Keeping Children safe – Numbulwar’s Ernest Numamurdirdi receives the Northern Territory 'Play your Part' Award.
Numbulwar’s Night Patrol Team leader Ernest Numamurdirdi was announced the NAPCAN NT Play your Part Award winner for 2014.
The award recognises inspiring prevention initiatives of individuals, communities and organisations that have played their part in creating safer communities for children and young people.
Ernest is Team Leader of the Night Patrol within Roper Gulf Regional Council Numbulwar town community. Ernest has worked with the Night Patrol for five years, and been a Team Leader for the past one year.
Ernest’s peers attest to the fact that he has a natural flair for engaging with kids and youth. Ernest spends time talking to youth at schools in the afternoons, making sure they are heading home or to sporting activities. He is considered a role model within the community, and encourages youth to get involved in activities in order to keep them safe and out of trouble. He ensures that these young people get to their training, and get a routine of keeping up with their commitments.
Ernest does his patrol within the Numbulwar community from 6pm up to 2.30am five nights per week. Ernest works with three other night Patrollers who drive and walk the streets of the town engaging with the young people whom they encounter. He often offers them a lift home, and speaks to the parents/families/carer when he arrives. He spends many hours every night talking to and delivering children to a safe environment whilst also diverting children and youth from negative activities through mentoring and positive support.
There is no doubt that Ernest is indeed an inspiring individual and one who has a special way with people. The genuine interest and time he gives these young people is making a difference to their lives.
While Ernest is undoubtedly good at his job, it goes further than that. He is a role model to children and young people whether he is at work or not, and has a genuine interest in them and gives time to children and young people.
Mr. Numamurdirdi earlier this year was awarded a commendation from the NT Police for his work with the Night Patrol.
In National Child Protection Week, National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) encourages everybody to be someone who gives time and genuinely listens to children.
Roper Gulf Regional Council Mayor Tony Jack congratulated Mr Numamurdirdi on his award saying,
”It’s a great personal achievement for Ernest but also recognises the often unacknowledged role of Night Patrols in protecting the safety of our communities, for all the members of those communities. Whether it is people who have issues with substance abuse and are at risk to themselves, angry, confused or lost people or in this case the many children of our towns.”
For further details please direct your enquiries to Michael Berto, CEO Roper Gulf Regional Council on 08 8972 9000.
ENDS