Camping On Country: Empowering Indigenous Men Through Cultural Connection

Photo of members of Yakuway Board along with partners and supporters from Aboriginal Affairs, Regional NSW and NIAA

This NAIDOC Week, Yakuway Indigenous Corporation is thrilled to announce the launch of the "Empowering Indigenous Men" project, thanks to a generous $15,000 grant from NSW Aboriginal Affairs. This initiative is dedicated to enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous men in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region through cultural immersion and support.

Engaging With Community

The Camping on Country initiative aims to address prevalent health and wellbeing concerns among Indigenous communities by supporting cultural engagement and education. We hope that by taking men from the mob out on country, the project will create a safe and respectful environment for open dialogue, learning, and healing. The program is designed to bridge the gap between cultural practices and health services, particularly concerning mental health and substance abuse.

Supporting Our People

Our aims for this initiative are simple to educate participants on the impact of lifestyle factors on their health and introduce available health services to improve outcomes and reconnect Indigenous men with their cultural heritage and support them with the therapeutic benefit of being on country with elders, engaging socially with each other. 

Through shared experiences and learning, storytelling and men’s business our workshops reinforce a sense of belonging that is so needed in today’s modern, hectic life. With carefully curated and facilitated discussions on sensitive topics such as mental health, substance abuse, and interpersonal violence, these special initiatives provide a well needed platform for sharing and healing individually and collectively.

"Our 'Empowering Indigenous Men' project is a significant step towards fostering cultural engagement, education, and empowerment among Indigenous men in our community,” said Malcolm Smith, Chair of Yakuway Indigenous Corporation Board.

“This initiative is about reconnecting with our heritage, supporting each other, and strengthening our community bonds. We are grateful for the support from NSW Aboriginal Affairs and look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our men's mental health and wellbeing."

By integrating traditional knowledge with health education and creating a supportive environment for open dialogue, we hope that Yakuway Indigenous Corporation's Camping on Country initiative will make a lasting impact on the lives of our Indigenous communities.

An exciting update!

We are happy to share some exciting news, Yakuway has been awarded a grant that has allowed us to order a brand-new bus dedicated to community support and transport services.

This exciting development is a big milestone for us, and we are very grateful to everyone involved in making it happen. 

The bus will play animportant role in helping us expand our reach and impact within the community:

• Accessibility: Providing reliable transport for people who may not have access to their own means of transportation.

• Support Services: Enabling us to offer essential support services to more people, including those in isolated or underserved areas

• Community Engagement: Facilitating community events, outreach programs, and other initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of our community members.

We are eagerly awaiting its arrival and we will keep you updated on its progress and our plans for its use!

Creating a Men’s Centre in Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley

Exciting News!

We are thrilled to share that Yakuway Indigenous Corporation had a productive meeting with Minister Linda Burney to discuss the vital initiative of creating a Men’s Centre in Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley. This initiative aims to support Closing the Gap targets and ensure our community receives the necessary support to break challenging cycles.

Here are the key highlights from our meeting with Minister Linda Burney:

1. Focused Support: The Men’s Centre will provide focused support tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous men in our community.

2. Breaking Cycles: By addressing key challenges and providing holistic support, we aim to break intergenerational cycles and empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives.

3. Government Funding: We are actively seeking government funding to make this vision a reality and ensure sustainable support for our community.

4. Collaborative Efforts: Our collaboration with Minister Linda Burney and government agencies underscores our commitment to working together for positive change.

Thanks to Ricky Warford, Malcolm Smith, Edward Smith, Michael Robinson and Ken Zulumovski for your efforts and support.

Stay tuned for more updates as we progress towards creating a brighter future for our community!

Yakuway’s Grant Writing Workshop

Yakuway’s Grant Writing Workshop for Indigenous Businesses in Lake Macquarie will be held Thursday 24 August 2023 at the Biraban Land Council Office.

Address: 95 Main Road, Speers Point

Time: 10am – 2pm

Lunch will be provided, all are welcome.

Please RSVP to Malcom Smith on 0408 170 779

Out and About community circle.

Yakuway’s Out and About Community Circle was held on June 29. It was fantastic to meet new friends and have a real discussion about what people would like to see the Yakuway initiative deliver to the community. So many great ideas, insights, experiences and memories were shared and we look forward to helping make those ideas a reality!