Who let the dogs out - Barkly Shire Education Strategy

Recognise these Cheeky dogs? Dion, whose Cheeky Dog designs feature on AMRRIC T-shirts, and his carer Joie Boulter, have designed and created these papier-maché dogs. The dogs are the stars of mini movies made by the local school children to illustrate the Be a Friend to your Dog Program. Project Coordinator Ktima Heathcote working with local school children to create the movies as part of the Barkly Education Resource Strategy in Tennant Creek, the project is funded through the NT Animal Welfare Fund.

Ktima is working with the community to create new arts-based resources, including posters, paintings, animation, movies and talking books  The movie project grew out of Ktima's visits to local schools in Elliot and Tennant Creek and talking with the kids about what makes a good pet owner. The kids said you have to "feed him, love him, give him water, take him hunting" among other important health care duties. She soon found out that the kids would also like to put the message in a movie. The project lets the kids create their own messages about how to look after your dog.

Another character devised by the children is the Dog Doctor, a dog hand puppet which gives advice and answers questions about how to treat mange and get rid of worms. The Dog Doctor and papier-maché dogs movies will be packaged into a DVD and distributed through the community. 

Ktima is liaising with local organisations including Barkly Shire Council, Barkly College (primary and high schools), Papulu Apparr-kari Language Centre, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation and artists from the Pink Palace to produce more arts-based resources.

Ktima said “Dion and Joie are working on a series of community pamphlets, and the Papulu Apparr-kari Language Centre is translating Talking Books into local Aboriginal languages.”