A HUB under construction in central Geelong will become a centre for \u201cBlack excellence\u201d, according to the team that is making it happen.<\/p>\n
Geelong West-based business support organisation Ngarrimili has received a $850,000 grant from the Victorian government to establish a cultural hub at the Westfield Geelong Shopping Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.<\/p>\n
The cultural hub will take the form of a retail shop front and feature a cafe for training and employment opportunities, while also serving as a co-working space for Aboriginal people to grow their businesses and seek employment assistance.<\/p>\n
The retail store will also sell and showcase local First Nations businesses and their products, from clothing to skin care.<\/p>\n
Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford and Geelong MP Christine Couzens visited the hub on Thursday last week for a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.<\/p>\n
Ngarrimili chief executive officer Cormach Evans and Arranyinha director Marsha Uppill both spoke about the positive example the hub would set.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s an amazing opportunity to be able to have this moment today for the start of the journey of this space,\u201d Mr Evans said.<\/p>\n
He said Ngarrimili had supported more than 1,000 businesses to date, with 83 per cent of the turnover going back to the First Nations community in Victoria, and the hub would help drive that percentage towards 100 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe space is safe for First Nations people here in Geelong to access and thrive, but also for other First Nations businesses across Victoria and also across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will create employment opportunities, training pathways and business pathways for young people, for elders, for everyone in the community here through the retail store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Uppill said the hub had enormous potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you\u2019re seeing today is the space and some of the ideas of how it\u2019s going to look, but what you\u2019re not seeing is what is actually going to happen here.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so today when the smoke\u2019s around you, have an opportunity to have a look around, close your eyes and feel what the presence will be like when this atmosphere is absolutely booming with Black excellence, which is what Cormach always says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such an amazing opportunity not just for us but for our community and for our generations to come – not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island kids, but all of our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Couzens welcomed the funding announcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAboriginal community control is vital to improving employment outcomes and I\u2019m proud the government is doing that here in Geelong through this type of self-determination focused engagement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A HUB under construction in central Geelong will become a centre for \u201cBlack excellence\u201d, according to the team that is making it happen. Geelong West-based business support organisation Ngarrimili has received a $850,000 grant from the Victorian government to establish a cultural hub at the Westfield Geelong Shopping Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander […]<\/p>\n