Noongar leader Robbie Miniter has found an upside amid the upheaval and anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has seen people in his community in the Great Southern town of Gnowangerup being more willing to cooperate and work together to deal with the fallout from the health crisis. And he is hopeful the effects will linger after the crisis has passed, and leave the community with a positive long-term legacy.

In an interview for Creating Communities’ Stronger Together series of video conversations, Robbie tells of the detrimental effects closing all social activities has had on his town, especially putting local sport on hold.

Junior and senior football, hockey and netball are normally played on the one day but the suspension of competitions has left people without their major social meeting point. People are largely sticking to their own families, something that doesn’t come easily to Noongar people in particular, he says.

Robbie Miniter is a Noongar community leader and was previously employed by the Department of Communities as the local engagement coordinator for the Early Years Initiative and prior to that worked for the Wirrpanda foundation.

This interview is part of Creating Communities’ series of video conversations with prominent Australians offering insights and wisdom on coping with the challenges this pandemic presents for all of us. It is a key part of our “Stronger Together” approach to the COVID-19 crisis as we work to bring people and communities together to help each other through this testing time.