Aboriginal elders living across the country to access dialysis treatment can now return home to Newman after a new clinic opened in the town this week.
The $1.9 million clinic is the first of its kind in Newman, located more than 1,100km north of Perth in WA’s Pilbara region.
The service will allow dozens of Martu and Niyiyaparli elders to come home after moving from the Western Desert to places as far away as Alice Springs, Perth and Broome to get consistent access to the lifesaving blood treatment.
Before the clinic opened, some people had chosen to die at home rather than suffer the trauma of family separation for long periods.
Local leaders hope the return of the elders and their knowledge will help young people address social problems in the town and maintain strong cultural bonds in the community.
Niyiyaparli woman Sue Bung said she had returned after being forced to take a "one-way trip” to Perth in 2018.
"I still can’t believe I’m home. You just can’t believe it because you’ve been in the city for so long,” she said.
Escalating juvenile crime rates in towns such as Newman recently triggered a boost to police numbers across the Pilbara.
In Newman, social problems have led to the town being compared to a "war zone" due to rampant break-ins and car thefts.
Ms Bung said she hoped to help guide young people in the community and share her knowledge.
"I’d love to do that. At the moment, I’m just letting everything sink in and get that feeling of being back home,” she said.
"But I like helping young people and getting back with elders and being back with everyone.”
Clinic years in the making
The clinic will be operated by Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service, and chief executive Robby Chibawe said its long-awaited opening was "a game changer” for Newman.
He said it was a two-year project funded by mining giant BHP, which had operations nearby.
"The people from the West Australian desert they really go through a lot when it's time for them to start receiving dialysis services,” Mr Chibawe said.
He echoed Ms Bung and felt the elders’ forced absence from their country had contributed to the social challenges in Newman.
"Maybe some of the youth issues that we’re seeing can be attributed to this problem in the first place,” Mr Chibawe said.
"They are really so happy that finally a project of this magnitude and importance to the local people and culture is finally coming to fruition.
