Warnkarunku Day 2025: Northern Goldfields event makes preventative health fun
More than 100 students from Leonora, Laverton, Leinster, Menzies and Mount Margaret gathered at Leonora Oval to learn more about health and first aid with St John WA and other local health services on May 29.
‘Warnkarunku Day’ brought together primary and high school students, local not-for-profits, allied health services and sponsors from around the Northern Goldfields region.
The name ‘Warnkarunku’ was given to the event by local Elder Cheryl Cotterill, which means ‘good health, good healing’.
Student groups participated in sessions covering physical and mental health, hygiene, nutrition, and financial wellbeing.
St John WA Paramedics Peter Jensen and Jeremy Maitland-Smith led first aid demonstrations alongside Leonora Sub Centre volunteers.
“The event is all about giving the school children health skills they can take home with them,” Peter said.
“We explained some basic first aid skills including DRSABC, how to put a patient in the recovery position, CPR, and some snake bite scenarios.
“It was also a reminder that there’s always help available if they need it.”
Alongside St John WA, participants included Shooting Stars, Hope Community Care, Headspace, Anglicare, Centrecare, Wanslea, EarBus, Starlight and WA Country Health Service – with each group providing fun, interactive activities including exercise sessions, sensory activities, and art.
The event was first held last year as a collaboration between St John WA and the Shire of Leonora.
Puipuilupe Tavake, Coordinator at Leonora Community Resource Centre, and main organiser of the day, believes educational events are essential for young people in remote towns to take proactive steps towards looking after their health.
“Warnkarunku Day was designed to be proactive, practical and community-driven,” she said.
“This idea came from a place of wanting to do more than just respond to health issues when they arise. We brought together health organisations, mining partners, and local leaders to make health education not only accessible but also fun, and hands-on.”
With distance and isolation being huge issues for young people in the Northern Goldfields, the day also provided students with a reminder that they are part of a supportive community – despite the size of their remote towns.
“It is very important for us to be a part of this event,” Mohamed Youssef, Principal of Leonora District High School, said.
“There’s a lot of challenges for our students – especially with our location being so far away from services. It is great for the kids to meet other students and network too.”
The event would not have been possible without the support of key sponsors Glencore Murrin Murrin Operations, Genesis, Horizon Power and Sodexo.
St John WA is now keen to expand the event to other remote areas in Western Australia to improve health literacy among children and young people.
“We can only close the health inequity gap when communities and allied health partners come together for initiatives like Warnkarunku Day, a place-based, community-led day focused on preventative care,” St John WA Social Sustainability Manager Angel Robins said.
“St John WA is focused on moving forward collaboratively with funders and health partners to meet local community needs across the state and are open and excited to start conversations across WA.”
Interested in partnering with St John WA? Contact us today.