Government granting Indigenous investment

WATHAURUNG Aboriginal Corporation has received a $150,000 grant as part of the State government’s Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program.

The funding will be used to upgrade the organisation’s Ballarat headquarters, and to facilitate for more professional meeting spaces for members and stakeholders within the building.

Located at 99 Mair Street East, works are set to begin in April and will take between two and three months to comple.

Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation CEO Paul Davis said the institution aims to protect and care for Aboriginal heritage within their established boundaries.

“As a representative body for traditional owners, we provide cultural education services, welcome to country ceremonies, as well as supporting the revitalisation of Wathaurung language,” he said.

As a Registered Aboriginal Party under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation has statutory obligations to protect and care for cultural heritage across Wathaurung country.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said she is happy to help improve the corporation’s workspaces, so that First Nation people can have further self-determination.

“What we really want to do as government is take a really big step forward through the reconciliation process, to make sure that the traditional owners of the land in our community are respected and supported,” she said.

Now in its third year, the Aboriginal Community Infrastructure program is sharing more than $3 million to cover three new builds, three upgrades and two feasibility studies across the state.

In total, the program has invested $11.8 million to create culturally safe spaces and strengthen services for Aboriginal organisations.