to continue their practise even though they can’t be at home in Bidyadanga. Other Highlights during 2023/2024 Other Highlights during 2023/2024 Other Highlights during 2023/2024 • Camera Story. • Automotive training. • Fringe Festival and SKUTTA • On-Country fishing days. • Women’s Wellness Camp. • Supporting La Grange Remote Community School (LGRCS) - Strong Mind, Strong Bodies health promotion day. • Women’s Health Day with Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services’ Sexual Health team, Boab Health team and Cyrenian House. • Podiatrist and Diabetes Educator. • Living well with Diabetes by Boab Health. • Health promotion days (Cancer Council, Breastscreen WA, World No Tobacco Day).. • Community Markets. • Evening information sessions. • Fishing outings. • Foster Carers Day. • Supporting “Sorry Camp”. • Artist Edward Badal won the overall 2023 Shinju Acquisitive Art award with another seven artists also submitting some wonderful works to be exhibited in the show. • Bibianna Tumbler was a finalist in the 2024 Jury Art Prize in Port Hedland. • Three artists were accepted to exhibit In the Kimberley Art Prize in Derby. • Bidyadanga Artists exhibited in the Art Above the 26th Exhibition in Broome. The exhibition achieved great attendance as well as exposure and sales for Bidyadanga Artists. • Artists and arts workers attended Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of WA’s (AACHWA) Our Business Arts Forum in Broome along with other art centres and key industry partners from around Australia. • Participation in the Broome Fringe Festival with an exhibition and sale being held at Redbill Studio and Gallery. Artists and arts workers also attended the Artists Open Studios, a great professional development opportunity for all. • Artworks from the Bidyadanga Art Centre were reproduced on scarves as part of the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art (KAFTA) (fashion show in Broome in partnership with the Bidyadanga Women’s Centre. • Bidyadanga Artists attended the Broome CIRCLE Christmas Markets with a great stall, increasing sales and participation in local events. • Three artists had their work accepted into the 2024 Revealed Emerging Artists Exhibition at the Fremantle Art Centre. The artists and an arts worker travelled down for the exhibition, markets and other professional development opportunities, which included a visit to Lawson Flats Gallery in preparation for an upcoming exhibition in Perth. 16 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 17
EARLY YEARS PARTNERSHIP Our dedicated team is led by Francis Fernandez who is supported by teams based at each of the service/support centres. Family Centre The Family Centre has continued to provide support and activities for families to improve outcomes for children aged 0-4. This project saw the opening of the Family Centre in July 2022. On August 23 2023, Minister Sabine Winton visited Bidyadanga to launch the Early Years Community Plan Yija Tili (meaning True Sparks). The project works together with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services’ Connected Beginning staff, Paige, Rosita and BACLG staff Jemma Thompson, Elle Ledesma and Talika Balbal to provide one on one individual family support, parent and health education, and a safe space for families to have respite and advice. Other Highlights during 2023/2024 Other Highlights during 2023/2024 Other Highlights during 2023/2024 • Beach Days with Garnduwa. • “No Joobuk” session for pregnant mums and new mums on creating a safe, smoke-free environment for their bubs. • Healthy cooking activities with Boab Health. • Collaboration with La Grange Remote Community School (LGRCS) ECE program. • Fishing Days. • Kindilink Days. • Supporting LGRCS Professional Development Day at Shell Place. Presentations from BACLGI, Women’s, Family and Men’s centres, Rangers and KAMS. • Palya Mayi cook-up. • Rhematic Heart Disease workshops with KAMS. • Building Babies Brains. • Mental Health workshops. • Creating a culturally safe space for men to visit daily to have a cup of tea, chat, and be discretely linked to required services. • Hosting a Men’s On-Country camp at Shell Place. This was supported by BACLG, Karajarri Rangers, KAMS, WA Country Health Services, Men’s Outreach Services, Cyrenian House, WAPOL, Broome Circle and Department of Communities. • Hosting an Aboriginal Mental First Aid Course with the National Wellness Alliance and graduating several participants. • Started renovating the inside and developing the outside of the centre to make it purposebuilt for engagement activities. • “Funergy”. • Cooking food for Markets. • Beach afternoon with Rangers. • Soda Sessions- Circus, sound & play workshops. • Pool parties. • Supporting La Grange Remote Community School (LGRCS) Christmas Concert. • Supporting Blue Light Discos. • School Holiday Activities. • Trivia night. • Beach days. • Kimberley Theatre Sandfly Circus residence. • Movie nights. • Special reading day. • Book club, crafts and outdoor games. THE MEN’S CENTRE The Bidyadanga Men’s Centre was developed from a need identified in a Local Working Group meeting. It was noted that men needed a culturally safe space to engage in daily activities, receive respite and be linked discretely to health and wellbeing professionals. Building a community of men who support and learn from each other has been one of the great success stories for BACLGI this year. The team this year included Remarley Tait and Dion Billycan. KIDS CLUB The Kid’s Club is run in partnership with Kullarri Remote Communities, the Bidyadanga Police, Bidyadanga Community Pool, Garnduwa, and other visiting service providers. 18 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 19
FINANCIAL SUMMARY The Council is pleased to provide a summary of the audited financials for 2023/2024. The auditor confirmed an unqualified result, showing all services delivered by the organisation were carried out legally and as required. Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange Inc (BACLGI) recorded a surplus of $597,159 for the 2023/2024 financial year, compared to the surplus of $240,030 in 2022/2023. For BACLGI and controlled entities: Total revenue Total expenditure Total Assets Total Liabilities This is made up of: This is made up of: This is made up of: This is made up of: $8,910,517 $8,313,358 $12,220,639 $1,318,217 Total Equity This is made up of: $10,902,422 Store sales $5,807,201 Employee benefits expense Cost of sales $2,272,523 Grants $1,918,216 $3,905,267 Other income $1,185,100 Other expenses $1,185,100 20 | Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Annual Report 2023/24 | 21
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enquiries@baclg.org.au 08 9192 4885 08 9192 4988 Bidyadanga Road, Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community www.bidyadanga.org.au
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