$48,000 in community grants backs five programmes
Community grants worth $48,000 will fund emergency food, dental care and employment programmes for First Nations communities in New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Five organisations will share the funding through Jemena’s First Nations Community Grants programme in communities where the company operates. Two of the grants are going to food security programmes.
Jemena said food insecurity affects 22% to 32% of First Nations people depending on location, compared with 4% to 13% of the general population.
Tania Coltman, Jemena Corporate Affairs General Manager, said: “This NAIDOC Week, we’re pleased to announce these grants supporting organisations that are making a real difference on the ground every day – whether that’s helping families access food, supporting young people into employment, strengthening cultural connection or providing practical pathways to education and training.”
Five funded projects
In Dubbo on Wiradjuri Country, EM-power Foundation received $10,000 for a Native Food and Culture Careers Expo for Aboriginal students. In Newcastle on Awabakal and Worimi Countries, Gari Yala received $10,000 for a community food pantry supporting homeless Aboriginal people, Elders, single parents and families experiencing hardship, with the programme supporting between 300 and 500 people each year.
In Western Sydney on Darug Country, Mobileyes and Dental Foundation received $10,000 to provide dental care plans for 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. In Tennant Creek on Warumungu Country, Foodbank SA & NT received $10,000 for disaster-preparedness food hampers, water and essential supplies, as well as Christmas hampers distributed through school breakfast programmes.
In Mount Isa on Kalkadoon Country, Martyr Training Services received $8,000 to help establish a Transport and Logistics Employment Simulation and Industry Readiness Hub. Jemena said the hub is expected to support an estimated 40 to 60 First Nations participants in its first year.
Since launching its Community Grants programme in 2019, Jemena has awarded almost $1 million to organisations delivering social programmes, including initiatives that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
