The Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) has today announced $150,000 in funding for an Aboriginal organisation to co-design a solution that meets the needs of their community.
The Client Experience Initiative (CEI) funding allows the recipient to deliver and sustain a culturally-informed service that supports improvements to the health, mental health, education, employment and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in their community.
Applications opened Monday 9 September and close midnight (AEST) Friday 27 September 2024.
What’s involved
After being selected, the successful applicant must:
- engage an Aboriginal co-design consultant
- conduct extensive consultation with community and relevant organisations
- produce a business plan (including a project logic and project matrix plan) for their project.
CEI is a part of the AHO’s 10-year Strong Family, Strong Communities (SFSC) strategy, under the Client Outcomes pillar. This pillar is intended to achieve better outcomes with Aboriginal people and families by facilitating partnerships across human service agencies, Aboriginal organisations and creating opportunities for economic participation through Aboriginal-led co-design approach.
Previous CEI projects
Successful CEI projects from 2023 were designed to tackle social and wellbeing issues like connection Country, community or language and wellbeing or self-esteem.
Bundjalung Tribal Society’s ‘Ignite Art’ project delivered an art project to community to address the need for personal wellbeing, self-esteem, confidence and a sense of connection to community. CEI funding has resulted in a business plan being co-designed with local input. The project has had positive outcomes and has continued to run after the grant period ended.
Coodjingburra H.O.M.E's ‘Our Way’ project invested CEI funding in a service that supported Aboriginal people and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. This service included one support worker and an office space, which allowed clients to access support in a culturally safe space in community. The support worker also ran outreach, events and programs in community to strengthen community outcomes in housing, health, wellbeing, culture, education and employment.
Lightning Ridge Native Garden used their CEI funding to hire two workers (project co-ordinator and caretaker) to design and build a native garden for the Lightning Ridge community. The aim was to create a tourist attraction by purchasing a local business’ training, then having the owner deliver training to ensure the success of the business. The project also created education and employment opportunities – the local community could complete horticulture training there or grow native foods to make and sell products. The Wirringah Elders Aboriginal Corporation was also granted funding from the initiative to run community groups to strengthen the Aboriginal language and by running Lingo bingo and other community events.
More information
For more information you can:
- email [email protected] for webinar dates
- read about the funding on the CEI page.
