Bega's Aboriginal Community Hub bridges communities

The Black Summer Bushfires followed by the effects of COVID impacted the previously strong social cohesion within the Bega Aboriginal community. The Bega Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), needed a new space to strengthen engagement and establish self-sustaining enterprises, and so the Aboriginal Community Hub, an initiative funded in part by NIAA's Local Investment Fund, was established.

This hub was designed to serve as a central point for community re-engagement and reconnection, offering a safe and welcoming environment for all.

This collaboration has not only enhanced the community's capacity and capability but has also breathed life into a remarkable initiative - the Aboriginal Community Hub.

A wide range of activities happen at the Hub including cultural dance, art, cooking, woodwork, health and wellbeing support, family heritage research, a yarning circle, a student study centre, and a community garden, have brought the community together.

The hub provides access to modern technology, enabling virtual meetings, access to online government services, technology training, and a hot desk for visiting workers, thus connecting the community with vital resources.

Marcus Mundy, Chairperson of Bega LALC and enthusiastic user of the Hub, expressed the significance of this vision, saying, ‘the community hub is a space for community to visit and feel connected.’

‘The hub has empowered people and has played a huge part in the improvement of the social and emotional well-being for the members of the community,’ Marcus shared.

The best thing to emerge from the hub is, ‘since having a community hub, community have engaged, networked and collaborated in a variety of different and positive ways.’

The impact of the Aboriginal Community Hub surpassed expectations in numerous unexpected ways.

It has become a thriving cultural haven that bridges the gap between the community and vital services, becoming a coordinated platform for bushfire recovery and support services, offering assistance to the community during their time of need.

‘The community hub has become a haven for people of all ages and people love being within the space,’ confirmed Marcus.

The Hub stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and community-driven initiatives. This thriving hub serves as a beacon of hope, empowerment, and cultural celebration in Bega, a shining example of what can be achieved when communities come together with a shared vision for a brighter future.