Funding to support connection to country in WA communities

A total of $500,000 will be distributed for on-country activities across the Kimberley, Mid-West, Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, Pilbara, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West and in metropolitan Perth, with projects to strengthen communities starting from May 2024.

The recipients sharing the funding are:

• Mantjiljarra Yulparirra Pty Ltd , $25,000 for Native Flora Identification
• Edmund Rice Centre WA Inc, $24,966 for Kadijinny Boodjar
• Wanjira Nangirany Cultural Foundation LTD, $25,000 for Karajarri Cultural Revitalisation and Community Strengthening Project
• Ngalla Yorga Waangkan Aboriginal Corporation, $24,500 for Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing
• Warmun Art Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for the 2024 Gija Connecting to Country Program
• Theona Councillor, $24,975 for 170th anniversary of the massacre at Pelican Springs
• Undalup Association Inc, $23,875 for Kaartijin Yerunga Boodja - Knowledge on Country
• Yawuru Jarndu Aboriginal Corporation, $24,881 for Response to 'jijawiliwili niyamarri' (shell hill/midden) 'buru' (Country)
• Rohan Collard, $25,000 for Maaman Kaatadjin Boodja Bidi
• Vernice Gillies, $25,000 for Koomal Maat (Possum Tracks) Cultural Learning Project
• Community Arts Network Wes Australia Ltd, $25,000 for Unfinished Business
• City of Melville $25,000 for Connection to Country Camp with Willagee Youth Drop-in
• Tara Gower, $25,000 for Contemporary Indigenous Dance Program
• Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for Back to Country Fieldtrip
• Kalyuku Ninti - Puntuku Ngurra Limited, $25,000 for Wuurlkurramartaji - The Story of Belonging to Wuurlkurra
• Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, $24,940 for Mirning Language Revitalisation Strategy
• Kimberley Language Resource Centre (Aboriginal Corporation), $25,000 for Language and Culture on Country
• Studio Schools of Australia Ltd, $24,570 for Healing and lessons on Country
• Mara Arts Aboriginal Corporation, $25,000 for Banggumarrijimanha Barna - Coming together on Country
• Yanunijarra Aboriginal Organisation RNTBC, $25,000 for Ngurrara Connecting to Country Camp.

 The intention of the Connecting to Country program is to:

• facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance;
• recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people;
• contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing; and
• strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.