Supporting Australian Aborigines ACAS - Aboriginal Children's Advancement Society
Aboriginal Children's Advancement Society, founders of the Kirinari Aboriginal Student Hostels. ACAS supports Aboriginal children and youth in the areas of Education and Progress towards a worthwhile and productive future ensuring the fulfilment of ambition, talent and initiative.
The Kirinari (Place of Learning) hostels have been involved in the education and advancement of Aboriginal young people for more than forty years. A tried and positive contribution to the process of Reconciliation. Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
ANTaR is the preeminent non-Indigenous national advocacy organisation dedicated specifically to the rights - and overcoming the disadvantage - of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We do this primarily through lobbying, public campaigns and advocacy. ANTaR's focus is on changing the attitudes and behaviours of non-Indigenous Australians so that the rights and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are respected and affirmed across all sections of society. ANTaR persuades governments, through advocacy and lobbying, to show genuine leadership and build cross-party commitment to Indigenous policy. ANTaR works to generate in Australia a moral and legal recognition of, and respect for, the distinctive status of Indigenous Australians as First Peoples. ANTaR is a non-government, not-for-profit, community-based organisation.
ANTaR campaigns nationally on key issues such as reducing Aboriginal incarceration, eliminating violence and abuse, constitutional change and racism and other significant Indigenous causes. ANTaR has been working with Indigenous organisations and leaders on rights and reconciliation issues since 1997. Fred Hollows Foundation
Fred Hollows Foundation, at the forefront of the establishment of Aboriginal controlled medical centres, work amongst 55 Indigenous communities providing eye care, helping build strong and sustainable health systems and also focus on tackling the social determinants of poor health in Indigenous communities, and supporting the work of Aboriginal-controlled organisations and health services. And they work to ensure that the 10 year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians is closed within a generation. The foundation also commenced anaemia prevention trial - tackling high levels of anaemia in remote communities, improving the health of thousands of children, Distributed 15,000 books to 261 communities and organisations Indigenous Literacy Project and developed and launched cookbook Kukumbat Gudwan Daga (Really Cooking Good Food).
The NTEHP (National Trachoma and Eye Health Program (NTEHP)) set out to eliminate trachoma and other eye conditions in rural and remote communities and, for the first time, record the status of eye health in rural Australia. Up to 50 staff, including ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optical dispensers, microbiologists, nurses, clerical staff and Aboriginal liaison officers worked in a number of teams. The NTEHP also identified that nearly half of Australia's Indigenous population had trachoma. In some regions of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the prevalence of the condition was as high as 80% of the population.
Through a series of interrelated projects including eye health, community engagement and development, aural health, literacy, nutrition, woman's development, and training and skills development, The Foundation is able to address the underlying causes of health inequity.Indigenous Australians, especially those living in remote areas, have fewer opportunities to maintain and improve their health and life situation than non-Indigenous Australians. They do not have the same access to employment, housing, medical services and education, nor are they equally engaged in our social and political systems. Indigenous Communities Volunteers
Indigenous Community Volunteers is a non-government registered charity. They work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities on community and human development projects to improve their quality-of-life, wellbeing and social inclusion within Australian society. The community-owned and driven projects develop community and human capacity to improve health, social and economic well being. ICV works nationally with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, businesses, families and individuals to facilitate community development projects. Communities control ICV projects. They nominate the volunteer capabilities they require and select the particular volunteers they need. Its project officers work in the field and engage in meaningful, respectful and honest dialogue with communities. ICV recognises the value of local leadership mechanisms and respects and supports these. ICV acknowledges the history of colonialism and avoids neo-colonial practices and values.ICV Vision is for an Australia where all Australians live in harmony and where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people share the same rights, respect and access to opportunities and rewards, and where their culture is valued and recognised as an asset to Australian society. We achieve this by enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in partnership with the broader Australian community, governments and the private sector through volunteering. ICV's Enviromental responsibility is for caring for country as an integral part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. ICV are strongly committed to environmental responsibility. ICV has an ambitious 25 per cent energy reduction target and they offset all of the carbon emissions that they can reduce. Jimmy Little Foundation
The Jimmy Little Foundation is a not for profit charitable institution with DGR - tax exempt status, and is able to take donations from individuals, corporate sponsors and private companies. Their vision is to increase the life expectancy of indigenous Australians. They facilitate nutritional education & advocate for better health services for indigenous Australians in communities and they partner with federal, state and territory governments, statutory & peak health bodies, corporate, NGOs and non-profit organisations. The main aims are to raise greater mainstream public awareness of the health issues confronting Indigenous Australians and to develop new and support existing innovative programs that encourage and improve Indigenous health across Australia. Music Outback Foundation
Music Outback Foundation Limited is a non-profit Deductible Gift Recipient charity dedicated to the use of music and related art forms as a means of improving outcomes on remote Indigenous communities. Through careful development of its programs over six years, Music Outback has shown that music can be a powerful and effective multi-faceted vehicle for the reconnection of Indigenous people to their own cultural expression. At the same time, music can effectively address serious needs in areas such as education, health, language preservation, and remote Indigenous employment. Music Outback Foundation programs have been designed to develop the use of music in remote isolated schools as a means of improving general education outcomes and to assist in the preservation of threatened languages and culture through the engagement of older community members in first language song writing. They also engage school age Indigenous youth who don't attend school in creative activities that promote healthy lifestyle choices as well as strengthen the roles of community adults in the mentoring and leading of young people in education and cultural expression.Music Outback Foundation is currently seeking philanthropic, corporate, government, and public sponsorship to enable us to continue our programs. Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2000 by the former Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. We are the peak national organisation building and promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians for the wellbeing of the nation. Their vision is for an Australia that recognises and respects the special place, culture, rights and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and where good relationships between the first Australians and other Australians become the foundation for local strength and success and the enhancement of our national wellbeing.Reconciliation Australia works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all other Australians to strengthen the understanding, trust and respect that are the key elements to achieving our vision for reconciliation. Reddust Role Models
Red Dust Role Models is a non-profit health promotion charity and deductible gift recipient (DGR) that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged youths in remote communities.Red Dust utilises positive role models from the fields of sport, music, art, health and business to deliver its Lifestyle Education Program. The program encourages healthy lifestyle decisions and promotes education as a path to personal development, employment and readiness for community leadership. Red Dust Role Models works on the simple model of pairing kids with prominent Australians, who visit them twice a year, and retain regular contact via phone and email.Hundreds of kids living in remote Indigenous communities are getting this chance, thanks to an innovative program giving young people role models that they can lean on and learn from. Red Dust Role Models seek to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged youth living in remote communities. Each year, Red Dust Role Models conduct around 12 tours to remote communities around Australia and now internationally, in Fiji and India. As part of these tours, Red Dust Role Models visit remote communities and deliver programs in the areas of Lifestyle Education, Mentorship and Music. The Role Models utilise their talents and profile in the areas of sport, art and music to convey healthy lifestyle messages and deliver positive and educational programs. As part of the commitment to remote community organisations, Red Dust Role Models supports the development of projects and programs that are aligned to the organisation's objectives. This may involve us raising funds for infrastructure projects, committing resources and skills for a program's development or through donations supplying recreation hall upgrades, multi-sport court construction, shading and the provision of much needed sport and music equipment. Australian based, but globally focused, Red Dust is driven by a commitment to decrease the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in terms of health, education and opportunities to fulfil human potential. This commitment is maintained in our expansion to remote regions outside of Australia. Red Dust Role Models draws upon experience and knowledge gained from over 14 years of working in remote indigenous communities and the strong relationships that have resulted. Spirit of the Land Foundation
Spirit of the Land Foundation was established in 1997 with the aims of preserving and promoting Australian Aboriginal knowledge and culture, as well as building bridges of understanding between Indigenous and Western cultures. Spirit of the Land Foundation works in the areas of intergenerational Learning, intercultural sharing, cultural recording and cultural renewal through direct administration of projects and support for worthy projects run by other organisations. The Spirit of the Land Foundation is promoting an active and participatory approach to knowledge transfer, known as ‘Intergenerational learning’. Spirit of the Land Foundation works for the preservation and promotion of the artistic and Cultural Traditions of Australian Aboriginal peoples and intercultural sharing between all peoples. Meeting this challenge, the Foundation is currently focusing its' work in three major areas, the recording and publishing cultural material, the facilitation of events that foster intercultural understanding and intergenerational learning. The Foundation for Young Australians
The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) is a national, independent, non-profit organisation. They work to improve the way young people learn, the way they live and the way they lead and especially support Indigenous Youth. The foundation invests directly in young people and youth-led organisations leading research about young people’s lives innovative programs in our schools and communities. Their vision is an Australia where all young people are able to learn, to belong and to contribute as creative, active and valued citizens. FYA has a long history of creating relevant, engaging and empowering opportunities for young people to take a lead role in governance, decision making and community participation more broadly.FYA was formed in 1999 through a partnership between The Queen’s Trust and the Australian Youth Foundation, with the objectives of providing increased opportunity and access for young people of disadvantaged background, as well as supporting the leadership development of young Australians.Over the past decade, FYA has built strong grant-making, Indigenous, capacity building and scholarship programs to achieve these objectives. The Koorie Heritage Trust
The Koorie Heritage Trust Inc is a not-for-profit Aboriginal community organisation. The Koorie Heritage Trust is devoted to the protection, preservation and promotion of the living culture of south-eastern indigenous people and to bridging the cultural gap between the Koorie people and the wider community. ‘Gnokan Danna Murra Kor-ki’, is the motto of the Trust and is the combination of two Koorie languages and means ‘Give me your hand my friend’ and bridge the cultural gap. The Koorie Heritage Trust Inc believes that through education and promotion it can raise an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of Koorie culture in south-eastern Australia and work towards the broader goals of reconciliation for all Australians.The Trust cares for a diverse range of artefacts, artworks, crafts, oral histories, books, manuscripts, historical material and photographs and houses four gallery spaces; a permanent interactive exhibition that teaches about our history and culture, and a retail shop that sells authentic products. Some of the activities offered at The Trust include art workshops, educational programs, accredited training, cross-cultural training, cultural tours and touring exhibitions. The Trust also provides a range of programs and services to the Koorie community and the general public including assisting community members trace their family history; youth projects designed to connect with Elders and culture, and an extensive research library dating back to the 1800's. The Mary MacKillop Foundation
The Mary MacKillop Foundation is an Australian charity/non profit founded by the Sisters of St Joseph. Since 1995 the Foundation has funded over 300 "small life-changing projects", projects responding to the needs of rural and isolated communities, indigenous groups, people with disabilities and those forgotten by society. We support projects throughout Australia, from metropolitan areas like Sydney to remote rural areas in The Kimberly, Western Australia.
The Foundation has funded Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarships for over a decade with 31 graduates to date (2010) and another 23 currently enrolled.
Mary MacKillop's concern for the welfare of Aboriginal people, particularly in relation to education has resulted in a commitment through scholarship funding for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tertiary students who are studying full time at Australian universities.Tertiary education is particularly important to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students. Knowledge gained can initiate reconciliation and bring changes at all levels of the Australian community. Some dream of acquiring their first degree in an environment close to home, then moving to the city to acquire a postgraduate degree so they can move into prominent positions in society. Others live and study in the city where they give back to their communities. Without doubt, education and skills equip students to make a big difference to their people's lives and ultimately the lives of all Australians. Unity of First People of Australia
While diabetes amongst Indigenous Australians appears to have been non-existent before colonisation, today diabetes has become the leading accelerator of mortality in Indigenous Australians. Dialysis (due to the complication of renal failure), is the most common reason for hospital admission of Indigenous people in Australia. To address these problems, the Unity of First People of Australia, a not-for-profit Aboriginal-run organisation, commenced the Diabetes Management and Care Program in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. The Diabetes Management and Care program aims to arrest the rising incidence of diabetes in indigenous communities by working with the community to develop a community-owned and managed sustainable Community Health Plan. The basis of the plan is the prevention, management, treatment and care of diabetes and promotes a whole change of lifestyle behaviours. Each project is undertaken at the invitation of the Community Council and requires the support of a range of people within the community such as the local council, local school, women’s groups, community store, as well as local community carers specifically trained to ensure that family members continue with the relevant aspects of the Plan. By training diabetes educators and encouraging strong support for changes to a healthier and fitter lifestyle, the Diabetes Management and Care program ensures that Indigenous Australians take responsibility for their own health and well being. Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation
Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation is a community- based organisation, working with Aboriginal families in remote Central Australia and the APY lands in South Australia. Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi is Luritja language, meaning for "doing good work with families" and the name encapsulates the Waltja story.
Waltja's agenda is driven by a Board of Directors who are alll Aboriginal women, with the aim of improving outcomes for families. Collectively women want to share their histories, stories and their visions across the Central Desert communities to create one voice for the good of all. The foundation for Waltja’s corporate philosophy is the leadership of strong Aboriginal women, a focus on families, and support for community self-management and self-determination and improved services on communities. Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi provides services to an estimated population of 13,000 Aboriginal people spread over 900,000 square kilometres.The following are the main language groups spoken in this area: Warlpiri, Luritja, Western Arrernte, Eastern Arrernte, Pintupi, Kaytej, Anmatyerre, Alyawarre and Pitjantjatjara. Waltja can provide consultancy services working directly with remote communities for Government or other non-government agencies. Waltja has an enviable reputation for its quality consultative processes and strong relationships with communities and an Employment Program assisting job seekers to access further employment and training opportunities and support them through their career pathway.
Waltja acknowledges and supports the importance of supporting cultural maintenance activities and the transfer of knowledge from Senior to younger Aboriginal people.
They provide assistance to people from remote communities in times of crises or emergency situations and support quality of life for the elderly, people with a disability and their carers.
Delivering training, workshops and counselling on money management and budgeting to remote communities.
Waltja is also a registered training organisation providing a range of short and long term training, accredited and non accredited, assessments and workshops as well as providing cultural and practical support to young mums and their families in remote communities. Thier Youth program supports homeless or at-risk young people 12-18 yrs and their families to engage with education, training, employment, community and other support services and they successfully facilitated a Suicide prevention project in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Central Australia.
Their Nutrition Project focuses on healthy cooking practices to address critical local health issues for Central Australia. Worawa Aboriginal College
Worawa Aboriginal College is a public benevolent institution endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
Worawa provides a curriculum, student management and learning environment that offers a real alternative to mainstream educational institutions. Specialised attention and Personalised Learning Plans address the individual needs of Worawa students and ensure each student has the opportunity to progress academically, socially, emotionally, culturally and spiritually.Worawa provides educational and residential programs and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The College believes each student can, master the essential skills of literacy and numeracy and be prepared with life skills for the next phase of life. The college studenst flourish in a bi-cultural environment and have pride in their identity and cultural heritage as First Nations peoples. Students are given the opportunity to develop self-confidence, pride, tolerance and respect for others as well as to develop habits of good health and physical fitness. Students are engaged in a total education program and as part of the Worawa, home and broader community and are supported by quality staff.
Worawa caters for Indigenous girls in the middle years of schooling (Years 7-10). students come from suburban and regional Victoria as well as from interstate.Aboriginal families and communities select Worawa for the education of their young people as the College provides a holistic education program in a respectful learning environment which is foundered in quality relationships. Families/communities see the benefits of both an all Aboriginal school and a boarding school. A cornerstone of the Worawa educational program is the affirmation of the student's existing knowledge and understandings. This starting point when linked to the Worawa values of Respect, Responsibility, Relationship and Rigour - extends and challenges students to strive to achieve their full potential. Students learn to succeed through a holistic approach that encourages their intellectual development and physical ability, as well as moral, emotional, mental and spiritual capacity. Students live and study in a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters positive cultural identity and individual potential. Wunan
Wunan is a not-for-profit and non-government Indigenous organisation with a focus across the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Wunan is an Aboriginal development organisation in the East Kimberley, with a clear purpose and strategy to drive long-term socio-economic change for Aboriginal people by providing real opportunities, investing in people’s abilities, and by encouraging and rewarding aspiration and self-responsibility. Wunan’s purpose is to ensure that Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley enjoy the capabilities and opportunities necessary to make positive choices that lead to independent and fulfilling lives — essentially, to have dreams and a fair chance at achieving them. The East Kimberley enjoys burgeoning social and economic opportunities, but the challenges and barriers faced by Aboriginal people in sharing the benefits are daunting — particularly for kids and youth. At Wunan they are focused on using education, employment and accommodation to strengthen the capabilities of Aboriginal people and their families to unlock these choices and opportunities. The environment in which Wunan operates is complex and challenging, at a number of levels, but also dynamic, innovative and rich in potential for positive social change. Wunan is dedicated to building on our core competencies to ensure that our services continue to address the needs of Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley, and contribute to long-term socio-economic solutions. Today, a key objective for Wunan is to shift the balance of dependence of Aboriginal people on welfare from 80% to 20% over 20 years. This objective is based on a clear guiding philosophy that Aboriginal success grows from investing in people’s ability, real opportunity, and reward for effort.They facilitate long term and sustainable change. Yalari
Yalari offers Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities and towns across Australia the opportunity for a first-class secondary education.
Yalari is committed to the empowerment, motivation and support of Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities throughout Australia. As a not-for-profit company, Yalari is dedicated to creating a national network of educational opportunities for Indigenous children. Yalari aims to provide programs which will bring about long term generational change by giving Indigenous children the opportunity for a first class education through full boarding scholarships at some of the highest achieving boarding schools in Australia.
Yalari, from the Birri Gubba Indigenous language group means “child”. It is the name Waverley Stanley, as the Founding Director, has been given permission to use by Grandfather "Blokey" Wilson.
Yalari draws its support from individuals, companies, philanthropic foundations and Government Departments. Established in 2005, Yalari now supports 167 children around Australia enrolled at schools in 34 partnership schools in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. Yirra Yaakin
In 2010, Yirra Yaakin is Australia’s leading Indigenous theatre company, winning awards for its Theatre, its Governance and its Partnerships. In fifteen years the company has delivered 36 new works, employed over 500 Aboriginal theatre workers and reached over 400,000 audience and participants. It has also kept true to a vision of Aboriginal control and self-determination, ensuring Aboriginal artists and community have a voice in all levels of creation and production. Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF)
The Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF) was established in 1990 by elders from five of the Yolngu clans, the Gumatj, Rirratjingu, Djapu, Galpu and Wangurri clans. The Garma Festival is the centrepiece of YYF’s vision. One of the key objectives of YYF is to support and further the maintenance, development, teaching and enterprise potential of Yolngu cultural life. In addition to the Garma Festival, the Foundation has instigated a number of other related projects which achieve its aims.
The Yothu Yindi Foundation is a not-for-profit Aboriginal charitable corporation with charitable status. All Garma Festival attendance fees and other revenues received go to the operation of the Foundation's programs and projects, such as Garma, to achieve the following outcomes. The foundation encourages and develops economic opportunities for Yolngu through education, training, employment and enterprise development and by sharing knowledge and culture, thereby fostering greater understanding between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. More than 200 Yolngu are directly employed or trained at Garma each year. One of the key objectives of the Yothu Yindi Foundation is to support and further the maintenance, development, teaching and enterprise potential of Yolngu cultural life. The Foundation is also working with Australian universities to develop the Garma Cultural Studies Institute at the Gulkula site to facilitate a further sharing of traditional Yolngu and contemporary Western knowledge. |
