Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative is one of six Victorian Aboriginal-led child and family programs that have received funding boosts to help provide better access to culturally safe services.
Wathaurong will receive $220,000 under the Specialist Prevention and Early Help Lead Practitioner grants and $480,000 to develop professional training
and facilitate holistic practice across the Western District in family services and health services.
The funding is part of the state government’s Aboriginal Children and Families Innovation and Learning Fund and will see $2.3 million go to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across the state.
“The Allan Labor government’s Aboriginal Children and Families Innovation and Learning Fund supports Aboriginal Organisations such as Wathaurong and their communities to thrive,” Member for Lara Ella George said.
“Wathaurong do important work supporting families and community, and this funding will allow them to build their capacity to continue this across Geelong and Western Victoria.”
“This funding will assist Wathaurong in providing family support to community, and enable them to train and support staff to provide much needed culturally appropriate family and health services,” Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples Christine Couzens said.
“We know Aboriginal people are best placed to lead the services that keep Aboriginal children and families safe and that’s exactly what these grants support,” Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said.
“We are supporting Aboriginal families at every stage – at home, in school, in the community and across Victoria, to give children and families the very best chance to succeed and stay together.”
The six organisations announced by Ms Blandthorn at the Aboriginal Children’s Forum on Thursday August 15 are Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative, Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Op and Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People’s Alliance.
