The Gudjagang Ngara li-dhi Aboriginal Corporation has received $19,697 in funding through the third round of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors program.
The program aims to empower seniors to be active and connected.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the Gudjagang Ngara li-dhi Aboriginal Corporation will support local seniors through Bidhal Elders.
“This is going to play such an important role in breaking down those barriers of social isolation,” he said.
“Bidhal Elders’ group uses a cultural therapy framework to combat the loneliness and social isolation felt among Aboriginal people over the age of 50.
“Cultural therapy promotes using culture as treatment – using Aboriginal people’s cultural and community connections to strengthen wellbeing and foster healing and positive social outcomes for individuals and communities.
“Bidhal means ‘celebrate’ in Darkinjung language.”
Crouch said the projects will support Aboriginal Elders to resume leadership roles in the community, keep active and healthy, promote local Aboriginal cultural knowledge and identity, improve the overall quality of their life, and develop the Darkinjung Aboriginal community.
“These projects are also intended to promote inter-generational knowledge sharing between generations, bringing together the Elders’ group with the youth group and women’s group,” he said.
“Seniors are an integral part of our society, and we want to make sure they don’t run the risk of falling into social isolation.”
Grants of up to $50,000 were on offer in the third round of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grants program.
Projects must run through 2022-2023.
For more information on the grants program, visit: www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/rsis.
Source:
Media release, Oct 31
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch