Community to reap benefit from programs

Four projects organised by 15 different organisations were the biggest winners in the latest round of Town of Port Hedland grants, in a bid by the Town to bolster positive community outcomes throughout the year.

The Community Cup Football Carnival, Hedland’s Got Talent, Royal Lifesaving Society WA Access and Equity Project, and Respiratory Health Outreach are the four successful recipients, receiving a range of funding capped at $10,000 to deliver their programs.

Town of Port Hedland commissioner Fred Riebeling congratulated the successful recipients and said he looked forward to the positive impact their projects would have on the community.

“The criteria was strict in that it required two or more groups to be collaborating on a project to be successful, therefore I’m heartened so many different and diverse groups applied,” he said.

The Community Cup Football Carnival

The Community Cup Football Carnival provides Hedland residents the opportunity to participate in an “on-country” carnival in Yandeyarra, focused on participation, community engagement and a healthy, active lifestyle. It has been 10 years since Yandeyarra last hosted a football carnival within the community, with residents travelling to larger centres, such as Hedland to participate in events.

The two-day event, which will be held towards the end of school Term 2, on a date agreed on by Hedland Network Schools, will see about 90 children and 20 staff, plus volunteers and spectators descend on the town.

Hedland’s Got Talent

The ninth annual Hedland’s Got Talent will go off with a bang, after receiving funding to ensure the extravaganza tops last year’s effort, which had an impressive 50 contestants in the heats and 14 in the finals.

Running from April 6-9, heats will be held in the first few days while the final will take place at the South Hedland Square on April 9.

In conjunction with the HGT, the Hedland Youth Awards will also be presented at the grand final, giving a rare chance for young people to be celebrated and applauded, and see themselves in a positive light.

The Hedland Youth Awards will be presented immediately after the Welcome to Country, with awards being presented by three elders — one for each age group.

The event is being run by the Youth Involvement Council, Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation and Kariyarra Youth Aboriginal Corporation.

Royal Lifesaving Society WA Access and Equity Project

The Royal Life Saving Society WA Access and Equity program will target identified at-risk groups in the Town of Port Hedland, addressing the lack of participation and break down the barriers to encourage further participation.

Tragically, Aboriginal children are 8.6 times more likely to drown than non-Indigenous children.

A review of drowning data indicated limited water safety awareness combined with alarming low participation levels in swimming and water safety programs contribute to the over-representation of drowning amongst Aboriginal children.

RLSSWA will collaborate with Child Care Links Port Hedland, Rose Nowers Early Learning Centre, Pilbara Community Legal Services, Hedland Well Women’s Centre, Child Australia and Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation in order to carry out a successful program.

Respiratory Health Outreach: Optimising Lung Health in the Community

The Respiratory Health Outreach project will provide education workshops to healthcare professionals and offer one-on-one or group lung health sessions to consumers in Port Hedland.

Lung cancer is among the highest causes of avoidable mortality in the Pilbara, according to WA Country Health’s Pilbara Health Profile, leading the Town of Port Hedland to focusing on education of the community, which has one of the highest ratios of smokers to non-smokers in the State.

A $9962 grant will be given to the Asthma Foundation of WA and Cystic Fibrosis WA, who intend to ensure the community support services and education level within Hedland are raised through information and practical skills classes for professionals, respiratory support and information sessions for community members and education on management of asthma and cystic fibrosis in students for school staff and for sporting groups.