ePublications - Historical Collection
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To apply preservation treatments, including digitisation, to a high value and vulnerable Historical collection of items held in the Darwin and Alice Springs libraries so that the items may be accessed without causing further damage to the original items and provide accessibility for stakeholders.
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Please note: this document is part of the Historical Collection and the information contained within may be out of date.
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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
DL HIST 362. 12 BER1982
BERRIMAH
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE COMMUNITY PROFILE
COLLECTION
BERRIMAH
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
COMMUNITY PROFILE
CENTRAL LIBRARY
1 7 JUL 1998
TERRITORY HEALTH SERVICES
46609
OCTOBER 1982
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DATA ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
PAGE
3
INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE . . . 10
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT . . . 11
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION . . . 15
HEALTH ILLNESS PATTERNS . . . 17
INFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING COMMUNITY
RESOURCES . . . 2 0
SlJMMARY . . . 3 0
DATA ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Berrimah Community Heal th Centre covers the outer suburban areas of Darwin including:-
Malak -
Karama -
Winnellie -
Stuart Hwy -
The development of this suburb is almost complete.
comprising which they
The Housing Commission has 184 units one, two and three bedroom uni ts, anticipate will be completed by Christmas. These units
they become available.
are being occupied as There are also 14 pensioner units within this complex.
A developing housing estate. It is a mixture of private and government houses which are being occupied as they are completed.
From the Airport Gates, is the maJor industrial area of Darwin.
To Yarrawonga Road, Wallaby Holtz Road to Taylor Road. This area is semi-rural, with industry dotted along the highway.
AREA COVERED BY BERRIMAH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
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The Industries at Winnellie and along the Stuart Highway are Government and non-Government, falling into the categories of Manufacturing and Primary Industry.
INDUSTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS UTILISING THE CLINIC ON REGULAR BASIS
Action Sheet Metal Steelcon
Transcon
Dowell Aluminium A.C.I.
Agserv
Zenith Brickworks Paps
T.N.T.
Halkitis
Ascot Haulage Green's Steel Fire Station
Conservation Commission Pet Meat Works
C.S.I.R.O.
Detroit Engineering Barclay Bros
Star Engineering Dorcon Construction A.R.C. Engineering Comalco
Jack the Slasher Tristar
Dunlop
Blackwood Hodge Henry & Walker N.A.H.
Abbattoir
Department of Primary Production Bush Fire Council
Aboriginal Police Aide Training Section Police Traffic Section.
The clinic caters for a workforce and residential population.
The residential population can be broken d6wn into 2 groups, permanent and transient.
CARAVAN PARKS AND CAMPING GROUNDS
8 Official.
2 with on-site facilities (Power, own ablution, toilet, laundry facilities.
K.O.A. with 136 caravan sites.
Malak with 190 caravan sites.
6 with communal facilities (Shared toilet, ablution, laundry facilities.
Overlander with 53 caravan sites 7 cabins
3 flats
Small Tenting area - approx 12 sites.
Annaroula with 50 caravan sites.
Small tenting area - approx 12 sites.
Circle T with 30+ caravan sites.
Unspecified tenting area available.
Rural with 50 caravan sites.
Large tenting area specified)
Bloodwood with 30 caravan sites Small tenting area.
Shady Glen with 220 caravan sites Large tenting area.
available (number not
There are many unofficial camping and/or caravan areas, mostly behind business premises in varying standards of hygiene and
amenities.
Fringe Camps Aboriginal European FIVE SCHOOLS AND TWO PRE-SCHOOLS
Dongas
Unprotected Camp Areas
Berrimah Primary Enrollment 212 and 90 migrant education students who attend Berrimah until their knowledge of language is sufficient to cope with education in their local school, therefore these students are constantly changing.
Berrimah Pre-School Enrolment 53.
Malak Primary Enrolment 573.
Malak Pre-School Enrolment 77.
Karama Primary Enrolment currently 145. This School opened in August 1982 and is expected to reach its capacity of 600 students next year.
Seventh Day Adventist Enrolment 32.
Marrara Christian School Primary Enrolment 232
~econdary Enrolment 112
This School expects to reach its capacity of 450 students when its building program is completed next year.
A new Catholic School expects to open early in 1983 catering for all primary grades. Long term plans include a secondary school.
TWO CHILD MINDING CENTRES
,i
Berrimah Taking 16 full time children
f
& some after school Malak Taking 24 full time children ) childrenCOMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNEXE
GAOL
Accommodation available for 150 pr1s1oners, but fluctuates up to 190 prisoners, so over-crowding occurs in spite of the recently opened new wing.
LIQUOR OUTLETS
2 Hotels Berrimah Maranga
1 Licensed Store
2 Licensed Clubs
OTHER INSTITUTIONS Youth Hostel
Berrimah Navy German
Accommodation is available for 48 people with an average occupancy of 36 per day and 4 permanent staff.
Malak House
Remand home for boys run by Correctional Services Department.
S.P.C.A.
Coonawarra Naval Base
Accommodation for 100 families is available on the base.
Medical facilities are provided for navy personnel only.
Wives and children are heavy users of our services, as for many of these women i t is their first experience of living away from their extended family group.
Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.) Accommodation available for 35 families.
Kokoda Industries (Sheltered Workshop)
Currently have 14 permanent employees and a variable number of hospital patients undergoing rehabilitation.
3 Sit-Down Camps
Opposite Berrimah Shop on Berrimah Road.
Opposite Berrimah Hotel - just over old railway line.
Stuart Highway just south of Berrimah Road.
Areas where daily commuters from fringe camps gather, close to a Liquor outlet.
Roads consist of both Surveyed roads - bitumen - gravel and Unsurveyed roads/tracks
INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE
Ethnic Groups:-
Caucasian Aboriginal Asian
Migrants
Residential Population:-
Approx numbers from 1981 Census Count= 5050 ie 2655 males 2365 females
NB Malak Caravan Park now functioning and population Malak/
Karama area increasing daily as houses are completed and occupied.
Religions
%
of Working Mothers Socio-Economic StatusOccupants of Dwellings
Suburban Dwellers Transients
Service Personnel
Flats, Houses, Caravans, Tents, Donga's
Transient Aboriginal Fringe Camp Dwellers Prisoners
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENVIRONMENT Accommodation:-
Houses - Private
Government Subsidised Non-Subsidised
The Malak area is mostly Government houses. The Karama area has a fairly even distribution between private, and government houses. Houses in the Berrimah/Winnellie area are mostly owned by businesses with a few private dwellings scattered throughout.
Flats Many businesses have flats over or behind the premises in the Berrimah/Winnellie area.
Caravans As per section on caravan parks. There are also many single or small groups ( up to 4) caravans on or behind business premises with varying amenities and standards of hygiene.
Demountables - Some business premises have single or groups of demountables on their properties which are mainly used as single mens accommodation.
Hostels Youth Hostel and Coonawarra Naval Base - single persons accommodation.
Tents As stated in caravan parks section and those erected by Wet Season transients on vacant land.
Dongas Mainly located in fringe camps and on vacant land.
Occupied mainly by transients, but Lagoon Road has a group of permanent donga dwellers - numbers swell in Wet Season.
Camping Without Protection transients camping without Street. Other vacant areas
There is a large group of protection at the end of Moo are used at times but this is the only permanent one at present.
Amenities:-
standard - with water, power and either sewerage or septic tank available in working condition.
Sub-s·tandard Absence of one or more of the above.
Nil
Water Supply
Mains Water supplied to house, caravan or commercial ablution block - fire hydrants - public taps
Tank Water
Sanitation
Sewerage - available to end of Karama as far as sealed road and south of Tye Road at the end of the industrial area at Berrimah.
Septic Tank ) South of this area.
Bush )
Overcrowding
Standard suburban house occupancy of one family unit per house/caravan.
Extended family/friendship groups occupying suburban houses.
Extended family/friendship groups occupying dongas.
Extended family/friendship groups in Aboriginal communities.
Above capacity occupancy in caravan parks.
Occupants of sub-standard caravans in unofficial areas.
NB Extended family groups are seen mainly among migrants where up to three generations and/or uncles and aunts share a 3 or 4 bedroom house. The situation is compounded on occasions by cultural mores which dictate that a postnatal mother and infant must have a room alone for 4-6 weeks after delivery.
Extended friendship groups are seen mainly among the sole parent families and the unemployed where more than one family or person( s) share a house or caravan and share rents, hiring expenses.
General State of Repair of Dwelling
Some new - The majority of the houses in the Malak/Karama area have been built within the last 4 years and are in good repair with an adequate standard of cleanliness. A small number of rented Housing Commission houses are deteriorating rapidly due to the low standard of hygiene and transient life style of the tenants.
Some sub-standard Some of the caravans parked behind business premises are in a poor state of repair with sub- standard amenities and therefore poor hygiene. Also the dongas are poorly constructed tin shacks which frequently lack basic amenities.
Garbage Disposal Methods
Council Service - twice weekly
Navy Service - daily
Service initiated by some caravan park management varies according to park.
Individual garbage disposal.
Gross lack of garbage disposal as seen in transient camps and road sides.
Transport Services
Private
Public - in many instances inadequate eg Bloodwood Caravan Park Karama - Area between Livistonia Road and
Vanderlin Drive Limited Service Saturday pm No service Sunday.
Animals:-
Unsupervised dogs and cats in some suburban areas eg Malak.
Working Conditions:-
High incidence of industrial accidents. Fear of losing job if off on sick leave.
Vector Control
Increased evidence of mosquito bites since fogging eradication programme scaled down.
Lack of Ablution and Treatment Facilities for fringe dwellers and in particular Hansen's Disease patients.
CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
Public and Private Telephones:-
Lack of telephone facilities whilst Stuart Highway roadworks in progress. Malak and Karama area lack of public telephones.
Written Communication Commercial Newspapers
Newsletters
Electronic Media
NT News
Star Advertiser School
Navy Radio
Television Informal word of mouth
Notice Boards in caravan parks
NB NO community notice board for use by general public.
Key Communicators
MPs Mr Marshall Perron
Mr Jack Doolan - Ms june D'Rozario Counsellors
Resource Group Aqua Robbins
Donna Humfreys, George Jong, Ros Searles Defence Forces Social Worker - Karen Watt
Community Welfare - Phil Elsegood - Tracey Village
Department of Social Security
Community Leaders
Management of Industrial Complexes Aboriginal Development Foundation AIMS
School Principals/Deputy Principals/Teachers Confederation of Industries
HEALTH ILLNESS PATTERNS
Birth Rate
Death Rate
Large number of minor industrial accidents
lacerations eye injuries crush injuries
OTITIS EXTERNA 51 39 11 34 57 70 NR 39 43 33 21 9 407
IMPETIGO 22 3 NR 8 16 18 NR 18 27 13 11 10 146
PEDICULOSIS 41 14 30 20 28 18 NR 30 27 20 31 17 276
SCABIES 19 10 4 NR 27 19 9 5 9 6 2 5 115
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS 42 34 29 30 16 41 NR 11 22 13 23 28 289
EYE INJURIES 27 15 11 13 22 21 NR 8 22 15 18 20 192
SUTURING 19 12 NR 15 12 36 NR 8 20 NR 17 9 148
INFECTIOUS DISEASES NR 13 4 4 NR 24 NR 21 NR 6 6 6 64
DISCHARGING EARS 5 5 1 21 NR 9 24 7 8 8 13 1 102
EYE INFECTIONS 3 9 10 28 30 39 21 12 11 6 13 23 205
RESPIRATORY DISEASE 9 46 5 26 56 5 32 6 20 33 35 32 305
FEVER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN 9 26 1 11 54 1 11 1 NR 4 NR NR 118
FRACTURES 2 2 2 3 2 1 12
MALNUTRITION 1 1 2 ,_. (X)
BURNS 12 2 5 1 2 3 2 27
.
IMMUNIZATIONS 159 227 136 125 158 125 123 163 125 139 98 158 1736
TRANSPORTS 53 34 58 59 57 6 9 NR NR NR NR NR
S.T.O. 4 10 3 14 2 2 21 5 3 2 2 3 71
REFERALLS COMING INTO
POST NATAL CLINIC 7 4 6 4 2 5 5 1 3 4 3 3 47
NEW BORN 10 16 17 13 11 16 15 18 16 12 16 18 178
OTHER 11 7 8 11 11 13 12 7 13 4 12 15 124
MALAK CLINIC INCLUDED IN OVERALL TOTALS INFANT CLINIC (DOES NOT INCLUDE
1ST P/N HOME VISIT) 179 194 225 188 172 120 229 1307 for 7 /12
INFANT ASSE 35 32 35 30 33 30 34 229 for 7/12
IMMUNIZATION 71 53 95 52 65 32 103 471 for 7/12
NR = NOT RECORDED
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SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 1982
Eye Injuries 57.5%
Laceration 27.5%
Crush Injuries 7.5%
Miscellaneous 7.5% ~. i
Of the total number of injuries 15% were self employed.
2 Steel Engineering firms had a total accidents.
DAILY RATES OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
Monday 8
Tuesday 7
Wednesday 8
Thursday 4
Friday 13
%
of all industrialINFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Department of Health
Berrimah Community Health Centre (Sessional Only)
Hospital
Malak Medical Centre
Dr Wake Dr Hauge
Transport Services
Public Transport Taxis
Community Health Staff
Service Clubs
Church Groups (Inter and Intra Community Area)
Seventh Day Adventist Assembly of God
Christ Church Catholic
S.I.L.
Other Evangalical Groups
Recreational Facilities
2 Riding Schools
3 Swimming Pools - Navy
Shady Glen Caravan Park Kormilda College
Tel No:
844047 207211
279911
1 Golf Club
1 Children's Park
1 Rifle Club
1 Greyhound Track
Proposed Hidden Valley Motor Car/Bike Sporting Complex
Showgrounds
1 Rodeo Ground
Organisation
Aboriginal Services
A.I.M.S. - Bagot Reserve
A.D.F.
Hostel
Womens Resource Centre
Dept of Aboriginal Affairs
F.O.R.W.A.A.R.D.
Legal Aid
Home Makers
Function Ph No.
Transport to medical 824895 appointments
irrespective of ethnic group
Liaison between CHC and fringe camps
Financial assistance 854746 Support and services
to camps
Education Support
Fund resources for outstations
Fund F.O.R.W.A.A.R.D., A.M.S., A.D.F, and several other aborig- inal support agencies
Aboriginal Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit
814388
819601
815300
818673
Legal Advice (free) 815465 815389
851246
Community Services
Cancer Support Group
Meals on Wheels
Red Cross
St Vincent de Paul
Salvation Army
Womens' Shelter (Dawn House)
'
Rehabilitation
Community Awareness Family Support
Cleaning
Disaster Relief
Education Programmes
Free meals to destitutes
Food and clothing parcels
Support visits to institutions
Alcohol Rehab Emergency Accommodation
Various forms of accommodation Crisis accommod- ation for families Food and clothing parcels
Alcohol Rehab Midday meals Missing persons bureau
24hr/7 day week family and domestic crisis centre for women
271102 813556
812117
812117
817783
818188
274581
Advisory and supportive service for thes~ women
Community Services (cont)
Dept of Community 275022
Development
St John Ambulance
Department of Community Welfare
Transport First Aid Child Care
(licensing and standards)
818999
814733 Duty Officer (adoption/fostering, 275022
£amily support/ (Rapid counselling) Creek) Child protection
(physical,emotional, sexual abuse and neglect)
Financial assistance for range of areas, subject to interview and assessment
Emergency Money Food Vouchers Dept of Business and Consumer. Investigation of
Affairs consumer complaints
eg consumer vs business
Dept of Education
Teachers )
Liaison Person(s) ) Dept of Health -
Leprosy Control
Liaise - individual schools
Regular checks of known Pts - maintain and receive relatives as necessary
821211
208674
Community Services (cont)
Dept of Immigration
& Ethnic Affairs
Dept of Social Security
Commonwealth Dept of
Health Vaccination Clinic
Services for the Aged
NT Council on the Ageing
NT Pensioners Association - Darwin
Tracy Lodge Hostel
Services for Child Care
Darwin Family Centres
Interpreter and liaison service for migrants
Information/advice re benefits
Information and giving of vaccin- ations for
international
travellers and malaria prescriptions
Advisory and supportive group for aged citizens
Advisory and supportive group group for all pensioners irre- spective of type of pension
Independent accommodation
Offers range of occasional/part- time/full time
emergency child care
814566
802911
802911
812239
819691
851318
814611
Services for Child Care (cont)
Darwin Family Centre Fun Bus
Darwin Toy Library
Darwin Neighbourhood Centre
NT Playgroup Association
Somerville Day Care
Darwin After Care
Service for Youth
Darwin Youth Refuge Kahlin Avenue
Guides Assoc
District Commissioner, Mrs Barbara Wagner
C.Y.S.S. (Community Youth Support Service Retraining Scheme)
Services for the Disabled
NT Spastic Association (Unit for a child between the age of 0-6 yrs who is disabled)
Mobile Playgroup
Emergency Accomm- odation and Shelter
Advisory ) Investigatory) Treatment
Supportive ) )
Conduct an outpatient facility for school aged children
Day/Longer Term Respitatory Parent Relief
814611
279249
818644
272333
853861
272548
818874
813628
852347
271166
Services for the Disabled
Bunyip House
Rehabilitation Unit
Downs Syndrome Group
Handicapped Persons Assoc
Kokoda Industries
NT Blind Assoc
Family Services
Northern Region Hearing Centre
Nursing Mothers Association
Amity House
Association of Adoptive Parents
(Cont'd)
Residential Care for under 12 yrs
Sheltered Workshop
Secondary hearing test - school children
Hearing tests - people in industry
(industrial screening)
Advisory and
supportive group to mothers
Individual & Family Counselling
Treatment Support (Alcohol)
Prograrrune offered - Drink driver, Family
Advice to prospect- ive/actual parents of adoptive children Liaison for Inter- country adoptions
809296
279997 or 271352
843206
843206
892313
802504
275370
818030
853172
Family Services
Banyan House
Childbirth Education Assoc Inc
(cont)
Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre
Alcoholics Annonymous
Crisis Line 7pm-7am
Darwin Womens Centre
Pregnancy Help
Emergency Home Makers
Family Planning (Mondays 7.30pm Clinic at Nightcliff)
Marriage Guidance
Parents Without Partners
Rape Crisis Centre
Homemaker Service
Counselling, treat- 852479 ment and support for
individual who has a drug problem
Supportive and advisory service pre-birth, birth and post delivery to
individuals/families
craft activities for H.W. mornings Wednesday and Friday
851497
208262
812500
279370 AH
275022 R/C
273322
817126
271124 AH
851246
818924- 818003
275370
Family Services (cont)
Diabetic Association of NT
Advisory and supportive group for diabetics and their families
813979 BH 852850 AH
SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS/NEEDS
Lack of Preventative Occupational Health
High incidence of industrial accidents
Alcohol Abuse - Alcoholism
High turnover of children in Schools
(Berrimah Primary - Houses Migrant Education) (Mobile Parents - Caravan Parks )
- Navy - S.I.L.
Had 200% turnover of students in 1981.
Inadequate Immunization
Inadequate follow-up of treatment
) )
Lack of first aid equipment in homes/industrial complexes.
Lack of medical and related facilities (eg Chemist).
Lack of adequate sanitation - pollution.
Inadequate vector control
Lack of public facilities for fringe dwellers Lack of ablution/treatment for fringe dwellers
Lack of ablution/treatment facilities for H.D. patients Inadequate treatment area at Knuckey Lagoon.
Unsupervised animals - Hookworm
Anaemia Diarrhoea Ringworm Sores
Lack of public transport.
Lack of interpreter services S.I.L.
Increase of infant health numbers
"Latch Key" School Children
Children who have inadequate diet before school
Increase in number of children from sole parent families requiring counselling
Asian family with European husband Lack of adequate accommodation
Prison Officer Medical Examinations Lack of community meeting centre Lack of community notice boards
Inadequate record facilities for transients
Inadequate facility from which the Berrimah Community Health Centre is operating.
