100K grant to support Aboriginal men’s health in Gunnedah
The NSW Government has allocated $100,000 funding to a new program for Indigenous men in Gunnedah, which will be run by the Min Min Aboriginal Corporation.
The Maruma-li Giwirr (healing Kamilaroi/ Gamilaraay Men) program aims to strengthen ties to community and culture, as well as focus on the health of Aboriginal men in Gunnedah, a town in north-eastern NSW.
“The main objective of the program is to bring all the men together in the community to check on their wellbeing and their health, and also to get them back on country on sacred sites,” said Min Min Aboriginal Corporation Chair, Mitchum Neave.
"Some of the people here have never seen those sites so I’d like to take them back out on country because cultural practice and healing is always done out on country.”
The grant was awarded under the State’s Community and Place Grants Program.
As part of the program, expert presenters will provide workshops on men's health, anger management, dealing with stress, budgeting and money management, addiction and other topics as driven by the participants.
A strong sense of self-determination and connection to culture will be provided by local Elders and opportunities for on-country activities. The program will create connected Kamilaroi/Gomeraay men and youth, to each other, to community more broadly to stakeholders and service providers and to land, water, sky and culture to support overall wellbeing and the opportunity to thrive.
“Min Min Aboriginal Corporation do a great job supporting those in their community who need a place to go to get away from the world,” said Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson.
“This funding is about ensuring local elders are given the opportunity to guide the next generation, supporting them through workshops in men’s health, anger management, dealing with stress, budgeting and money management, addiction and other topics.
“Self-determination and connection to culture will be front of mind when delivering this program, which will have significant benefits to young aboriginal men in Gunnedah.”
$20.5 million Community and Place grants have funded 143 local Aboriginal community projects
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government understands it is Aboriginal people who know what is best for their communities which is why we introduced the Community and Place grants program,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin in January.
“This is a landmark initiative that will invest in critical projects from skills development programs, building new community infrastructure and patient transport vehicles. I am confident every single one of these projects will create an immediate benefit for Aboriginal communities across NSW.
“The impact of the Community and Place grants does not just benefit this generation, but will continue to empower Aboriginal communities for decades to come.
“We know that by investing in local community initiatives we will significantly increase the likelihood of NSW achieving our targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”
Mentoring Men awarded $249k
Mentoring Men were also successful applicants in the Community and Place Grant Program, earning $249,450 for a program titled '"Mentoring our Mob".
Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative Limited will partner with Mentoring Men to deliver the "Mentoring our Mob" program that will actively engage within the local community to increase opportunities and connections to develop a whole of community approach against the Closing the Gap outcome targets. The project will deliver programs for Aboriginal community members through education, mentoring and career pathways.
Find out more about NSW’s Community and Place Grant Program.
Download the list of successful applicants.