Video: Gunbalanya looks after family safety

DALLAS THOMPSON [RAPPING]: We need a set an example for the ones we love…and the ones we love will be just like us…cause I’m a good father just like my daddy was, and my sons to be like me and daddy cause that’s love tough love…that’s why I don’t wanna see the tears in your eyes when you cry and hide behind those young black eyes. And this is why we started our program here in Oenpelli. And I’m Dallas and this is our town.

NARRATOR: Gunbalanya or Oenpelli is nestled in the rugged landscape of Arnhem Land. Even though the community is isolated from the rest of Australia, especially during the wet, its population of more than 1000 have not escaped modern day problems of family violence and substance abuse.

THOMPSON: Early this year there was a lot of petrol sniffing and break and enter going on in our community. And we thought maybe they are just getting bored.

NARRATOR: So the community got together and came up with a number of local initiatives to help break the negative cycle.

THOMPSON: And that’s why we thought we might bring sport in and keep them healthy.

NARRATOR: For kids at risk, the program provided a new set of goals.

ETHAN NABARAWAR: Dallas told me come play football…stop sniffing. I said yeah I’ll come and play football.

THOMPSON: You two have got to support each other, you and this one here. You learn from your mistakes.

NARRATOR: This is a real community initiative. A regular at training is Deb Canendo, who facilitates the Strong Women’s Group.

DEB CANENDO: It’s not just exclusive to one particular part of our community, so there’s something for everybody.

THOMPSON: It’s only practice.

NARRATOR: And that’s the secret here, everyone’s involved. While Dallas keeps kids off the streets, Deb’s talking with mums about how to resolve conflict without violence to make their home life happier and safer.

TRAINER: Depending on what it was they might even die, like that’s a big injury, a big consequence.

CANENDO: Family Safety Program – our main aim is to reconnect families and work out ways to resolve conflict, without resorting to violence. The cultural activities is a big part of it, just sitting down and talking and socialising. The men will deal with the men and we women go out and do what we do, type of thing. But it’s mainly promotion of that family unit.

NARRATOR: The holistic approach at Gunbalanya works by providing strategies to keep kids busy. So when the footy training finishes, band practice begins.

THOMPSON: We are going to try and point them in the right direction you know. Give support and help and that’s why I’m trying to teach them music. Young people here come and hang out at this music shed.

NARRATOR: Helping these kids express their frustrations through music is a big part of Dallas’ program.

THOMPSON: I sort of come up with that idea where you put something different…you put a men’s shed there where young men walking past they can come by and have a cup of tea or listen to music and sit down and yarn with older men. And that’s what my idea was and getting these younger kids…stop them walking around and come in here and hang out with older men and like teaching them music.

THOMPSON: Hey – that young black guy chorus…two times.

KIDS [singing]: Looking through the young black eyes… looking through the young black eyes…tell me why…tell me why. Looking through the young black eyes… looking through the young black eyes…tell me why…tell me why.

THOMPSON: They got no where to go, and this is the only place to hang out.

KIDS [singing]: Looking through the young black eyes… looking through the young black eyes…tell me why…tell me why…tell me why.

NARRATOR: The commitment to these families and kids is twenty-four seven. The next morning at the crack of dawn Dallas is taking these young men out bush and out of harm’s way.

THOMPSON: We do a lot of diversionary activity with youths, yeah. We try and get them out of town and do a lot of cultural activity.

NASHON NABAGEYO: In Gunbalanya, they fight a lot over cigarettes and drugs. There is too much distraction and temptation…so it’s really good to go fishing.

ROBBY MARALNGURRA: I like coming to spots like this. Just to catch Barramundi. It’s peaceful out here…and I’m really enjoying fishing.

NARRATOR: Across the flood plains, Deb and the strong women are also out early collecting pandanus leaves they will use for weaving baskets.

CANENDO: It’s all part of our cultural program. It ensures the handing down of skills, particularly for the women’s side.

NARRATOR: Weaving also provides a strong economic base for the community.

THOMPSON: Up this way…

NARRATOR: For the boys, fishing is all the incentive they need to go out bush, but the real benefit is the opportunity to come together and talk about their problems.

NABAGEYO: I smoked too much and my mind was confused. While sniffing petrol I was tempted to steal cars. We’d get drunk and break into houses. I have stopped that and won’t sniff again. In prison you think about everything, but it’s too late then.

THOMPSON: And that’s why our boys, I think, don’t want that. They’ve had enough pain through all the family and like they are suffering now, and that’s why we are out somewhere, doing this kind of program.

NARRATOR: And that’s exactly why the strong women are working with their young daughters.

JUNE NADJAMERREK: You know you need to continue with your culture and keep on going so when us ladies and old people pass away, the knowledge is still there and our culture is still there and it’s going to stay there forever and ever. It’s about sharing ideas and sharing stories together.

NARRATOR: Country, culture and community initiatives, a balance that’s making a real difference in Gunbalanya.

THOMPSON: I feel…feel proud of them mob and happy…like we all feel happy here…they just enjoying themselves here like that young fella there having good time. You can see them…that big smile on their face, yeah.

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