Partnership for ATSI community outcomes

The City of Stirling and Wadjak Northside Aboriginal Community Corporation (WNACC) have signed a two-year partnership to ensure continued service delivery and improved collaboration towards reconciliation.

With a $56,500 commitment from the City of Stirling, the agreement will align the City’s approach to reconciliation through business activities with the WNACC’s vision to empower and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Mayor Mark Irwin said the WNACC played a pivotal role in engaging with the local community, delivering effective improvement initiatives and acting as a collective voice for the community.

“WNACC are a fundamental partner in delivering initiatives as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and we’re dedicated to keep working together towards our common goal of reconciliation,” Mayor Irwin said.

“Advancing our RAP is an important strategic goal for the City and this agreement is a great step to ensure we work collaboratively to deliver strong outcomes for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

WNACC Chairperson Gordon Cole said the partnership between the WNACC and the City sets a great precedent for how local government can work with local First Nations community groups.

“This agreement cements a relationship that’s been going on for years. We’re very happy with the relationship, with the respect and the way we’ve been able to work together on outcomes for the community,” Mr Cole said.

The agreement includes responsibilities for each party, including that the City provides financial support to the Wadjak Northside Community Resource Centre and the Wadjak Elders Group. It will also support the WNACC to develop and evaluate programs and policy.

The WNACC will be responsible for delivering programs, activities and initiatives to support outcomes identified in the City’s RAP, supporting the Wadjak Elders Group and the City to identify community needs and develop shared responses and providing acquittal of all funding from the City.

The WNACC is also a consortium partner in the Healing Centre in Mirrabooka, which is due to open in December and will support women and children experience domestic and family violence.

Background:

The WNACC was established at Balga Senior High School in 2009. Since 2013, the City has worked alongside them to become incorporated and to obtain a lease agreement.

The City provided $150,000 for a building refurbishment with the Wadjak Northside Community Resource Centre, completed in 2015, which was also supported by $350,000 funding from Lotterywest.

In the first three years of operation, the City funded the cost of utilities, contributed to other expenses of the Wadjak Northside Community Resource Centre and supported them to deliver a strategic plan, policies and procedures.

Image 1: Community Development Director Michael Quirk, Mayor Mark Irwin, Wadjak Northside Aboriginal Corporation Chairperson Gordon Cole and Wadjak Elder Pam Yarran.

Image 2: Members of the Wadjak Elders Group at the signing of the agreement between Wadjak Northside and the City of Stirling.