The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation provided significant support towards the proposed Yirrkala Healing Centre. Unfortunately, after the Federal Government ‘intervention’ the Yirrkala Dhanbul Aboriginal Corporation ceased to be a possible management body and without matching support from other foundations or the Rirratjingu Association for the Yirrkala Healing Centre, the plan to build the Centre has been indefinitely postponed.
The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation supported a targeted mentoring and personal development program offered to young people involved in the Glebe PCYC and Glebe Community. The focus of the program is the completion of the School Certificate or Higher School Certificate by distance education.
The Aboriginal Benefits Foundation provided a grant to Waringarri Aboriginal Arts to allow it to commence a project entitled “In The Saddle – On The Wall”. The project’s main objective is to document the oral and visual history of Kimberley artists recalling the cattle days and their early history.
Two short video histories of Mabel Juli & Minnie Lumai can be viewed through the ABC Open/ABC Kimberly video links below:
Mabel and the Wild West
By Roseleen Park, Warmun Art Centre and Beth Neate
“Mabel Juli is one of Australia’s most cherished Aboriginal artists. In this
video she shares the inspiration behind her paintings, lifelong memories of
her mother’s country around Springvale Station in the East Kimberley,
Western Australia”
In April 2010 a grant was awarded to Nauiyu Nambiyu Incorporated in support of its project to engage disadvantaged youth in activity which is designed to help prepare them for meaningful employment and to give them pride. The funds also assisted the organisation to establish a “women’s group” and to arrange for minor renovations to a “Mens Shed” used as a meeting place for “men’s business” which allows elders to teach and mentor younger generations.
Funds provided by the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation assisted the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation to recruit and train 8 volunteer tutors to work with 60 indigenous children ranging in age from 8-12 years. The funding also assisted the ALF acquire targeted literacy materials which allowed regular formal assessment and evaluation of the students.