Navigating COVID-19 when you don’t understand English

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MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     24:03:2020

 

Aboriginal communities in North-East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory are urgently looking for information about COVID-19 in a language they can understand. Thousands of Yolngu people in this region speak English as a second or third language and are struggling to fully understand government and health organisations’ instructions.

Aboriginal people have the highest rates of Chronic Disease in the world. This combination of existing health problems and over-crowded housing means these communities are already at particular risk from COVID-19.

Arnhem Land based organisation Why Warriors is working to supply Yolngu communities with accurate and culturally appropriate information about the pandemic.

They have released COVID-19 podcasts spoken in the local traditional language, Yolngu Matha, which has nearly 5000 speakers across the region and also in Darwin. The podcasts also contain English subtitles. This allows health clinics and medical staff to listen together with Yolngu and have an informed conversation.

https://www.whywarriors.com.au/learn/aboriginal-communities/covid-19/

Pat Turner, the CEO of the National Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO), said “If this virus gets into Aboriginal communities, it will be absolute devastation, absolute devastation without a doubt.”

Why Warriors is hoping these podcasts in Indigenous language will help people in Yolngu communities understand what COVID-19 is and how they can help stop the spread.

 

——ENDS——-

For further media information contact Richard Trudgen

Email: richard.trudgen@whywarriors.com.au   or call 0400 880 954

Navigating COVID-19 when you don’t understand English

Richard Trudgen has been working with Yolngu people in Arnhem Land for over 40 years. He speaks Djambarrpuyŋu and is the author of Why Warriors Lie Down and Die. He is the CEO of Why Warriors Pty Ltd, a community development organisation that empowers Yolngu and other First Nations people by providing access to information, and building capacity and understanding between Indigenous peoples and the Dominant Culture. In 2015 he was a finalist for the NT Senior Australian of the Year Award.

About Richard Trudgen

Richard Trudgen was born on Wiradjuri country. His conception Spirit Well site was near the top of Gaanha-bula (two shoulders) on Mount Canobolas, close to the city of Orange in NSW. Grew up along the Belubula River (stony river or big lagoon), near the small town of Canowindra (home or camping place), a key Wiradjuri traditional homeland. In his late teens, he was a lead guitarist in a rock band with two of his brothers and two friends called the South Side Five. He trained as a fitter and turner in a farm machinery workshop. Arriving in Arnhem Land in 1973 to volunteer for 12 months. He was compelled to learn Yolngu Matha and remained to work alongside some of the most traditional First Nation Australians, the Yolngu People. Having learn their language, he stayed, trained as a community worker-educator, and now he speaks Djambarrpuyŋu to a deep legal, economic, and medical level. He still works full-time with Yolngu people in his mid-seventies. Was the CEO of Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) for 10 years, during which he developed the Discovery Education methodology with Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM and also established Yolŋu Radio in 2003. The Yolngu elders asked him to write "Why Warriors Lie Down and Die" and to train mainstream Balanda people to understand Yolngu law and culture. So, he ran ‘Bridging the Gap’ seminars and corporate workshops across Australia, focusing on cultural competency and cross-cultural communication. He is currently the CEO of Why Warriors Pty Ltd, a community development social enterprise working with Yolngu people. He spends his days writing, producing podcasts, building an online learning centre for Yolngu (djambatjmarram.com), creating videos, developing online cross-cultural training materials, running workshops for Yolngu and Balanda, and working with Yolngu to develop their own family businesses.

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