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Meeting with Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre
Date: Friday
Time: 10.30am -11.30am
Present: Oscar Datjarrnga, John Ives, Graham Havens, John Greatorex, Bryce Anbins-King and Lorna Murakami-Gold
Venue: Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre
Documents: given a copy of Funding Agreement and a list of CDEP participants.
Graham Havens invited John, Bryce and I into a shared office used by Oscar, John Ives and Graham. First Graham explained his role – “does jobs that others may consider boring such as working on the Marthakal constitution, though mainly administrative jobs that are essential and need to be done”. Graham use to work at Shepherdson College and when he was there ‘saw one piece of the pie’ and since he has been at Marthakal (six weeks) can ‘see the whole pie’. Graham talked about problems he had noted so far such as the fuel run. It is currently sporadic and so people sometimes run out of fuel. We are looking at ideas such as every Thursday having a fuel run and swap 5 full jerry cans with 5 empty jerry cans. Coordinate this fuel swap with dropping off the CDEP timesheets. Signing CDEP timesheets wastes a lot of time. Graham saw Joe ringing around checking that people were at work that week. Then there were seven supervisor positions. At 11am by John Ives and Oscar returned to the office and we continued out meeting.
John G: Gave a brief handover of what we been doing at Mäpuru and John Ives spoke about literacy programs that in September BITTE assign them staff. John’s wife has been doing literacy programs with family violence staff and mechanics.
Oscar: That’s good, as Homelands kids needs to have access to and to start using computers to learn literacy.
JI: It’s good that the DEWR programs are directly linked to literacy.
JG: This one off AFLF submission to trial internet learning would be one way to give people access to English literacy.
BAK: We also need to be looking at what is there in Homelands and how it can be used.
JI: Once the CDEP audit is done we’ll be able to talk more.
JG: Later today we will be meeting with Kaye Thurlow, so we can discuss collaborations between Shepherdson College, Marthakal HRC, and CDU.
JI: Paying phone bills are the biggest problem, we don’t want paying for everyone to use phones.
JG: One way around that is to use phone cards. Homeland residents want ot be able to buy phone cards, but it they have to fly to Elcho to buy them then it is very expensive. Once the coops have phonecards then people can pay for their own calls. This is difficult at Donydji until they have internet access to order and pay for phone cards.
At the same time it is important way is for the phone to be set up with Abbreviated Dialing and Call Control, like it is in the schools. This means that only designated numbers can be called. For example, to dial Shepherdson College main office, the user rings 11#, this is because 11 is the abbreviated number for 08 89879044. No calls except those entered as Abbreviated numbers can be called, that is unless a phone card is used. Internet dialup is also an Abbreviated number.
OD: If people want this, we need to support them not listen then go away.
JG: Can MHRC supply us with the details of CDEP approved activities?
JI: These are negotiable site by site. The funding agreement is very complicated. Funding agreement has set criteria which have been written up by CDEP manager for particular skill. For example, Arts and Craft in this category there are 18 people on CDEP. There are 266 CDEP people spread over 29 sites and 1 CDEP manager. 7 supervisors and the tension of paying for one supervisor to cover more than their own Homeland is a major problem. DEWR doesn’t recognize funerals as a CDEP activity. Council give 5/7 leave and 2/52 for holidays.
OD: Being involved into too much western stuff to do cultural business so will be nothing.
JI: DEWR if you don’t work for 2 weeks out of 52, then workers are taken off CDEP. DEWR has lifting remote are exemptions. CDEP reform is similar to unemployment benefits. No sit down money. Everyone is to fill out timesheets.
BAK: Can they do all work over 3/7?
JI: Yes, can work 14 hours and then not work for 2/52. Fishing and arts and craft are legitimate CDEP activities.
BAK: Recording the activity like photographing the road being worked.
JG: faxing timesheets
JI and GH: changing the forms to make them more meaningful. Using icons with words underneath. Resources available from Marthakal such as satellite and computers.
JI: fax machines, Marthakal could buy one for each homelands. If it means getting phones into the place or getting people to use the …
BAK: phone numbers are linked to the satellites. Implications if the phone bill is not paid. Want to pay $100 per month?
JI: I pay $60 for two way and 1 gigbyte download. If it was $100, people using it could pay for their own corporate access say $5 each. A computer person comes to Marthakal we could get them to look at it.
JG if people were able to explore and their children are exposed this can lead to other possibilities to be able to engage and take control of their lives.
BAK: Is CDMA here?
GH 54
JG: Need axes to cut the airstrip.
JI: If they want axes Marthakal can supply them. Communication is an issue often the phones aren’t working and there are no phone cards available.
Jobs:
- Find ways for people to buy phone cards so they can use phones. Talk with visiting teachers, nurses, pilots. They may be able to sell the cards.
- Fax machines (Marthakal will supply machine, locate in school and use school phone line).
- Develop practical timesheets for CDEP participants to use.
- Improve internet connection. MHRC will help with limited funding.
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