The Healthy North Coast Aboriginal Partnership is pleased to announce the successful recipients of their 2024 NAIDOC Week Grants, recognising how Aboriginal culture is alive and strong across the North Coast.
Following a successful application process, twelve Aboriginal community-led collaborations have been awarded $2,000 grants to support events and activities during NAIDOC Week 2024.
“The events and activities that received funding focus on health and wellbeing, connection to Country, or fostering positive social and emotional connections,” said Healthy North Coast’s Director of Aboriginal Health Partnerships and proud Yaegl woman, Susan Parker Pavlovic.
“We are proud to recognise the strength, resilience and pride of our Aboriginal communities. It is very special for us to support local NAIDOC committees as they plan amazing events to celebrate and share our Aboriginal culture with each other and with the wider community,” Ms Parker Pavlovic said.
Aunty Ruth Walker of Mujaay Ganma Foundation in Bowraville, one of the successful applicants, reflected on the importance of being able to host a sunrise ceremony in NAIDOC Week, honouring the cultural connection to sun and fire:
“Mujaay Ganma came about because of my sister and my daughter, who both passed with cancer. It didn’t seem right that in hospital there was no culture and support for our people. So it’s important to have events like this where we can have a yarn about carrying our culture with pride.”
Aunty Jack Cook of Bunjum Aboriginal Corporation, another successful grant recipient, will be hosting two events on Bundjalung Country – a kids sports and stalls day, and a cultural day featuring Goori dance, language, creative arts and food activities.
Aunty Jack commented on the wider benefits that the grant will provide:
“The grant will help enhance more programs and activities, more fun for the kids, that will help to promote healthy lifestyles and social and emotional wellbeing for our communities.”
Successful grants were awarded across a number of North Coast Aboriginal countries, including Bundjalung, Githabul, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti and Birpai nations.
Gurehlgam Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and run not-for-profit organisation based in Grafton, was awarded funding for an event called “No More – Not Our Way” that aims to build awareness and action around reducing domestic violence, family violence and sexual assault.
Examples of other funded activities include yarning circles, cultural and art activities, bush tucker planting, and dance and music performances for children and young people. It is expected that 4,500+ people will participate in these activities throughout the North Coast region.
The theme for NAIDOC Week 2024 is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’ which celebrates the unyielding spirit of Aboriginal communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
“NAIDOC Week is a time for us all to recognise the contributions of First Nations communities and we look forward to celebrating the week through our shared history, culture and identity,” added Ms Parker Pavlovic.
“This contribution by the Partnership is a taste of things to come as we seek to promote long, healthy lives for our community that are centred in Country and culture.”
About the Healthy North Coast Aboriginal Partnership
The Healthy North Coast Aboriginal Partnership is an agreement between Healthy North Coast and the six Aboriginal Medical Services on the North Coast:
- Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation
- Werin Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre
- Rekindling the Spirit
- Galambila Aboriginal Health Service
- Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service
- Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service
The purpose of the Partnership is to work together to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by improving access to, and quality of, primary health care within the region.
Pictured above L-R: Janette Blainey, Aunty Ruth Walker and Wurinda Gill from Mujaay Ganma Foundation in Bowraville
