Wathaurong to strengthen family support with $700k grant

THE Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative will receive a funding boost of more than $700,000 from the Victorian government to support the local community’s access to culturally safe services.

The funds will be provided through the latest round of grants from the Aboriginal Children and Families Innovation and Learning Fund, which aims to advance First Nations self-determination in the children and families service system.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said Aboriginal people were best placed to lead the services that will keep Aboriginal children and families safe.

“That’s exactly what these grants support.

“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 success and stay together.”

About $220,000 of the funds received will be used by Wathaurong to develop prevention and early help resources and tools, which will be embedded into the organisation’s everyday practice.

The remaining $480,000 will enable the Wathaurong to develop a professional training program and facilitate holistic practice across the Western District in family services and health services.

The funding will help the organisation to bolster both the capacity and resources of its families, health and community strengthening teams across the region and enable them to continue their ongoing work with a critically reflective and culturally centred prevention and early help lens.

Parliamentary secretary for First Peoples and Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the funding will assist Wathaurong in providing family support to community and enable the organisation to train and support its staff to provide much-needed culturally appropriate family and health services.

Lara MP Ella George said the state government’s Aboriginal Children and Families Innovation and Learning Fund supported Aboriginal organisations, such as the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, and their communities to thrive.

“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.”