Supporting Indigenous Melbournians through the COVID-19 recovery

Media release - Minister Wyatt

The Morrison Government is investing $88,000 in Yappera Children’s Service, based in Thornbury, Victoria, to deliver a range of trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive activities to support the community as it recovers from the effects of COVID-19.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said parents, carers and their children will get the opportunity to come together, talk about their experiences, and reconnect in a safe and nurturing environment.

“Families in Thornbury lived through some of the longest lockdowns and the extended isolation has affected people’s connections to community.

“As an essential service, Yappera Children’s Service continued to open its doors through both the waves of the pandemic and has seen first-hand the impacts on the mental health of children, families, its workers and the community in general.

“Yappera will respond to these changing needs with new initiatives to connect people, share information and rebuild their resilience through a range of trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive activities.

Senator the Hon Jane Hume said Yappera will also deliver community events with the investment.

“Yappera will partner with Aboriginal medical services to produce local events, such as family camps, and gatherings to support healing and social and emotional wellbeing,” Senator Hume said.

“These community events will also be used to promote ongoing positive health messaging, including the benefits of vaccination and encouraging the follow through of booster shots”

CEO of Yappera Children’s Service, Stacey Brown, said the organisation is thrilled to secure this funding and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“This grant will help us respond to current and emerging needs brought about by extended isolation and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and invest further in community healing at a time where it’s most needed,” said Ms. Brown.

“We will be working to design and deliver trauma-informed activities in consultation with families, Elders and communities ensuring these activities consider mental health impacts from a cultural, social and emotional perspective.

“By approaching wellbeing at both an individual and community level, we want to bring our metropolitan Melbourne community together to collectively heal, acknowledging the power of shared experience as part of the healing process.”

Anyone wanting to connect can reach out to Yappera Children's Service on (03) 9416 8787 or search for “Yappera Children's Service” on Facebook.

These projects are made possible with funding from the Local Investment Fund (LIF) under the Morrison Government’s $5.7 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS).

The Local Investment Fund (LIF) is an allocation of funding under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) that provides grants of up to $100,000 to support ;one-off, small-scale projects that respond to urgent or immediate community needs.

These projects include infrastructure, safety and cultural activities, initiated by local Indigenous communities for the purpose of providing lasting benefits.