Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all Australians to recognise our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.
This year’s theme “Be A Voice For Generations” calls for all Australians to be a voice for equity and reconciliation in our everyday lives for the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future.
The suppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can often mean that their work is overlooked and overshadowed. This week we wanted to highlight impact stories from Good360 Members run by and working for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to jumpstart your learning of their cultures and work across Australia. It is important community centres for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples exist so they find safe and appropriate services, and we are glad to have many focused organisations as part of our network.
Should you want to support the organisations below we have also included links to where you can read more information about each organisation.
Loved Christmas Gifts
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services (NSW)
Wow! We received two more deliveries from Good360, in November & December 2022, lots of additional presents for Christmas, for our Christmas Packs.
Katungul made up Christmas packs for babies, and children including some for teenagers. These gifts were handed out as Christmas gifts for the community within our footprint that was affected by Bushfires and Flooding.
Our Christmas packs consist of Bubble Wooden Activity Cubes, Play Walkers, Hair Accessories, Sunglasses, Stationery, Toothbrushes, Face Snorkel Masks, Wallets and much more.
The community has been very thankful for everything that has been received, and you have put a smile on many families’ faces, just in time for Christmas.
We have three clinic’s on the NSW South Coast being Batemans Bay, Narooma, and Bega.
We thank Good360 and its donors for supporting Katungul.
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Sevices is a community-led organisation that provides health care to the Koori people on the Far South Coast of New South Wales. They support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and provides culturally appropriate health care.
NAIDOC 2022
Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-Operative (VIC)
What a wonderful NAIDOC 2022! Thanks to Good360 who provided various LEGO sets and books to MVAC – We hosted events and made NAIDOC week such a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal culture and community. We were delighted to see such huge and happy crowds enjoying MVAC’s NAIDOC Family Fun Day. The attendees explored a variety of stalls, art & craft, music, dancing, and activities for the kids with an enormous lunch to keep everyone going. Thanks again to Good360, LEGO, BIG W and Best & Less.
The Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative is a not-for-profit organisation who provides a diverse range of programs from childcare, kindergarten, health, medical, well-being, housing and aged care for the Aboriginal people in Robinvale. Our main focus is on self-determination, empowerment and resilience.
Mob yarn at reconciliation event while enjoying
a bush tucker brew
ac.care – Mount Gambier (SA)
Finger Lime Cerveza non-alcoholic beers brewed and donated by Sobah were the perfect beverage to accompany ac.care’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan events in Berri and Mount Gambier. The South Australian not-for-profit has a deep commitment to reconciliation and working alongside Aboriginal communities. The Berri launch attracted a mob from across South Australia’s Riverland, along with fellow service providers, staff and other community members to celebrate the launch and then enjoy a valuable networking barbecue, matched with the Sobah product. With a focus on the Stretch RAP encouraging purchasing from Aboriginal-owned businesses to support new enterprises, Sobah was a perfect match, with the CEO talking about the unique product as part of his address.
We would like to thank Good360 and Sobah for supporting our community events.
ac.care is an organisation “created by country people for country people”. Their mission is for all country people to have a safe home, enough money to live on and strong, and positive relationships.
Northern Rivers Flood Support
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation (NSW)
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation has been able to provide direct support to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Grafton, Ulmarra, Harwood Island, Cabbage Tree Island, Ballina, Coraki, Casino and Lismore.
The support provided included amazing donations such as:
– Big W vouchers – enabling independence and direct needs filled.
– Red Rooster vouchers – providing much-needed meals while people face financial hardship and no kitchens.
– Sealy Australia Mattresses – allowing impacted community members to collect mattresses and provide a place to sleep.
– AMP used electrical items – providing those able to rebuild, the opportunity to get much-needed appliances freely.
– Harvey Norman Furniture – allowing those impacted and able to rebuild, a reduced financial burden by supplying free furniture items such as dining suites, lounges, cupboards and linen.
We found all donations extremely helpful and if the opportunity presents itself. The media has stopped reporting, but the community is still struggling, and a night off worrying about the next meal was a massive help.
Thanks so much for all your amazing support, Good360, and all the generous donors BIG W, Harvey Norman, Sealy, Red Rooster and AMP.
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on Aboriginal youth in need an providing appropriate support through cultural based learning. Their work focuses on children from families who are struggling financially or socially so they can better support their children’s needs.
Smiles are contagious.
Aboriginal Elders & Community Care Services Inc (SA)
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Good360, its product sponsors, and the donations we received, Aboriginal Community Services was able to experience the joy and blessing of giving.
Being able to witness some of the biggest smiles on the most beautiful of faces was an absolute pleasure and privilege.
As you can see, without the support and contributions we received, this would not have been possible. Making someone smile is one of the best feelings in the World and sometimes it’s the smallest things that have the greatest impact.
Living in outback Australia, these children are faced with certain challenges. No child should miss out on things such as toys, books, pens, and pencils, and without the donations we received, some of these children would have.
So, on behalf of everyone at Aboriginal Community Services and the Communities we serve, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Aboriginal Elders & Community Care Services provides community and residential care for Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal adults with disabilities, and carers. They offer in-home and community support services, plus accommodation, care, and support to Aboriginal Elders at the Aboriginal Elders Village.
2023 Referendum for an Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament
Later this year, a Referendum will be held in the form of a draft question that will be put to voters on whether to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Australian Electoral Commission and the Australian Government have collated some useful resources to inform you about the purpose of the Referendum and information on what this will entail.
The Guardian has also created a video detailing the background and arguments both for and against The Voice to Parliament here.
