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• To enable all people to access a range of essential household items at discount prices.

• Obtain bulk purchase discounts on whitegoods (fridges and washing machines) and on-sell to the community at the discounted rate.
• To increase the number of cars with correct child restraints fitted and utilised.
• To promote a self-help model rather than a welfare model of intervention.

• Purchase 10 fridges; 10 washing machines; 5 reversible baby car seats; and 5 Toddler car seats.
• Arrange contractual arrangements for on-selling.

In 2007 I was asked to go outside the building to see a new born baby that the parents where showing off. This baby was being held by the mother in her arms in the back seat of the car.

The car had no child restraints fitted. This triggered an informal investigation as to how many children came to the Health Centre in a car without the proper/suitable restraints fitted. Though no exact details were kept, it appeared to be the majority of children. Anecdotal evidence suggested that baby seats where sometimes used but when a second child was born the toddler (often as young as 2 years) was moved to a seat belt. Health Workers spoke to a large number of clients and ascertained that the biggest hurdle to additional car seats was cost. Many reported that due to the distance from town (Mildura) that the baby bonus was being used to purchase a car or pay for rent and bond on a new house for the new family to live in.

We approached NRMA Insurance for $2,000 to supplement the purchase of car seats. Car seats cost $229 and it was hoped that we would sell them for $100 to the clients of the service who were aboriginal and/or held a Health Care card.

We chose trendy good quality car seats on the advice of the police who discouraged us from purchasing foam toddler seats or booster seats based on an accident they had attended where the apparatus failed to hold the child who was severely injured.

We approached Target who indicated a model was to come on special for $189. They agreed to hold this price for 6 months as long as we purchased 10 at a time.

The car seats were sold for $100 leaving a loss of $89 per seat. The $2000 would allow for the purchase and subsidising of 22 seats. We sold 10 car seats in the first 6 weeks.

This program continues and is now being subsidised by Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC). Sales have exceeded 50 car seats. The program also assists with the correct installation of the restraints into the car by Health Workers.

An evaluation of the program and its effectiveness had young mothers talking about the need for similar programs to assist with the purchase of washing machines and fridges as a significant health problem. Parents spoke of the high cost of renting appliances as second-hand appliances were often expensive and unreliable.

We approached Retravision who agreed to sell us fridges at cost price plus 10% based on the purchase of 10 at a time. K-mart also indicated that they reduced the cost (by 50%) of washing machines when they were superseded. This allows us to pass on the savings. Clients with Health Care Cards can pay half the cost of an item up front and pay the other half off over 5-7 weeks. Clients are allowed only one (1) item at a time. Fridges sell at $420 but usually retail at $599 and washing machines sell for $300 but retail between $399 and $599.

This additional program is cost neutral and commenced with only an outlay of $8,000. A number of other agencies now refer to this program.

The program has been extremely successful.

• It has not only improved availability but also people's ability to be in control of situations. For example, we used to deal with one client in breach of a rental agreement per fortnight (approx). These are now seldom events.
• Sales in the past financial year were 48 white goods and 30 car seats.
• Program continues with clients as far away as Lake Cargelligo purchasing goods while visiting family and taking them home.
• In 2008 the program was extended for elders of the immediate community to include electric wheel chairs ($1700).
• In the summer of 2009 due to the extreme heatwave in the region the program was once again extended but only for the elderly in the immediate community. The program allowed for the purchase of portable air conditioners ($500).

The impact on the community is obvious:

• Almost all client cars now have car seats fitted.
• CHAC upgraded its cars to be 8 seater Kia buses to allow child restraints/seats to be permanently fitted.
• New whitegoods are obvious everywhere in people's houses. The community have been grateful and take pride in showing off their new appliances.
• Lay-by schemes at the local second-hand store have been negotiated similarly to allow people to have good quality bedding as well.
• Number of debt issues in relation to rental contracts has decreased.

The specific effect of having refrigerated food and/or fresher food is not measurable. The effect of having washing machines in the house on scabies, etc is also not measurable.

Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation
Phone: 03 50274824