BABBARRA WOMEN'S CENTRE

a year of consolidation

In the 1980s the Babbarra Women's Centre began as a refuge for women. It was also a place where women could learn more about family and child health from a western perspective. While supporting and delivering educational programs and services in matters pertinent to women remains a priority, the Centre has also started a number of small business enterprises to provide women with appropriate employment opportunities. This year has seen a consolidation of previous initiatives and programs.

The major activity is a textile art business which includes printing, hand painting, screen printing, tie-dying and sewing. Ongoing work place training has enabled CDEP participants to develop the required skills to produce textiles and garments to the high quality demanded by the market. The women's designs depicting their landscape, dreaming stories, bush foods and bush activities have proven to be very popular. Successful exhibitions this year, such as those in Adelaide in March and at the Docklands in Melbourne, together with a sunset market in Maningrida and an increasingly busy local trade, have helped to expand their market (2006 $65,516; 2005 $52,822). Public recognition of the women's talents and skills has greatly contributed to the women's sense of self worth and confidence. The 19 new and exciting screen prints they designed during a workshop held earlier in the year earned them the respect of their families and the community in general.

For the first time the textile program has been taken out bush to include women from some of BAC's outstations. The women's centres at Ji-marda, Gochan Jiny-Jirra, Buluhkaduru, Mankorlod and Mumeka were used to deliver textile training and offer general assistance to women. The outstations were selected to ensure women from different language groups and from different parts of the BAC region could participate.

Textile training programs for senior high school girls are delivered in conjunction with Maningrida JET Centre and provide a pathway from school to work. The girls are able to develop workplace skills and accrue points for their final senior school certificate. The Women's Centre has two shops, one selling their own textiles and garments and the other, the Op Shop, selling second hand clothing. Both continue to trade successfully (Op Shop 2006 $68,974; 2005 $63,826). As their skills and confidence grow, Aboriginal women are participating more in the running of these businesses. provide Maningrida agencies with a valuable service and jobs for four women.

The hairdressing salon established last year needs more time to develop a viable local clientele. Maningrida has previously not had this sort of facility. People are very much watching and waiting. The Women's Centre envisages that once the salon has been operating continuously under the management of a qualified hairdresser the market will develop and local women will be keen to commence hairdressing apprenticeships.

The Women's Centre continues to operate the JET Crèche and the Community Food and Nutrition Program, two valuable services for women and children. Both are now based in the new Maningrida JET Crèche building opened in October 2005. The new purpose built facilities have enabled the expansion of services. The crèche is now open five days per week, 9am to 3pm, for children aged four years and under of all CDEP workers and adult students.

The Nutrition Program (known as "Catch Up Kids") provides healthy meals for children identified as at risk by the clinic. It also educates the community about good food habits and nutritional ways of cooking. Phyllis Dungudja who has run the program for a number of years has trained two support workers ensuring the team can cater for the thirteen children currently on the program.