BHP community partner Ngala visited Port Hedland last month, holding a week of workshops for mums, dads and supportive colleagues both on site and in the community.

From ‘parenting tweens’ to ‘toddler tantrums’, ‘co-parenting strategies’ and staying connected with FIFO / shiftwork – the workshops had a huge response from the entire Hedland community.

Senior Electrical Engineer Bertrand Fernando and Reliability Engineer Marty Skiadas attended, and said they’d recommend every parent to attend.

“The workshop equipped me with skills and knowledge to better understand my daughter’s growing needs,” said Bertrand.

Marty added that he learned to spend more time with his child’s routine.

“It was great to see some non-parents also attending, so they can better support their colleagues who are juggling families and work commitments,” said Krystal Mulligan, Community Specialist.

Apprentice Coordinator Alix Walker, pictured above with Stephen Gallagher from Ngala, also attended the onsite workshops. Alix is not a parent herself but wanted to learn more.

“From day to day I cross many different people in different circumstances. This has helped me learn what resources are available for people,” explained Alix.

The Ngala ‘Pilbara Families Building Pilbara Communities’ project delivers vital information on topics like sleep, behaviour, nutrition, communication, protective behaviours, adjusting to parenting and how to juggle work and family life.

BHP has invested nearly half a million dollars into helping families in Port Hedland and Newman with their parenting and childcare needs, by partnering with Ngala.

In the past three years, more than 1800 families and daycare workers have joined the Ngala workshops and support services.

For more information, click here (PDF 5.88MB)