QSA assists Indigenous communities in Australia to implement projects that are endorsed by and will benefit their local community. Funding is possible through the Quaker Service Australia Aboriginal Concerns Fund, which relies entirely on generous donations. In order to continue supporting valuable projects like these, we need your continued support.

Wilurarra Creative

The QSA Aboriginal Concerns Fund recently entered into a new partnership with the Warburton remote Aboriginal Community in Western Australia. Wilurarra Creative (formerly known as Warburton Youth Arts) is a multidisciplinary art centre with an ongoing arts and cultural program for young Indigenous people aged 17 - 30yrs from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Participation is self-directed and areas of focus include fashion, music, land and cultural practice, literacy, publishing and community development. A short video about the program can be viewed by going to www.youtube.com and searching for 'Wilurarra'.

QSA has provided financial assistance for Wilurarra Creative to conduct the planning phase of a project entitled "Digital Assets Management System". The aim of this project is to enable those who engage regularly with the centre to store, access, publish and sell their digital material. This is an exciting initiative and we will keep you posted.

Photo Credit: Wilurarra Creative. Top right: Lalla taught a group of young women to make Wirras (metal digging bowls) from old car bodies. Bottom left: Sherma, Julia, Jasmine, Rachel, Walchukka. Sherma is practising her welding while Jasmine and Walchukka teaches language to Wilurarra professionals in residence, Julia and Rachel.

Balgo Women have answers 

A group of women who have answers themselves are the Women of Balgo, a remote community in Western Australia. The Kapululangu Aboriginal Women’s Association has established an intergenerational cultural healing and education program in their community in an effort to protect, improve and enhance the lives of their Indigenous women and children in the region and raise awareness about or counsel those affected by sexual assault.

The “Teaching Culture: Healing People” project supports the Kapululangu elders to teach their cultural knowledge to their younger generations and to run a tjarrtjurra (women’s healing) program for women, men, youth, children and babies. They are achieving this through culture classes, women’s ceremonies, and culture camps. Support for cultural tutors who give up their time to teach at these events is one of the Living Gift options for this year.

Photo: Balgo girls dance in celebration (Credit: Zohl de Ishtar)

Cunnamulla supports local artists

For a number of years now, QSA has supported local artists in the Cunnamulla town of Queensland. David Carline, local to the area, has worked to gain recognition and a small income for young artists. Their paper drawings, paintings on wood and photographs were sold as part of the Bowral miniature art exhibition in late October 2007.

Photo: Selection of Cunnamulla artworks