Neither boy asked for punishment

“Programs.” “Go to school every day.”

Asked what would help, neither boy asked for punishment.

Both boys live in Alice Springs. Neither has been asked what they need. When asked, Jackquann told politicians one word: “Programs.” Nigel said he wants to be a footy player and knows he needs to go to school every day to get there.

Both have been to detention. Both named family as the thing detention takes away. Oonchiumpa picks them up, takes them to school, and gives them someone to walk with.

What judges should hear. “Sometime they feel bored. They got nothing to do at home.” — Nigel, on why young people steal cars

Take it back to chambers

• Scan to open the judges field guide and keep both boys’ voices close when the conversation turns to what actually helps.

Read with Country in mind

This page mirrors the back of postcard 02 from the Judges on Country deck. The full polished story will be published once Kristy Bloomfield and Tanya Turner have reviewed it. In the meantime, the postcard's own words sit here as the canonical source.

Open the Judges on Country field guide · Watch the Oonchiumpa video · Visit the Oonchiumpa basecamp