100 kids, a green shed, endless red dirt and a few stray camels : reconsidering health in the heart of Australia

In 2005 the author was employed as a youth worker in a remote Northern Territory community. In this paper she makes observations about the level of disadvantage evident in the community. She describes the early life experiences and health status of the community, and problems such as substance misuse and involvement with the criminal justice system. She discusses the role of the youth program in providing a safe place and listening to the young people, and liaising with other institutions such as the school, health clinic and the police. She outlines a number of the challenges that she faced as a youth worker, and assesses the impact of the program.