Yamatji Region News

New Community Program for Indigenous Women in Geraldton

Posted: May 11th, 2012

Filed under: Counselling, Domestic Violence, Geraldton, Indigenous Health, Indigenous Women

A new program supporting Indigenous women who have experienced domestic violence will begin next week in Geraldton.

The program, run by Centacare Family Services, aims to strengthen family relationships and help create positive change in lives through services such as counselling and spiritual healing.

The sessions will take place in a group therapy setting and discussions will remain strictly confidential. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss topics with professionals who specialise in areas such as domestic violence, grief or loss, general health, substance abuse and stress management.

There are five sessions in all, with the first beginning Tuesday 15 May at the Spalding Family Centre on Mitchell Street, Geraldton from 9am-12pm.

To register and organise an initial one-on-one chat with the facilitator, call the Geraldton Family Relationship Centre on 9921 2611.

For more information please visit the Centacare Geraldton website or the Geraldton Family Relationship Centre website.

Community Grants available through resource companies

Posted: April 18th, 2012

Filed under: BHP, Carnarvon, community grants, Dampier, Dampier Salt, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland, Rio Tinto

Applications are now open for community grants from BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto’s Dampier Salt.

BHP Billiton’s Community Grants Program provides financial assistance for initiatives that enhance community life in the areas of Indigenous wellbeing, environment, twonship amenity, quality education, health and wellbeing and community involvement.

Applications for BHP’s Community Grants Program close on 1 May. For more information email waironorecommunity@bhpbilliton.com or call 9173 6680 (Port Hedland), 9175 3505 (Newman) or 6224 4243 (Perth)

Rio Tinto’s Dampier Salt is offering financial assistance to short-term community projects in the Carnarvon, Dampier, Karratha and Port Hedland areas that are unique, innovative, address community and education issues, or require infrastructure.

Applications for Dampier Salt’s Community Grants Scheme close on 29 June. For more information visit the Dampier Salt website, or call 9270 9252

Official Launch of the Wadjarri Language Dictionary

Posted: April 5th, 2012

Filed under: Bundiyarra, Irra-Wangga Geraldton Language Program, Murchison Shire, Wajarri Dictionary, Wajarri Yamatji, Yamaji Language Centre

To purchase copies of the Wadjarri Dictionary please contact:
Bundiyarra Irra Wangga Language Program on +61 (08) 99207900
or Leonie Boddington on +61 (08) 99207919

Geraldton Community Grants now open

Posted: April 3rd, 2012

Filed under: community grants, Geraldton

The City of Greater Geraldton is now taking applications for its Community Grants Program. Grants will be awarded to community groups and organisations to help them make positive contributions to the quality of life in the Geraldton region.

Applications can be submitted in any of the following categories:

• Cultural Grant – Opportunities for Creativity
• Economy Grant – Opportunities for Prosperity
• Environmental Grant – Opportunities for Sustainability
• Governance Grant – Leading the Opportunities
• Social Grant – Opportunities for Lifestyle 

Applications close Friday, 20 April 2012. For guidelines, applications and more information, visit the City of Greater Geraldton’s website.

National Close the Gap Day, 22 March 2012

Posted: March 19th, 2012

Filed under: Aboriginal health organisations, Carnarvon, Closing the Gap, Oxfam, South Hedland

National Close the Gap Day is a day for all Australians to join together and remind our political leaders that despite their commitments to close the life expectancey gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, there is a lot of work left to be done.

The National Close the Gap Day focus for 2012 is on the need for genuine, meaningful partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health peoples at all stages of health planning and delivery.

There are events on all around the country this week, including these free public events:

Live healthy Live longer Closing the Gap

• When : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:30 to 11:00
• Where : 2-34 Colebatch Way, SOUTH HEDLAND, WA

Closing the Gap 2012: Have A Go Day

• When : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00 to 03:00
• Where : Egan Street, CARNARVON, WA

For more information on these and other Close the Gap Day events visit:

http://webfw.oxfam.org.au/act/events/close-the-gap-day/attend?g=1&f=wa

Join YMAC for Harmony Day

Posted: March 15th, 2012

Filed under: Geraldton, Harmony Day

Harmony week is a time to celebrate cultural diversity across Australia. It has been held from 15-21 March every year since 2003 to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March.

Join YMAC in a celebration of cultural diversity in the Stow Gardens on the Geraldton Foreshore this Sunday, 18 March. The event is hosted by the City of Greater Geraldton and the Midwest Multicultural Association.

There will entertainment and treats from around the world showcasing the diversity of people living in the region. YMAC staff will be on hand to talk to people about Aboriginal culture and native title, and will have plenty of information to hand out to the community.

For more information contact the City of Greater Geraldton. We look forward to seeing you there.

Aboriginal artists wanted for 2012 Good HeART exhibition

Posted: February 29th, 2012

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Geraldton, Mid West, OPR

Following on from four years of showcasing traditional and contemporary works by mid-west Aboriginal artists to regional and metropolitan audiences, Good HeART is back again for 2012.

An initiative of Oakajee Port and Rail, the exhibition attracts artists from communities all over the region, including Wiluna, Mullewa, Northampton, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet, Cue, Yalgoo and Morawa.

A preview of the show will be held in Geraldton from 21 May to 2 June, and the main exhibition will be staged in Perth’s CBD from 18-22 June. All proceeds from sales go directly to the artists.

Works, including ceramics, woodwork, canvas, artefacts and textiles, must be submitted for consideration by 4 May 2012.

Free business workshops in Geraldton and Carnarvon

Posted: February 27th, 2012

Filed under: Carnarvon, Geraldton, Indigenous Business Australia

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is offering free Into Business workshops this week in Carnarvon and Geraldton to assist Aboriginal people to fully investigate and research their business ideas before taking the leap into business ownership.

The workshops are run in three parts, with part A: Your business idea, goals and expectations, running on Tuesday, 28 February in Carnarvon and Wednesday, 29 February in Geraldton.

For more information and to register for the workshops, call 9229 1408 or 1800 107 107, or visit IBA’s website.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is a commercially focused organisation that promotes and encourages self-management, self-sufficiency and economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They aim to identify and pursue opportunities that enable Indigenous Australians to create wealth, accumulate assets and achieve their financial aspirations.

Free information workshops on carbon farming

Posted: February 10th, 2012

Filed under: Binnu, carbon farming, climate change, Geraldton, Morawa, Mullewa, NACC

The Northern Agricultural Catchment Council (NACC) and Australian Carbon Traders are teaming up to offer free workshops on the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) in various regional towns.

The CFI offers land managers opportunities to earn money from activities that store carbon in the soil or reduce certain harmful emissions.

The workshops are a great opportunity to learn about carbon farming, what it is, how it works, and how it might affect you.

Workshops will be held in Morawa and Mullewa on February 15, and in Geraldton and Binnu on February 16. For more information on the workshops go to the NACC website nacc.com.au.

To learn more about the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative visit the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website.