I am a student of the Noongar language, and recently visited (20 April 2026) and reported (favourably!) my experience at this centre. I really appreciate the efforts WACHS is making to be inclusive and caring of the people of Australian First Nations, and want to support them and WACHS.
The title of the centre is my focus.
The word 'djoodiny' is not correct for children. I understand the difficulty of the 3 main dialects and their 12-15 area variations, but I believe in the Bunbury Wardandi area the correct word is 'koorlangka'. In Perth Wadjuk and maybe other areas, I believe it could be 'koolangka'.
However, 'yongka' for women is only almost correct - although easier for Europeans to hear. All the current variations do not include the '-ng-', and I believe 'yoka' is the Bunbury local word, but others include yok, yaku, and yaka.
Whoever chose the words must have used a very old word list!
When I say 'djoodiny' aloud, I hear a historical process - the European asking an Elder for the word 'children' by saying it and then pointing to a group of them, followed by the Elder thinking it was a statement and copying the word as he (or she) struggled to speak this strange and foreign tongue -'juuden' - then the European mis-hearing and trying to catch the word, thinking it was the Noongar word and not the Elder practising the English! It was then 'tidied up' to look more like an Noongar word.
Interesting? I hope so, and that I haven't wasted too much of your time...!
May I respectfully suggest further consultation with Noongar Elders?
"Visit to Immunisation Centre"
About: Community Vaccination Clinic Bunbury Community Vaccination Clinic Bunbury Bunbury 6230
Posted by indigonp95 (as ),
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