Books are an important vehicle for children to learn new things, expand their understanding of the world and develop the skills to communicate and participate in society. That is why it is essential that Aboriginal kids have access to books that reflect their own experience.
And thanks to our partnership with the Warburton Breakfast Ladies and Men, we had the opportunity to launch a series of books at The Kids Research Institute Australia that do just that.
The 23 books, were put together by community groups at Warburton, Warakurna and Wanarn, and some had been translated into Ngaanyatjarra language.
“I was most impressed about these books from Warburton – there are so few books in language and also they related to everyday aspects of life for people in that region,” said The Kids Research Institute Australia Founding Director Professor Fiona Stanley who helped launch the books.
“As well, they provided useful advice about a range of important issues to help the community improve outcomes for their children and youth, as well as the whole community,” Professor Stanley said.
The Kids Research Institute Australia’s partnership with the Warburton Breakfast Ladies and Men started back in 2008, following the release of our ground-breaking WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey, which found very low academic outcomes and attendance in the region.
Researchers were granted a National Health and Medical Research Council seeding grant to help develop a program to strengthen the capacity of families and community to improve school outcomes.
One of the outcomes of that program was The Breakfast Story Book, a classroom literacy resource for Aboriginal children written by the Warburton Breakfast Ladies and Men with the help of Associate Professor Ernie Stringer and Associate Professor Roz Walker from The Kids Research Institute Australia.
“The breakfast story book was hugely popular and gave the Warburton Breakfast Ladies and Men the confidence and inspiration to do more,” said Associate Professor Roz Walker.
Professor Fiona Stanley with senior Warburton women, representing the groups who produced the books
“Eight years down the track, they have written another twenty five books which provide readers with an insight into the many cultural activities and events that are part of everyday life in an Aboriginal community. The young people are proud of their culture and highlight what it really means to be connected to country.”
Examples of titles include Ngirrikiku-latju Yanu, which translated to English means ‘We went out bush for bardi grubs’ and Purtikutu-ya Yanu Yirliltuku, which translated to English means ‘Hunting for honey ants’.
Groups that contributed to the books include Home and Community Care, Healthy Lifestyles, the Warburton Playgroup, Kunkga Girls Group, Environmental Health, Warburton and other schools in the Lands, and the local Police.
Professor Stanley said it was vital that The Kids Research Institute Australia supported these empowering cultural actions.
“The self-esteem from this kind of activity can permeate the whole group and in Canada and other places it has been shown to improve mental health and reduce suicides,” Professor Stanley said.
“The evidence is clear that if children are literate in their own language and learn English as a second language they have better development and manage school processes better. These books mean that they can use their own language and become proficient in that before taking on other languages.”
About Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey
The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken looking at the health, wellbeing and development of Western Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
More than 5,300 kids from Perth to the most remote communities in WA were involved.