Evan Coggins, National Key Account Manager, shares his experiences and impressions from a visit to the Elcho Island Baby Hub, a collaboration initiative with the Australian Red Cross.

Q&A

Why were you selected to join this year’s group visit to Elcho Island and the Baby Hub?

Many customers I manage for Kimberly-Clark Professional have Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) in place. They constantly seek information from suppliers that aligns with their goals and supports their ongoing commitment to creating positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. I wanted to visit Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) because it greatly enhances my knowledge and insights on our own RAP and allow me to share firsthand with both customers and channel partners, the impact the Baby Hub Program has within the community and the ongoing support we provide.

What were your first impressions when you landed on Elcho Island – the sights, sounds and feelings?

My first impressions flying into Elcho Island was the beautiful tropical landscape – stunning beaches, dense bushland, red dirt tracks and unique rock formations. You could feel the dry, dense heat from the sun and noticed the red dust scattered across the road and pathways. The surrounding ocean looked very inviting but there were many signs to remind you not to swim because of the baru (crocodile)! The local people very warm and welcoming and taught us about the rich history of the land. I found myself in a world of mixed emotions along with many questions.

What was your impression of the facilities provided at the Baby Hub?

It was very clear to see how valuable the Baby Hub is for the community on Elcho Island. Staffed predominantly by First Nations community workers and supported by the Australian Red Cross, the Baby Hub provides holistic support for mothers and babies, combining western and cultural medical attention, as well as emotional support. I sensed their welcoming support for each other within the centre and noticed how caring everyone was. As a father myself, I found it quite confronting to imagine what life would be like for families with young children if the Baby Hub didn’t exist on the island. The Australian Red Cross has done such an incredible job with this centre and I felt really proud to work for an organisation who is a key partner on initiatives like this, really making a difference.

What experience or story has left the greatest impression on you, what will you remember from your trip?

I came away with a greater appreciation for the complexity of the issues facing our First Nations communities and how difficult it is to find the right solutions to support them. A memorable experience on the trip was receiving a Welcome to Country from Danny, one of the elders in the community. Danny took us through the ‘skin name’ kinship system that acts as a social and political governance structure within the community - essentially connecting individual people and clan groups into a broader society. Although very complex, it was so interesting and different to how most of us classify relationships within our own families. Another memorable moment was visiting the burial site of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Aboriginal musician from the group Yothu Yindi) and meeting with his sister whilst we paid our respects.

What do you want people to take away from this post? Are there ways people can help support this initiative?

This experience has taught me about the complexity and the beauty of our First Nations cultures, in particular, the Yolngu community of Galiwin’ku. We had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact of a safe community space in the Baby Hub, where mothers and their babies can come for support, whether it’s to see a nurse, have access to products such as nappies and wipes, use facilities such as the washing machine, and have a nourishing meal or seek respite. I know the Australian Red Cross is incredibly grateful for any support they can get for the Baby Hub, and corporate partnerships means they can continue to provide the best care for the mothers and babies of Galiwin’ku, now and into the future.