The NSW Government has donated a bus to Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services (YEDAHS) to support better transport, social and community outcomes for Aboriginal people on the Central Coast.
Transport for NSW Regional Director, North Anna Zycki, said Transport for NSW had handed over the keys of a 16-seater bus to the Indigenous organisation.
“YEDAHS is a not-for-profit Aboriginal community-controlled organisation and the only Aboriginal medical service on Darkinjung Country,” Zycki said.
“YEDAHS provides … a range of medical, health and support services to more than 4000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people each year.
“This donation will help improve accessibility for the local Indigenous community to important wellbeing and healthcare services.”
YEDAHS Chief Executive, Belinda Field, said the organisation provided a range of culturally responsive support services for the local Aboriginal community including primary health care, dental, out-of-home care, family preservation, homelessness, mental health, NDIS and some legal guidance.
“The donated bus will be used to provide transport to major and small events for cultural connections, reach our most northern and southern communities to take services to them and to help our most vulnerable youth who are not able to access transport to and from support services across the Central Coast,” Field said.
“It will ensure that our most vulnerable members of community are provided with access … delivered by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people which will bring our purpose … empowering the Aboriginal community on Darkinjung Country and maintaining our vision of inspiring strong, healthy, long lives.”
The bus donation was made possible through a Transport for NSW partnership with not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation, Barang Regional Alliance, which supports the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Central Coast.
Through the partnership, Barang connects Aboriginal-owned services on the Central Coast with Transport for NSW to provide grants or donations to support better transport outcomes for Aboriginal people living and working on Darkinjung land.
Barang Regional Alliance Executive Director, Vickie Parry, said the bus donation would help YEDAHS expand its offerings.
“YEDAHS currently services over a third of our population through the Aboriginal Medical Centre and associated programs,” Parry said.
“Transport has remained a barrier for both the organisation and the community so this will assist in broadening the reach.
“Through this donation we will see a marked increase of availability of health promotion, transport and other uses to pockets of the community who need it most.”
Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services will begin using the bus to support clients this year.
Source:
Media release, Jan 9
NSW Government