Central Australia Update in September: What Has Been Happening at MIFANT
From young people stopping by our stall at the Alice Springs Youth Conference, to women and children sharing a pamper session and a hearty stew in Elliott, and families mapping out their own River of Life at our MiTrack office, September was a month of strong connection across Central Australia. Our team spent the month meeting young people and families where they are, and building the partnerships that make support easier to reach.
Alice Springs Youth Conference
Our team joined youth service providers from across Alice Springs for a full day of community connection, networking, and conversations with young people.
Young people dropped by our stall throughout the day to find out about MiTrack and the youth mental health support available to them in Alice Springs. We also shared flyers and service information with other providers to help strengthen referral pathways across the sector.
Having so many services together in one room made it easy to sit down with other organisations and learn more about what is available for young people across the region. The pizza lunch was a hit, and a performance by Yung Mulla brought plenty of energy to the afternoon.
Finding Your Inner Glo in Elliott
On Tuesday 22 September, we teamed up with Elliott Safe House, the NT Health Alcohol and Other Drugs team, Barkly Regional Council, and Just FLO to run a wellbeing session for women and children at Elliott Safe House.
The session included face masks, massages, and nail painting, along with a hearty stew that staff and participants cooked together using a cookbook from Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation. The aim was to help people feel good from the inside, ease stress, and build a sense of connection.
As the session went on, the women shared ideas on how to reach other women in the community who do not usually come along to activities, and talked about the sessions they would like to see next. Giving participants a say in what comes next means future sessions will be shaped by the women they are for.
Participants also asked for copies of the cookbook, which gives us a good starting point for future conversations about nutrition, mental health, and putting together healthy meals on a budget.
The feedback was fantastic, and we have been invited to return fortnightly on Wednesdays alongside NT Health. A big thank you to everyone at Elliott Safe House for having us, and we look forward to coming back.
Community Pamper Day in Ali Curung
The next day, on Wednesday 23 September, we headed to Ali Curung for an outdoor pamper session and community event with Just FLO. Families settled onto mats for face masks, nail polish, and massages, while others painted canvases and rocks. It was a chance for people to relax, unwind, and connect.
Several young people who visited our stall were a little nervous about joining in at first. With some gentle encouragement, they were soon enjoying face masks and nail polish alongside everyone else.
A big thank you to Tennant Creek Women's Refuge, Barkly Regional Council, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, Strengthening Families, The Mob, CatholicCare NT, and everyone who helped make the day happen. Families also had the chance to chat with staff from the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing, and Corrections in a relaxed setting.
Community members have asked for more sessions like this, and we are already working with Barkly Regional Council in Ali Curung on our next event at the end of October. We cannot wait to be back.
River of Life Workshop
On Thursday 24 September, children, young people, and family members joined us for a River of Life workshop, run together with Just FLO.
The activity invites people to map their life as a river. Along the way, they look at the strengths they already carry, the tools that have helped them through tough times before, and the people and things that keep them well. From there, each person worked towards one achievable goal.
The room was full of drawing, yarning, and even some rap writing and singing. The young people proudly coloured in their names and asked for them to be displayed in our office.
Pancakes and sandwiches were shared with family members too, which led to good conversations about MiTrack and what support could look like for their young people. It was also a chance to let families know that our MiTrack office is open again for peer support and drop in sessions.
Early support for young people works best when it is easy to find. Sessions like this let families get to know our team in a relaxed setting, so reaching out later feels less daunting.
Get in Touch
If you are a young person, parent, carer, or educator who wants to learn more about the mental health resources available throughout Central Australia, our team is here to help.
Visit www.mifant.org.au/central-australia-programs or call us on 1800 985 944 or (08) 8948 1051.
Comments