Spotlight on

A voice of hope for women in WA

Each Monday, Voice of Hope Aboriginal Corporation welcomes up to 40 First Nations women to a healing workshop. It’s a chance to yarn, heal and create connections, with the goal of returning to community strong after prison. 

Voice of Hope embodies an ambition by founder Lorraine Pryor: to provide a wrap-around service for incarcerated women and sistergirls to have ‘hope for when they are released’. It’s a response to Lorraine seeing a need for Aboriginal women-led services in the justice system – services grounded in culture and women’s business.

A place for second chances

In 2013, Elders in Canberra came together over a shared concern about the services provided to First Nations people leaving prison. The community wanted returning members to have stronger, more culturally responsive support. They wanted people to feel safe so they could learn, work, form connections and, as a result, not reoffend. 

So they took the lead on making it happen. 

Partnerships for knowledge-keeping

Family and community are always welcome at Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre. It’s an open space where visitors drop in to view exhibitions and talk to staff. Staff and community members bring children to play and be involved.

It’s a place for sharing knowledge, connecting between generations and forming partnerships with people who aim for better outcomes in Deniliquin, NSW.

A new spin on community sport

An idea to build an inclusive cricket carnival sparked a corporation’s journey to support overall community wellbeing through sport. The carnival was set up to bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages together: to have fun, be healthy and be together, in honour of living legend, Stan Alberts. Ten years on, and it has become a feeder to professional leagues and a networking opportunity for sporting organisations as teams of under 7s up to Masters converge on the town of Rockhampton in Queensland.

Planting the seeds of strength

With a drive for continuous improvement and a focus on education and training for its staff and board, Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation has grown a strong, dedicated team. They’re leading the way in good governance processes. With an organisation running efficiently, Gindaja’s getting excellent outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health and wellbeing in north Queensland.

A vision with a rhythm

When Nate Weatherall started Mad Proppa Deadly, he wanted to be a music mentor for young people – something he wished he’d had. As a young musician, he felt he could have used more support to take his skills, confidence and career to the next level.

Connecting cultures, people and Country

Ella Noah Bancroft is the CEO Founder and a Director of The Returning. She explains, ‘We founded The Returning with a deep desire to bring people back into right relationship with Country, community and self and we have seen the healing that occurs by bringing humans back to the natural world to immerse in the waters, sit on Country and be in community.’ 

The Returning incorporated with ORIC in 2021.

Creating sustainable employment on sea Country

Walbunja man Wally Stewart and a board of Yuin Traditional Owners are taking opportunities for Joonga to go even further. But handling the fast and large growth has been a challenge. Strong relationships and constant communication have been key to keeping up with the speed of expansion and project delivery. 

From making ripples to managing waves

Through increasing its capabilities, Joonga (which means ‘octopus’ in Walbunja language) has its sights firmly set on a sustainable economy for saltwater people.

A new beginning through song

As the group played From Little Things Big Things Grow, an idea was raised to reform the Nala Boodja Eco Clan Aboriginal Corporation (Nala Boodja). The corporation would bring people together going forwards – to share songlines, facilitate storytelling and create wellbeing programs.