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Aqualand opened in August 2010 not long after the
centre opened.
It has been a great success, the clients really enjoy working here and doing activities
here and it has grown since its inception back then.
Keeping clients busy in our detention centres is obviously very important and activities
play a huge part in that.
Aqualand serves a number of roles here at Curtin.
It teaches clients about aquaponics, we are also learning about horticultural activities,
they do a number of other things like make musical instruments so it's not only an area
where they can come and reflect but they are actually learning some skills while they're
here.
There is a number of different things that they can learn.
For example I think the probably the main area of learning is around horticulture.
The concept was based around the aquaponics system which is a sustainable horticultural
system involving both fish and plant life.
Recently our clients were involved in the redevelopment and establishment of a sensory
garden at the nursing home in Derby.
They built a deck, they redeveloped the gardens, they assisted in putting up shade
structures and they also built a water feature.
A sensory garden helps our clients to stimulate their sense of sight, their sense of
smell and their sense of hearing.
Personally I had an impression, a different impression of them and was a bit apprehensive
when they volunteered, but, well, it was different when I saw them and, well, I
appreciate the work that they are doing and now they are kinda part of us so that when we
have events we call then in because they've given something to the community, especially
us.
There is also some benefits towards this towards the community and how we can outreach
into the community, include our clients in that outreach towards the community and foster
that bond between our clients and get them to start introducing into Australian culture.
We have a number of different cultures here at Curtin and have done since we opened the
centre and this is a great place for them to come and mix together and learn about each
other's cultures and taste each other's food and things like that.
It's a very pleasant area, it's lovely and green, it's nice and cool, there's lots of
different plants, herbs and spices and the waterfalls so in terms of a contrast to the
outside area it's really different and it's really lovely.