Aboriginal students, families and the wider northern suburbs community are benefitting from a boost to accessible, culturally appropriate community spaces and training facilities with the redeveloped Bubup Wilam Centre.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams has officially opened the $682,000 redevelopment in Thomastown, which will enable Bubup Wiliam to expand its programs and resources and provide safe spaces for Aboriginal residents to connect to culture.
The redeveloped facility includes a new library and dining room, an extra break away space for specialist learning, and the creation of a sustainable outdoor space for year-round events.
Bubup Wilam is a self-determined, community controlled Aboriginal organisation that provides education, health and wellbeing programs for Aboriginal children aged between six months and eight years, their families and communities.
The organisation has evolved into an Aboriginal Early Years Centre for Excellence and a registered training organisation (RTO) since opening its doors in 2012, and continues to deliver on its purpose to support strong and proud Aboriginal identities, underpinned by self-determination.
The Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program supports organisations to improve cultural connectedness, delivery of services to communities, health and wellbeing, and education and economic participation for communities.
The program has supported 60 community infrastructure projects since 2017, providing eligible Aboriginal organisations with almost $20 million in funding to complete their works.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 delivered a further investment of almost $19 million for Aboriginal organisations seeking fit-for-purpose and culturally responsive infrastructure to ensure they can continue serving their communities.
Bubup Wilam also received $367,000 in funding in 2020-21 under the COVID-19 Aboriginal Community Response and Recovery Fund to provide social and emotional wellbeing support for families and staff of Bubup Wilam.
As stated by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams
"We're backing Aboriginal community infrastructure projects to ensure families can access the culturally safe spaces and other infrastructure they need to come together, and access the vital services they need to thrive."
"Guided by the self-determination, we're delivering record funding to empower Aboriginal Victorians wherever they live, improving their health and safety and maintaining connections to community, culture and Country."
"We're ensuring the team at Bubup Wilam have the support and fit-for-purpose facilities they need to do what they do best - support the education and wellbeing of Aboriginal children, their families and communities."
