2 CEO MESSAGE STEPHANIE HARVEY As we tke these first steps into the New Yer, it s good time to reflect upon our journey. At ICV we re guided by the knowledge tht Aboriginl nd Torres Strit Islnder communities re best plced to determine which steps re needed to fulfil their long-term drems. We lso understnd tht sometimes the tril cn get little rocky. So we send guidnce in the form of skilled volunteers who support communities through the roughest prts. Ech time community reches their gols, they re more confident nd better equipped for the destintion hed. We continue to wlk side-by-side becuse together we stronger nd in prtnership we cn chieve mzing things. In this edition of Stepping Stones, you will red inspiring stories bout innovtive Aboriginl nd Torres Strit Islnder communities who ve come up with some cretive wys to move towrds brighter future. On pge 3 you cn red bout n exciting inititive tking plce in the town of Csino, NSW. Toys Chnge Lives is progrm breking the cycle of youth incrcertion using woodwork to build confidence nd job skills for its prticipnts. Due to the success of the progrm, it is expnding nd ICV volunteer Justin is helping with funding opportunities by mrketing their beutiful products. On pge 6 you cn red bout the remote community of Aputul, NT, who hve estblished new centre to run helth-focused progrms for community members. ICV volunteer Wendy worked with the enthusistic community group to develop guidelines nd clsses. You cn red bout Wendy s personl experience nd the lsting friendships she mde on pge 7. I hope you enjoy these stories of collbortion nd empowerment tht re creting lsting chnge for the better. Your support of ICV llows these stories to hppen nd I look forwrd shring more success with you on the journey hed. Thnk you for mking difference Reders should be wre tht this newsletter my contin imges nd nmes of decesed people. Honeynts rtwork courtesy of Rowen Lynch nd Keringke Arts
TOYS CHANGE LIVES 3 Keeping our Freedom Youth Indigenous Corportion (KFYIC) ims to support young Aboriginl nd Torres Strit Islnder people through employment nd trining pthwys. We don t do something for them, we don t do something to them, we do something with them, which I think is the big difference PASTOR PETE BOUGHEY KFYIC recently strted progrm designed to keep young people from reoffending by engging them in woodwork. Locted in the northern NSW town of Csino, the progrm is clled Toys Chnge Lives (TCL) nd is open to young men who hve been relesed from youth detention. Prticipnts re tught the bsics of woodwork then supported nd encourged to crete wooden toys nd furniture. TCL hs lredy proven successful in preventing reoffending nd providing employment opportunities for its prticipnts. Pstor Pete Boughey who runs the progrm out of his bckyrd shed, explined to ABC News tht collbortion nd empowerment hve been vitl to its success. With more young men being referred through the judicil system, TCL is fst outgrowing its current workspce. The progrm explored dditionl funding opportunities, including finding more wys of selling their products. Limited brnding nd mrketing were identified s n re for improvement, nd when they pproched ICV to ssist we could think of no better volunteer to help thn our own mrketing guru Justin. Justin worked with TCL to crete website, swing tgs, nd brnding. With the development of these mrketing mterils it will support TCL in chieving their gol of expnding their workspce nd becoming self-sustinble. If you would like to purchse TCL toy visit: www.tcl.org.u
4 OUT & ABOUT Spreding the word in WA Mulg Mil is the only Aboriginl nd Torres Strit Islnder newspper in Western Austrli nd hs built strong reputtion s relible source for locl news, positive stories nd importnt issues. The long-term vision of Mulg Mil is to become finncilly sustinble nd support the development of spiring journlists through trineeships nd mentoring. ICV volunteer Hrry hs been working with Mulg Mil on pln tht will provide cler direction for the pper s future nd to generte more funding. Hnds-on enggement in Numbulwr The Numbulwr community ws looking to engge their youth more in community life nd provide them with skills nd confidence for potentil job opportunities. After lether-mking progrm ws identified, experienced ICV volunteer Allen returned to Numbulwr where he hd volunteered previously, to guide nd mentor the youth through the lether-mking process. The progrm ws big success, with n overwhelming ttendnce nd remrkble cretivity nd skills on disply. Tking the first steps towrds heling Libby nd Keith Crney hve big drem. Through their Stepping Stone Heling progrm, they pln to reduce domestic violence levels nd youth incrcertion occurring in five communities locted in the Bmg region. The fmily-oriented progrm will include workshops, support groups nd nnul domestic violence-free pledge dys. ICV volunteer Victor is currently ssisting with pln so Libby nd Keith cn ttrct the funding needed to mke their drem relity. It s still erly dys, but we will keep you updted s the progrm progresses.
KURRAWANG You might remember the Kurrwng Aboriginl Christin Community from our July 2016 edition of Stepping Stones. SUPPORT messges 5 The self-governing Aboriginl community locted close to Klgoorlie WA, instlled solr energy system which lowered their electricity costs nd crbon footprint. We sked you to send in your messges of support, nd now we re pssing them on to Kurrwng to show just how much you cre!
6 ACHIEVING BETTER HEALTH IN APUTULA Aputul Aboriginl Corportion (AAC) implements inititives to promote helthier lifestyles for the remote Aputul community. Recently AAC took on the mngement of community building to fcilitte rnge of helth-focused membership progrms clled the Aputul Aboriginl Achievers Club. Some of the proposed progrms include rt clsses, eduction, helth promotion nd sports club. ICV volunteer Wendy ws invited to ssist in developing set of rules nd regultions for the use of the building nd develop structures for the progrms. WENDY S APUTULA STORY The Aputul Aboriginl Achievers Club hs the potentil to chnge lives. The entire community hs the opportunity to build unique nd thriving community hub nd plce of sfety. The club rooms provide spce for lerning new skills by providing ccess to the internet, which cn help bridge the socil gp tht mny remote communities fce. It will be plce to proudly disply new rt nd crft projects creted through workshops nd clsses, s well s gthering/meeting plce where progress nd friendship cn be celebrted. The club hs the bility to generte individul nd community motivtion by running culturlly pproprite progrms. AAC hs productive working prtnership with Indigenous Community Volunteers which provides trnsprent, community-driven support. The membership model hs the cpcity to build pride nd ownership through unique nd proctive community involvement. During my visit I met mny locls nd their egerness nd intrigue for the club s foundtion ws widespred. I could clerly see how community club will very comfortbly fill the missing void so pprent in this remote Aboriginl community. This is club for the people, by the people WENDY
This photo ws tken during my second meeting with two of the bord members of the AAC. We re viewing the membership kit nd the rules of behviour we hd previously developed. We st nd discussed the wording nd ll the detils then together we mde pproprite ltertions. I felt this experience ws very positive for bord members. 7 This is on the evening of the first community meeting outside the clubrooms. More thn 100 people ttended, giving them the opportunity to her bout the club s progress nd hve their sy regrding the membership kit nd rules. The meeting ws followed up by community cook up of susges nd delicious slds prepred by the store owners. Some visiting helth cre workers nd community members helped with the serving up. I think this picture represents the diversity nd the unity of this community s they relx fter the meeting nd cook up. At the end of my visit I ws blown wy when I ws presented with this beutiful gift from Justine.
PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN. THANK YOU Nme Address Suburb Stte Postcode Phone Mobile Emil My supporter number is I would like to become Community Friend: Plese deduct $ from my credit crd on the 20th of ech month (or the next working dy) Plese ccept my one-off gift of $ PAYMENT or Cheque (pyble to Indigenous Community Volunteers) Money order or debit my crd Vis Mstercrd Amex Diners CARD NUMBER NAME ON CARD EXPIRY / SIGNATURE Plese send me more informtion bout leving gift to ICV in my Will Plese tick here if you do NOT wnt to receive future communictions from ICV Cll 1800 639 565 or visit www.icv.com.u/donte Dontions of $2 or more re tx deductible Plese return in the reply pid envelope or post to: PO Box 6155 MAWSON ACT 2607