MARTU FOOT PATROL AND NEWMAN DRUG ACTION GROUP WORK TO KEEP COMMUNITY SAFE

The town of Newman. Credit: Michael Sigrist, Creative Commons.

In Newman, The Martu Foot Patrol is in its third year of operation.

The project is in desperate need of a new bus, as it is currently using a ute that can only fit three people at a time.

The project is delivered by the Newman Women’s Shelter.

Samoan woman and Women’s Shelter CEO Arina Aiona said the foot patrol brings a sense of security to the community.

“Our presence, just being out there, stops some crime happening, because we’re going around the streets and into the industrial areas,” she said.

Martu women have also launched a Newman Drug Action Group, which emerged from the Foot Patrol project.

“A few of the women out of the community got together,” Ms Aiona said.

“It’s mostly Indigenous women. They really highlighted the importance of the issues around substance abuse and drugs and alcohol.

“That I thought was so powerful.”

Listen to an interview with Ms Aiona: