The Andrews Labor Government is boosting support four local Aboriginal organisations, creating jobs and ensuring we can all recover strongly from the global pandemic together.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Services and Kirrae Health Service Incorporated have received a boost from the Andrews Labor Government to help them recover from the impacts of the pandemic and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in south west Victoria.
Ms Tierney said all four organisations will each receive $150,000 as part of the $40 million Aboriginal Workforce Fund, which has begun rolling out this month to create jobs and boost services when they’re needed the most.
The investment will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Victoria’s south west lead the way in self-determination.
They are amongst 44 organisations across Victoria that have already received a total of $11.2 million in funding under the first round of the Aboriginal Workforce Fund.
The Aboriginal Workforce Fund supports upskilling, training, worker health and wellbeing, organisational capability building, and extra staff to assist service delivery.
The Victorian Aboriginal Social Recovery Advisory Group, consisting of key Aboriginal leaders and CEOs from local and state-wide Aboriginal organisations, was convened to guide the fund design, priorities and approach.
The remainder of the fund to strengthen organisational and workforce capability will be allocated in 2021/22.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“The Aboriginal Workforce Fund gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria’s south west the chance to lead their own priorities and rebuild after the pandemic.”
“We want to ensure these four organisations can create a stronger workforce, to better serve the Aboriginal community – and this has never been more important after the year we just had.”