This report by Gareth Wise is for the period August to October 2009:

When I first arrived in Yirrkala the Healing Centre was talked about a lot in the community, a successful fundraiser had been held by the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation in Sydney, but the need remained starkly evident. Over the last two or three months as I have become involved in the project we have seen the beginnings of it starting to take shape.

We have a wonderful and knowledgeable traditional healer in Yirrkala named Mutilnga Burarrwanga. She is the person that others in the community seek out for assistance with counseling and healing. Her reputation within the community is enormous and extends to all Yolngu in East Arnhem. Muti has been adamant that there is no time to lose in recording her knowledge and passing the knowledge and skills on to others whilst she is still able. She is also extremely passionate that her many many  “grandsons” and other youths in the community need guidance, treatments and referral on to programs that will lead them out of their problems, or they will be lost. Addiction, substance abuse, domestic violence and total and depressing reliance on welfare are issues which all individuals in Yirrkala have had had to contend with in some form or another.

Currently there is a delay in progress in getting the building up. Land issues are being sorted out through the Northern Land Council and as this may reduce peoples trust that it WILL happen, Mutilnga has started the process of recording her knowledge of traditional healing, a process I have been privileged to assist with. I am a volunteer project manager under the Indigenous Community Volunteer scheme. Mutilnga’s daughter Noella and several other women in the community, notably Djalinda Ulamari and Dhuwarrwarr Marika are enthusiastically by her side to learn and observe so as to perpetuate the wealth of Yolngu traditional medical practices and medicinal treatments into the future. As we work through these processes there has been no shortage of patients in need of assistance. Yirrkala is really one large extended kinship network and this has been reflected in the urgency with families requesting treatment and the level of care being provided, particularly in this phase, to the young . Young men and women alike are being counseled, treated and supported.

Under Mutilnga’s guidance, the steering committee of the Healing Centre, under the auspices of Yirrkala Dhanbul Aboriginal Corporation, has made it a priority to erect a traditional bush shelter on the site close to where the main building for the healing centre is to be constructed. The shelter is in close proximity to many of the medicinal plants which the women are utilising. Adjacent to our fresh water billabong, it provides a quiet and calming place for healing to be carried out, away from the tension, intensity and noise of many homes.

Twelve young members of the community were involved in its construction, many of whom had a history of substance abuse. These individuals have also been working in the new community-based nursery & environmental services project. By actively engaging them, giving them a sense of pride and purpose in keeping with their cultural heritage, and involving them with their elders such as Mutilnga and Dhuwarrwarr Marika we have seen a dramatic shift. Many, but not all, of those involved are residents of Beach Camp. Four months ago this part of Yirrkala succumbed almost nightly to drunken behaviour, domestic violence and children being abandoned by their parents.

Today such happenings have become a rare occurrence. Most of those involved with us have given up alcohol and other substances. They are regularly participating in traditional practices such as hunting. They are taking care of each other and other members of the community in a caring and positive way. I am very proud to say they are developing into strong role models for the future of Yirrkala.  Some of these young men have used the construction knowledge and other skills that they gained to start building shelters at beach camp to help deal with the issues of overcrowding there.  They are managing their own budget and time thoughtfully. Their more peaceful minds are producing a peaceful camp.

Yirrkala has seen those youths with the worst instances of substance abuse move to nearby Bremer Island. Here they attend school and practice traditional activities such as hunting & gathering, weaving and painting. These youths have gone there voluntarily seeing the value in their traditional culture to give them the strength to overcome their addictions. The healing centre project is giving Yirrkala itself a place where, on their return, youths can come for support. Whilst the need for Bremer Island’s services is likely to remain in the near future, we hope that by attending the Healing Centre and its programs of enhancing self awareness and pride, and its referrals towards job futures and literacy programs many youths will now be able to avoid reaching that predicament in the first place.

Over the coming wet season aspects of this program will continue, in donated office space during the rains.

 Simultaneously we are proceeding with our pro bono Lawyer Darren Fittler of Gilbert and Tobin Lawyers to set out the constitution and establish the Healing Centre entity , and with architects to consult and complete the design of the buildings that will house our programs, including complementary medical services derived from non Yolngu cultures including professional services such as acupuncture, psychological assistance and mainstream counseling, physiotherapy, chiropractic and many other services.

We are planning further fundraisers for our project as the budget required is well over $1 million. However the results in only 4 months prove the worth and need for this service. The enthusiasm of our many helpers is testimony to the care and support in the wider community around Australia.

With the construction of the main healing centre building will come the ability to further the aims of the project and to provide the medical practices which are necessary but lacking in the area. All of those involved in the project agree that their traditional methods are vital, however with the influence of western culture, comes a need for western methods to cope with the negative impacts . There is no traditional method for dealing with petrol sniffing for instance, or drug use. A marrying of cultures and cures is the future for healthy Yolngu.