Felissa
Felissa is raising Errol strong in culture.
Amazing Felissa
by Robyn Enever, Nurse Home Visitor
Meet Felissa Raggett. Felissa is a deadly mum who is providing for her family by securing stable housing, something that is a challenge in Alice Springs.
Nurse Home Visitor, Diana Amend and ANFPP Social Worker, Celeste Brand have been working with the family since they moved to Alice Springs from Ntaria in September last year.
Baby Errol was born early but healthy, says Felissa, and he continues to thrive in the care of his parents and wider family. Errol is now nearly 12 months old and starting to talk up a storm. He will grow up strong in his culture, speaking Western Arrernte and English.
Felissa and baby Errol having a yarn with Nurse, Diana Amend at the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
"Felissa and her partner, Travis, have managed to secure stable housing with Tangentyere,” says Tiff Lohs, Nurse Supervisor at ANFPP.
“She is a strong role model for other women and has been working with her Nurse Home Visitor, Diana Amend towards her heart’s desires.
“Felissa has recently been successful in securing employment with Families and Schools Together and is looking forward to starting in the role,” says Tiff.
"Diana helped me to find a job and she is helping me with my own health," says Felissa.
Felissa’s partner, Travis Ngalkin, with Errol, cooling off from Alice Spring’s summer temperatures that get up to around 38 degrees Celsius.
Tiff says about 48% of visits happen in the home in Alice Springs, but as many families are homeless or living with other family, home visits occur in other places.
“Our teams visit families in parks, at the pool, at the office, in the car, at Centrelink, and sometimes down at the River - especially when it flows, as this is such a rare event,” says Tiff.
“It’s about being creative about where we have our visits and utilizing other services, other playgroups and services for women and children in town, so we’ll often visit in other settings and support families to attend other early childhood services.”
