AFL Cape York Kids Living Safer Lives
AFL Cape York is proud to acknowledge the support of our sponsors and supporters.
Kids Living Safer Lives in Cape York encapsulates a range of programs aimed at protecting and keeping children safe. This Project aims to leverage existing resources by linking with and expanding on current successful activities.
For more information watch this presentation. Kids Living Safer Lives [PowerPoint pps 481Kb]
Kids Living Safer Lives Wins State Government Award
AFL Cape York is proud to announce than the Kids Living Safer Lives program, a partnership between AFL Cape York, Indigenous Coordination Centre Cairns, Queensland Police Service and Cape Crime Stoppers, has won the 2009 Department of Communities Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Award - Indigenous.
The award was presented at a function at Parliament House in Brisbane on Wednesday 29 April 2009. Present to accept the award were Michelle Torrens and Maria McDonald from ICC Cairns, project coordinator for Violence No Way Sgt Larrisa Flood from QPS and Kids Living Safer Lives Program Manager Dale Treanor from AFL Cape York.
Kids Living Safer Lives is an initiative of the Australia Government directed towards the reduction of fear and viloence for kids in indigenous communities through a range of coodinated initiatives and programs conducted through a unique partnership between the Indigenous Coordination Centre representing the Australian Government, Queensland Police Service representing the Queensland State Government plus two non government organisations, Crime Stoppers and AFL Cape York Ltd.
The project officially commenced on 1 July 2008, targeting the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mossman Gorge and Pormpuraaw. Key features of the project include the placement of suitable project officers in each community and the coordinated management of the delivery of the supported programs, which include the award-winning Police programs, Be Strong Be Heard, Violence No Way, Safe Hands and Crime Stoppers.
Well Done to all partners, coordinators and communities that have embraced the program.
KIDS LIVING SAFER LIVES WINS CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 2010 AWARD FOR YOUTH PARTICIPATION
AFL Cape York is proud to announce that the Kids Living Safer Lives program won the Child Protection Week 2010 Award for Youth Participation.
Kids Living Safer Lives is an initiative of the Australian Government directed towards the reduction of fear and violence for kids in indigenous communities through a range of coordinated initiatives and programs conducted through a unique partnership between the Indigenous Coordination Centre representing the Australian Government, Queensland Police Service representing the Queensland State Government plus two non government organizations, Crime Stoppers and AFL Cape York Ltd.
Accepting the award on behalf of the program partners, were KLSL program manager Dale Treanor from AFL Cape York and program partner representatives Tony Martens from Cairns Indigenous Coordination Centre and Sergeant Larissa Flood from the Queensland Police Service and coordinator of the Violence No Way program. Dale Treanor delivered the acceptance speech. Also in attendance was Mr Kevin Keefe, Qld State Manager of FaHCSIA , the Australian Government Department which funds the KLSL program.
Particulars of the award can be found at -
http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/events/cpweek/awards-recipients.html#klsl
For more information about Child Protection Week 2010, please visit
http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/events/cpweek/index.html
Official photographs taken at the ceremony will be posted once available.
KLSL UPDATE MAY 2010
AFL Cape York has engaged two new project officers for the Kids Living Safer Lives program. Kane Richter joined us in late January as the program’s youth engagement officer, whilst Richard McLean joined us in May as the KLSL project officer for the communities of Lockhart River, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama. Kane and Richard are both based in our Cairns office, but travel regularly into the communities.
Kane recently returned to the Far North after spending nearly ten years living and working in Tasmania, mostly with kids from low socio-economic backgrounds requiring guidance in school to 
work transition.
We are in the process of planning holiday activities in the communities for the June/July school holidays, which will include a road trip to many of the Cape communities by our staff and GymSports. More information will be posted as the holiday program planning is finalised.
Do you have favorite things you like to do over the holidays which you would like AFL Cape York or our KLSL facilitators to consider as part of our holiday program? If so, send us an email or ring us to talk about it. Either email dale@aflcapeyork.com.au or call 0447461188.
Coen kindy gets new bus and new director
There is great excitement around the kindy as we welcome the arrival of a new 21 seater bus. The purchase of the bus was made possible though the Qeensland Government's Gambling Community Benefit Fund and AFL Cape York. A special thanks also to Coast Wide Signs for the signage.
The small town of Coen, a few hours north of Cooktown, received a boost to its Kindergarten service on July 22 after a new and improved bus service was sent out for its first run the same day they welcomed their new Kindergarten Director.
Coen is only a small town with a population of under 300, but with 24 children registered at the kindergarten, many who don't have their own transport, having a bus which only seated 11 was a major problem.
Michelle Sleeman, who works for the Coen Kindergarten Associaiton, said they were doing two bus runs at one point, which was difficult to manage because a staffing issues.
Teamed with their difficulty finding a Kindergarten Director, the Kindergarten had to close for five weeks earlier this year, a major blow to the kids' attendance motivation when kindy did resume.
The new bus, which is a second-hand Toyota Coaster, is worth around forty thousand dollars, but more importantly, it can accommodate 19 children, and two supervising adults.
The remaining five children registered a tthe kindy have thier own transport. The bus came from two grants; the Gambling Community Benefit Fund and AFL Cape York Kids Living Safer Lives.
"The kids were so excited about the bus this morning", sad Michelle.
"They all wanted to hop onto it, lots of the children have been asking their mothers if they can go back to kindy, so we're hoping it will build our attendance numbers back up again."
Michelle also said the bus will be a major boost for implementing cultural activities which encourage family particiaption.
"May we can pick up some of the elders who can't walk to the kindy and have parents and grandparents day again", she said.
Coen Kindergartens new Director, Nicky Comley, has come from Cairns, with her three year-old som Ryder, who will also be attending the Coen kindy.
JUNE-JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2010
AFL Cape York and the KLSL holiday program ran activities in a number of Cape York communities over the recent school holidays.
Coen – Damien Bani, Mark Welge and Douglas Patrick from Champion Sound travelled to Coen to run further vocal and beat box classes, following on from the visit in the Easter holidays. This time they took recording gear and recorded the kids. Once again the Coen kids did a great job and had a really good time. Thanks to Tim, Kim and the people at the Coen School for supporting the activities and helping out with organizing things at a local level.
Aurukun – The team from the Doyle Family Fun Show finally got to Aurukun and entertained across the age groups, from the elders down to the kids at the childcare centre. There were plenty of activities, with face painting popular in the lead-up to the State of Origin. A big thanks to the crew at the DOC Aurukun LPO for their support and organisation.
Leanne Ramsamy from Ja Lea Beauty and Hair also visited Aurukun to run a series of workshops on health and beauty for women and girls and these sessions were well attended and very popular, with a number of the younger participants asking about making careers in hairdressing and make-up.
Most participants would have been inspired that Leanne, an indigenous lady, has created a business teaching other indigenous ladies and girls about things like grooming and personal health.
For more information about Leanne’s programs call 0428871770
Pormpuraaw – Tara from Drum Up Big returned to the community, with Richard McLean from AFL Cape York to do more drum-making and maintenance classes and drumming.
Whilst there, they identified a number of kids for possible inclusion in a drumming troupe to perform at the Festival Cairns parade on 21st August. More on that as we progress.
While doing a drumming session, the class was joined by a small green drummer, in the shape of a gree tree frog (see photo)
AFL Cape York, with Gym Sports, Brave Hearts and Peninsula Sport formed up a road convoy and travelled to Coen, Lockhart River, Aurukun, Napranum and then Pormpuraaw, where they participated in the big camp held at the Coleman River about 50km from the community.
Approximately 35 Pormpuraaw kids attended the 4 day camp. The full report on the camp will be posted shortly.
2010 EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
The KLSL program supported the following activities in Cape York communities over the school holidays –
Coen – Damien Bani and John Araneda from Champion Sound spent 4 days in town doing beat box and other activities with the local kids, which went over really well. They helped the kids organise their own disco, which was well attended by kids and adults. The guys were asked to come back in the next school holidays and to do some recordings this time. The guys also commented on how good and involved the kids were the whole time they were there.
Pormpuraaw – Tara Tucker and Richard McLean from Drum Up Big spent 5 days in the community doing drum making workshops, teaching kids how to repair, maintain and tune the communities existing stock of djembe drums and to conduct drumming workshops.
The kids really got into the activities and were well behaved and attentive.
After the workshops, a photo was taken of Tara, Richard and the kids together with the drums, plus photos of the kids learning from Richard.
Since this, Richard has started work with us here at AFL Cape York as the KLSL project officer for Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama and Lockhart River
Aurukun – the planned visit by the Doyle Family Fun Show was cancelled due to some deaths in the community. This was re-scheduled for July.
Holiday Programs - December 2009 / January 2010The Kids Living Safer Lives holiday program got into swings in December with the Scouts conducting camps and activities at Coen and Lockhart River. Following the Christmas / New Year break it was back into it with visits to the communities by a range of activitites providers as follows;
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| Some of the Aurukun kids showing their talent at gymanstics and AFL football - that's the way to hold an AFL footy | ||||||
| Plus our first lady AFL SportsReady Trainee, Eileen Ludwick, with some junior netballers | ||||||
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| Aurukun | Champion Soud | 8 - 11 January 2010 | ||||
| Here's a couple of photos of the Champion Sound guys mixing it with the locals | ||||||
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| Aurukun | Drum up Big | 11 - 13 January 2010 | ||||
| Aurukun | Doyle Family Fun Show | 19 - 21 January 2010 | ||||
| Here's a few snaps of Terry Doyle with some kids at Aurukun. Abraham Kerindun helped out to entertain the kindy kids. Nice wig there Abraham! | ||||||
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| Terry and his team will be returning to Aurukun over the Easter school holidays. | ||||||
| Lockhart River | Champion Sound | 5 - 8 January 2010 | ||||
| We are hoping to have the Champion Sound guys return over Easter to do more recordings with the Lockhart kids. | ||||||
| Lockhart River | AFL Cape York and GymSports | 8-11 January | ||||
| Kowanyama | Northern Pride and AFL Cape York | 5 - 7 January | ||||
| Kowanyama | AFL Cape York and GymSports | 12 - 15 January | ||||
| Mossman Gorge | Champion Sound | 12 - 14 January | ||||
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| Pormpuraaw | AFL Cape York and Gym Sport | 15 - 18 January | ||||
| Pormpuraaw | Drum Up Big Drum Making |
18 - 22 January | ||||
| Pormpuraaw | Drum Up Big |
21 - 22 January | ||||
| Coen | Northern Pride | 18 - 19 January | ||||
| Coen | AFL Cape York | 20 - 22 January | ||||
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In addition, AFL Cape York placed some deadly pool gear at Aurukun which provided water-based activities for the Aurukun kids. That gear will be going to Kowanyama once things are ready there and then it will packed into our troopies and used during holiday programs. Here's a couple of photos of the gear taken at Aurukun. |
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GymSports had some new airgym gear. When combined with the existing gear, this is going to provide heaps of options once the roads are open and we can get into the communities by road. Check out the snaps taken at Kowanyama with the kids getting airborne for some spekky marks using the new airgym gear. |
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School Holiday Program 30/06 - 06/07/09 Tuesday 30th June - Pormpuraaw The children in Pormpurraw flipped, rolled, somersaulted on the air gym without having to be taught a natural talent. The morning kicked off with acrobatic and gymnastic activities and AFL kicking competitions. In the afternoon a big AFL game was played with boys and girls participating and having the best time getting their hands on that footy. Even AFL staff got involved and played alongside the talented Pormpuraaw children. As the sun fell and the temperautre became cooler the AFL game finished with a bbq prepared by Sokar. Fresh salad and meat meal and were straight back out on the oval ready to play another game. As night fell the AFL troopy lights were put on to give some extra lights. Fantastic day and well done to all the participants. Wednesday 1st July - Pormpurraw Saturday 4th July - Napranum Monday 6th July - Aurukun Community on Watch in fight against crime
Cairns District crime prevention officer Sen-Constable Heidi Marek said Neighbourhood Watch was about working together as a community to promote safety, security and quality of life for all residents. Neighbourhood Watch seeks to reduce the number of offences by improving personal safety and household or building security, reporting suspicious activity within neighbourhoods and ensuring property is marked for identification. The Woree group joins other committees from across Cairns, including Trinity Park, Freshwater, Edge Hill, Whitfield, Trinity Beach, Mooroobool and Forest Gardens. Also yesterday, the Cairns Indigenous Coordination Centre launched its Kids Living Safer Lives initiative at Westcourt in a bid to improve relations between children and police. Former Cairns detective John Harris, who is also the chairman of Crime Stoppers, said the program is about reporting crime, violence and abuse against children and families, He said it also was about building positive role models in indigenous communities. The Kids Living Safer Lives program will be delivered as a priority into welfare reform communities at Hope Vale, Aurukun, Coen and Mossman Gorge and also extending to Lockhart River, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama. Mr Harris said intervention and prevention strategies for the program included Be Strong Be Heard, Crime Stoppers, Safe Hands and AFL Cape York. Be Strong Be Heard will be delivered in communities through workshops that aims to provide knowledge of law and skills for people to report and progress complaints of child abuse and neglect. |
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The Far North's cops have two new weapons in their crime prevention arsenal. Cairns police officially launched the Woree Neighbourhood Watch at Woree State High School last night.