super excited hoping to set up a foodbank in Tennant Creek
With the help of Food bank Australia
there are many people here who need help
and who regulary go with out food, the most effected are the young and elderly
fingers crossed its all set up and working in the new year !!
Request for a food bank service in Tennant Creek |
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Produced by Rochelle Lindsay |
6/1/2015 |
Rochelle Lindsay is a Chronic Disease Coordinator at Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, in her work capacity Rochelle visits sick, vulnerable clients around Tennant Creek and the various Community Living Areas known as “Town Camps” around Tennant Creek. |
Table of contents
Executive summary 3
Report 4
Recommendations 7
Appendix A – Christmas food donations
By Sam Gubicak 8
Appendix B – Application Form 11
In Australia
105,000
People are currently homeless
2.2 million
Australians live in poverty
10.9%
Of children live in poverty
1 in 4
Pensioners live in or close to
Poverty
Executive summary
The health status of the residents of the Barkly are ranked among the worst in the World.
In the 2011 census there were a total of 3 571 people with 52.1 % identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014). In 2011 there was a 7 % unemployment rate in the labour force and only 41% of youth between 15- 19 were engaged in either or both study and paid work (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014).
There is a large rate of homelessness that is not reflected in the census, the census states the average household contains 2.9 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014). Many people move between homes and communities and often sleep outside or on the verandas of relative’s houses. The overcrowding causes issues with hygiene, safety and availability of food. Many people have their money and food stolen by relatives on a regular basis, many elderly especially those experiencing dementia are often the victim of theft with their pension being stolen, and even their Meals on Wheels delivered by home and Community Care Services. Some elderly are admitted to hospital with malnutrition because of this.
Unfortunately statistics are difficult to find on these issues.
It cannot be assumed that everyone receives some type of income, as it has recently come to my attention that some young people have never worked or signed up for Centrelink benefitsand therefore rely on friends and family for food, shelter and clothing.
Key social inequalities lie in the circumstances Aboriginal people face such as intrinsic issuesrelating to poverty, unemployment, low socioeconomic status and poor living conditionswhich underpin their general mental, social and physical wellbeing.
Report
There is much anecdotal evidence surrounding the housing issues and poverty of many of the residents of Tennant Creek.
Many people will live in houses with 12 – 15 people. There are a number of Tennant Creek residents that are homeless. Recently a number of people have moved into the old tin sheds atthe ‘drive in camp’ (further along behind the showgrounds) where there is no power, access to water; they sleep on the floor and if lucky they have sleeping bags to use. People living in this location must hike daily into town to obtain food and water, and use the Women’s and Men’s Centre to wash their clothes and shower. Many of these people are elderly or have chronic disease and even require dialysis three times a week.
Many go without food and power for days at a time.
These people include the elderly, young children and pregnant women. Because of the lack of food they don’t take their medications or because of the lack of food it makes there medical condition worse.
CatholicCareNT in Tennant Creek provides money management services and also providesemergency relief food vouchers to the value of up to $100 per person; an income statement must be produced.
The Women’s Refuge provides women and children with food vouchers and power cards to a limited degree, an income statement must also be produced.
Many people give money and aid to people out of their own pockets. Doctors and nurses in Tennant Creek will often go above and beyond, giving money out of their own pockets,delivering medical care in their own time. As do many other residents in Tennant Creek.
The food prices at Food Barn have increased over the years and many families find it difficult to get all their food in Tennant Creek.
Due to disadvantages described above, including poorer education outcomes many Aboriginal people have limited budgeting skills and run through their limited income in just a few days leaving them short for the rest of the week.
Summary
There is a desperate need for assistance for the vulnerable people of Tennant Creek.
One such solution is a food bank service, this is a setup which provides food to people in need for a small price or donation.
The service would be in collaboration with Food Bank NT, a non-denominational, non-profit organisation which acts as a pantry to the charities and community groups who provide food to the vulnerable. (Food bank Australia, 2014)
A food bank service in Tennant Creek would allow vulnerable people to access food when they have limited resources.
The food bank service would be set up in such a way that people would buy the food for a small amount or donation. The reasons for this are twofold , firstly the costs of freight and storage need to be taken into account , secondly giving away free food may be subject to abuse of the service - for example if people know they can get free food then they could spend their money on alcohol instead.
Recommendations
There appears to be a legitimate need for a food bank services in Tennant Creek:
Proposed Budget
Funding is required for transport, coverings food handling cost and storage.
Appendix A
22.12.2014
FoodbankNT Christmas Appeal in Tennant Creek
Report by Sam Gubicak
The 2014 FoodbankNT Christmas appeal was run as a partnership between Foodbank NT, Power and Water Corporation and delivered by volunteers from Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation and CatholicCare NT.
A total 21.5kg of food items were donated to the Christmas Appeal in Tennant Creek. Food items comprised on tinned meat/fish/vegetables, cereal, muesli bars, tea, biscuits and cooking sauces.
Food was delivered on 22nd December to 9 households. 31 people were identified to be at home in the households at the time of delivery; some households had only elderly occupants, while others had adults and several children/youth. In total there were at least 18 households identified as being at risk, unfortunately there was not enough food items available to go around to everyone.
Rochelle Lindsay, a Tennant Creek local and Chronic Care Coordinator at Anyinginyi reports that “often times during the course of working in the community there are many people who are identified to be hungry and this is a major barrier to achieving good health and combating chronic illness”. “It is often the elderly and the young that miss out”, Rochelle reports “after having seen the need that exists, the possibility of having a regular Foodbank service in Tennant Creek is being considered”. Various local Organisations and Member of Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, have already indicated an interest in setting up a Foodbank service. The need for assistance with food/ emergency relief is further supported by experience at Catholic CareNT in Tennant Creek, where the Money Management Program operates an Emergency Relief food voucher system. In 2013 food vouchers were given to at least 350 people, with approximately 10 clients per week visiting the Catholic CareNT Office to apply for food vouchers.
Photos: Volunteers Marjorie and Rochelle from Anyinginyi (bottom), Sam from CatholicCareNT (top)
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