DWF team

Warning: Images of deceased persons may appear | See the Yuwaalaraay / Gamilaraay pronunciation guide here

Meet our Dealing with Fines team - Wendy Rose and Steven Dennis (Bungee). They work with clients to reduce fine debt - through collaborating with the ALS fine debt team, and a "Work Development Order" program of activities either with Dharriwaa Elders Group

or by obtaining health services with Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service. Drop in to Galumali at 82 Fox St Walgett to see how they can help you!

Wendy Rose is an Ngemba women who lived in Brewarrina and Walgett in her early years before moving to Wagga Wagga with her family in the early 80’s. Wendy remained in Wagga Wagga and started her own family. While raising her children Wendy began tutoring in local schools in the Wagga Wagga area. This eventually led to administrative and customer service roles where Wendy gained skills and qualifications to become a case worker and manager.

Wendy moved back to Walgett in February 2024 to get back on country and give back to the community. Wendy starting working in May 2024 with the Dharriwaa Elders Group and Yuwaya Ngarra-li Dealing with Fines program. Wendy is passionate, proud and committed to working with this program to better the lives of our people and community.

Steven supports Aboriginal people in Walgett to work off fines through registering for a Work and Development Order and participating in activities such as art workshops and on Country trips, helping Elders with gardening, maintaining local parks, and running a community café. Bungee has a clear vision for the work he is doing in the Yuwaya Ngarra-li partnership: “I want better quality of life for our mob - better water, cheaper food, more activities for our youth. I want more gardening programs to grow food, more lunch and dinner programs. There are still people going hungry in Walgett. I want to help change that.”

The Dealing with Fines project was established in 2022 as a result of COVID. Walgett community members received the highest rates of COVID fines in NSW, and a COVID-related underspend enabled the employment of the Dealing with Fines team at the DEG. It has emerged as an exemplar of Yuwaya Ngarrali's strategy and strengths. It combines three key roles that Dharriwaa Elders Group and Yuwaya Ngarrali can effectively play: direct support to community members; collaborating with and building capability of both ACCOs and mainstream agencies; and advocacy and public engagement grounded in research.

In its first year of operation, 94 people in Walgett were supported to have their fines written off or to participate in WDO activities to clear their fines, amounting to the reduction of $178,112 worth of fine debt while enabling people to access mental health and drug and alcohol treatment and support at WAMS, and to grow skills and contribute positively to their community. These outcomes have been achieved through a strong community-led team at the DEG, along with expert support from Peta MacGillivray and now Andrea Hadaway from our YN-UNSW team, the Aboriginal Legal Service Fines team, and Legal Aid NSW. Sustained advocacy by DEG and YN and analysis of fines and policing data has helped draw attention to how fine debt locks people out of education and employment and increases criminalisation. Our advocacy also contributed to systemic efforts to have COVID fines withdrawn.