AALI logo AALI Story In 1932 William Cooper founded the Australian - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mural at the AALI AALI logo

AALI Story In 1932 William Cooper founded the Australian Aborigines League, the first entirely Aboriginal organisation, the first with all Aboriginal members. It lead the way for the formation of the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League in 1957 with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal membership. • Pastor Doug Nicholls – Field Officer • Stan Davey – Secretary (non- Aboriginal) • Gordon Bryant – President (non- Aboriginal) • Doris Blackburn The Aborigines Advancement League is the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Victoria, being regarded by many people as the “MOTHER” of all Aboriginal organisations established in Victoria.

Aim & Philosophy • To administer and initiate programs that aim to improve the social, economic and cultural advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. people • To promote Aboriginal Culture and identity. • To develop a sense of Aboriginal urban identity for the Aboriginal community. • To promote enterprise and enable the AAL to generate income. • To provide a focus in the community for Aboriginal social and sporting activities. • To create a strong visual identity on prominent site. • To provide employment opportunities for the Aboriginal community. • To provide a centre for family growth and development. • To provide an advocacy and referral service to the Aboriginal community.

Program areas  Wunga-Disability  Family Support  HACC  Human Resources  Gurwidj Neighbourhood House  Victorian Aboriginal Cultural, Social and Healing Support Service-Funeral Service  Aboriginal Tenants at Risk  Indigital  Closing the Health Gap-Family Centred Co-ordinated Care Project

Information on available services Referral to services and resources to support the family Advocacy Case Management Facilitation of meetings between family and Department of Human Services to provide Cultural Support Linkages to respite services Home visits to clients on the Wunga program

The Family Support Unit is to assist in providing family support services to Koories in Melbourne metro vicinity and in extreme cases throughout the state in line with the League’s aims and objectives. Services provided include: • Financial support • Home Visits • Material Aide • Case management • Referral to appropriate agencies • Funeral support • Accommodation and travel assistance • Transport • Seek funding for Family Services Christmas Hampers • Attend Food Bank/Vic Relief to collect food for Family Services Food Bank • Purchase food Items for Family Services Food Bank • Data Collection utilizing IRIS Data System • Data Collection for Emergency Relief Network • Food Parcel Deliveries • Attend local Court Hearings

HACC PROGRAM • The HACC Program provides support to people to be more independent at home and in their communities, by enhancing their quality of life and preventing their inappropriate admission to long term residential care. • The Program aims to provide a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated range of basic maintenance and support services in a flexible and timely manner. • Services Offered o Home Help – domestic assistance o Social Support – Shopping, paying bills …. o Property Maintenance – Lawn mowing, basic general maintenance. o Assessment – Identify a persons need for a service. o Advocacy – Offer support and information on advocate departments.

Maintenance Mow lawns for Elders Rubbish removal Prepare hall for as required meetings and functions Home maintenance for Elders and Assist with disability clients Christmas tree for children Prepare hall for Elders luncheons

Human Resources Unit To manage the financial operations of the AALI in line with its aims and objectives and funding requirements . To attend reception desk and answer the phone and any enquiries from clients or public . To assist the Accountant and the CEO in managing the financial operations and administration of the AALI in line with its aims and objectives and funding requirements.

Gurwidj Neighbourhood House The name Gurwidj means ‘old friend’ and comes from a Victorian Indigenous language. Gurwidj House aims to provide programs to the Koorie community that helps to promote higher self esteem and confidence levels in Koorie people and to develop a pride in their Cultural Heritage. Gurwidj also aims to improve the basic skills of participants and increase possible employment opportunities. The program provides courses for people wishing to become involved in arts and crafts as a cottage industry. The Program was established to enable Indigenous people to come to Gurwidj to learn skills and work in a friendly atmosphere. Gurwidj has implemented the following programs: Marketing and management , Pottery and ceramics,  Computer skills , Music,  Gardening, Literacy,  Health and nutrition,   Family access visits, Women’s support group,  Woodwork   Cooking and Catering . 

Victorian Aboriginal Cultural, Social and Healing Support Service  Vision Vision: To return all Aboriginal people to their ancestral homelands with family (at a place that respects the wishes of the family) to be buried in a manner that respects and acknowledges grief, cultural integrity and the needs of the surviving family members, despite any inability to pay up front costs of the service and/or the location and circumstances of death. Services: Assistance with funeral arrangements  Assistance to other support services  Information and assistance and services clients can access  Client referral to appropriate professional counsellors  Advocacy and transport where available to assist the patient/client to attend  required appointments.

Aboriginal Tenants at Risk The Aboriginal Housing Support Workers Program is available to the Northern Metropolitan Aboriginal community. The program offers independent advice and support for tenants of Public Housing and Aboriginal Housing Victoria whose tenancies are at risk due to rental arrears or for other reasons. The service does not find people accommodation. The Program is a joint project between the Aborigines Advancement League Inc, Aboriginal Housing Victoria and the Department of Human Services. The program provides two full time Housing Support Workers to assist clients. The service is committed to the belief that everyone has a right to a secure, suitable and affordable accommodation and the workers will assist people to develop plans to help keep their current housing. All people who are in danger of being evicted by the Aboriginal Housing Board can use the service. The Housing Workers can help to refer them to agencies that can help with: · Family Violence · Mental Health · Financial Management · Drugs and Alcohol issues

Indigital- “telling stories, making music – giving our youth a voice”. To connect young Aboriginal people to their culture and help them strengthen their identity through the power of music and story. Indigital delivers intervention and capacity building programs for young Aboriginal people in Victoria through music and storytelling. It was initially launched in July 2005 through Frayneworks Multimedia. Indigital has new state of the art recording studio located at the AALI which will enable participants to record their music and stories.

Closing the Health Gap The AALI auspices the Closing the Health Gap Family Centred Co-ordinated Care Model .The Aboriginal Model of Family Centred Coordinated Care project is a Closing the Health Gap initiative managed by the AALI, ACES, VACCA, VACSAL and VAHS in the NWMR and the Victorian Department of Health. The project brief was developed by the NWMR Closing the Health Gap Advisory Committee. The project objective is to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable Aboriginal people and families by strengthening their connections to services, family, culture and community. The four core principles informing the Aboriginal Model of Family Centred Coordinated Care are: Aboriginal cultural wellbeing is fundamental to health. 1. Aboriginal health and wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility. 2. A holistic family-centred approach will deliver better health 3. outcomes. Families and individuals in crisis need to be empowered to improve 4. their health and wellbeing.

Koorie Energy Efficiency Program KEEP will trial and demonstrate innovative approaches to addressing the barriers of capital constraints and lack of information that prevents low income Aboriginal consumers in Victoria from improving their energy affordability and managing rising consumption costs. KEEP’s design brings together organisations with proven experience in supporting low-income households on issues of energy and financial inclusion. Drawing upon ‘what works’ the project will trial and demonstrate an approach to address the barriers that prevent low income Aboriginal consumers in Victoria from improving their energy efficiency. This will include the development of tailored energy education tools, a range of community engagement activities and energy home visits.