When the Jarjums Connect Group launched in early 2020, they never thought they’d be appearing on national television within six months.
Jarjums was a project established by our Nerang Children and Families team. It aimed to connect children and young people in foster care with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
About Jarjums
Supported by our staff, families, Elders and the community – the Jarjums Connect Group was facilitated as a fortnightly event. It provided a safe and supportive environment for children to gain cultural knowledge and develop a strong sense of identity and belonging.
Each session had a theme. For example, the first week explored Indigenous crafts. Stations were set up, including one for older kids to use natural materials, fibres and techniques to craft jewellery. Whereas, the younger kids explored traditional painting and made echidnas out of playdough. Topics covered in other weeks included traditional song and dance, storytelling, language, fishing, stone arrangements and cooking.
While participating in the activities, children and their carers learnt about the significance of these subjects and were given the opportunity to ask questions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture so that practice could continue at home.
Things changed with the onset of COVID-19. As government-imposed restrictions limited large social gatherings, the Jarjums Connect Group had to adapt. The team had to go virtual and facilitate groups in video linkups.
Through virtual learning, children were still able to enjoy learning new aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture while watching from their homes.
Appearance on Totally Wild
In addition to keeping the program active through video linkups, the Jarjums Connect Group were televised on the long-running nature and science themed series Totally Wild. The staff at Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Children and Families team in Nerang were visited by Ranger Stacey.
During the visit, a mock Jarjums event was organised by the teams and their families and filmed for a segment of the TV show which can be viewed below.
Despite the challenges COVID-19 presented, Jarjums was still able to connect in new and exciting ways. Furthermore, it enabled children and young people to discover what it means to be a young Indigenous person in Australia.
Orignally by Reconciling Histories intern, Tiffany Falconer
Edited by Jenny Nguyen and Emma Newman
University of Qld, Advanced Humanities 2020.