ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER DEVELOPMENT FUND (ATSIDF)

Past Projects

The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Development Fund has given funding to many groups and projects in recent years.

See below the sorts of projects we fund

Projects funded in 2005 

Quetta Memorial Anglican Church Youth Group

Quetta Memorial have requested funds to set up a music program amongst the youth of Thursday Island. The Youth Group is currently conducted once a week. It runs the service every 4-6 weeks and aims to not only develop the spiritual maturity of young Christians but to develop self-confidence and leadership skills. The use of music will encourage more participation of young people in the area in the ministry.

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Redfern and Waterloo Voices in the Village

In a framework of welcome to land, dance and smoking ceremony by the local Aboriginal people, this group aims to create an environment where people are attracted to come and hear something about each others’ lives, celebrate and support each other. This program aims to build and restore relationships and loyalties in the aftermath of the Redfern riots.

Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress

To send an Indigenous young person to the World Council of Churches Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006. The participation of a young person in such an event will enable them to gain knowledge and insight into how the world-wide church addresses the issues that impacts its people, and their lives while working together ecumenically to resolve such matters.

All Saints Church Youth Program

To try to encourage the young people of Darnley Island by using their own cultural ideas particularly in music, songs and dances. To embrace and coordinate their cultural music, songs and dances into contemporary style. It is hoped that this music program will provide an alternative to alcohol and drug abuse and will give the young people a different view of themselves, their families and community.

National Sorry Day Committee

The Journey of Healing is a community initiative launched by stolen generations people all over the country. It has enlisted the Australian community in hundreds of events and projects aimed at healing the wounds resulting from the forced removal policies. The NSDC provides the information on which these projects can develop, and publicises the initiatives, thereby encouraging their spread. National Sorry Day Committee requested funds to contribute towards the continuation of their work.

Youth…Leadership…Future

To facilitate the sending of a group of young Indigenous Victorians to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Th group is being supported by the Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council (VACC) and will, on return, form a nucleus of young people from who an elected representative will be chosen for the VACC and an ambassador to the NATSICC (National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council) Youth Gathering in Alice Springs in 2006.

Governance Workshop for Indigenous women of Derby and surrounding communities

This workshop aims to ensure that more Indigenous women are on committees and boards of organisations and  that they are better equiped to be involved. This in turn will ensure more effective community organisations and enhance the leadership and community organising skills of the women involved.

Projects funded in 2004:

Clontarf Cross Cultural Workshops

The students will present workshops where they tell their own stories and share their culture with Maori and non-Indigenous New Zealander students. This projects sees a small group of students from Clontarf Aboriginal College visit several schools in Auckland. The project is a two way cultural enrichment and reconciliation initiative. The workshops focus on art, music, culture and personal stories of the students from a variety of Western Australian language groups.

UAICC (Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress) Leadership and Training Program – Artwork, Printing and Publication of Material

The development of all learning and training materials to printed and published stage including artwork and organised into distance education format. This will include costs of all materials, printing collation of course book, assessment materials and student journals and assignment books.

Canberra Baptist Church – Indigenous Leadership Facilitation

The Canberra Baptist church is planning to appoint an indigenous faciliatator of leadership skills in the ACT. The person would network with young indigenous adults – identify those with high leadership potential; organise coaching / mentoring relationships; organise formal and informal workshops on aspects of leadership. They requested start-up funding for this program (administration costs).

National Sorry Day Committee

The Journey of Healing is a community initiative launched by stolen generations people all over the country. It has enlisted the Australian community in hundreds of events and projects aimed at healing the wounds resulting from the forced removal policies. The NSDC provides the information on which these projects can develop, and publicises the initiatives, thereby encouraging their spread. National Sorry Day Committee requested funds to contribute towards the continuation of their work.

Decade to Overcome Violence

The Decade to Overcome Violence Unit of the National Council of Churches requested funds to continue the work & employment of the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Inkpin for a further 3 years. They aim to progress the work of DOV in the area of reconciliation between indigenous and more recent Australians.

NSW Ecumenical Council

NSW Ecumenical Council requested funding for a project in the Redfern/Waterloo area. The project is to employ someone to research what church organisations are working with the community there and to facilitate a flow of information and a cohesion of strategies.

Casino Primary School – Junior Rock Eisteddfod

Junior Rock Eisteddfod is an anti-obesity, healthy lifestyle event for primary school students. Through their participation in the Eisteddfod, children will learn the importance of team-work. The team has indigenous and non-indigenous students involved. It is a great vehicle for reconciliation as children work together towards a common goal. This event will promote a feeling of belonging, connectedness and pride in the Casino primary school team.

Mawul Wukindi Rom Project

A week long cross-cultural mediation training program where participants can experience / learn from the Wukindi Ceremony and also experience contemporary mediation and dispute resolution training from a western perspective.

Indigenous Law Bulletin: Mawul Wukindi Rom Project

The Indigenous Law Bulletin of the University of New South Wales requested funding to attend the Mawul Wukindi Rom project. The editor of the Bulletin is planning on producing a special issue dealing with issues the participant learned from the workshop.

‘Sista Girls’ Documentary Project

This project involves Aboriginal students from St. Catherine’s School producing a documentary film. The film will provide the staff and students of the school with an opportunity to understand and be aware of the cultures of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students, their needs and concerns. This will be a promotional video for new and prospective students. The students will complete a valuable cultural exchange program as they visit each other’s country. The students will gain experience in film-making.

Trail of Hope Youth Gathering

The Youth Committee of St Alban’s Anglican Church, Yarrabah requested funding to send students to the Colorado Springs, USA: Trail of Hope Youth Gathering, 31st July 2004. This Christian gathering of Indigenous Youth from Australia and the Americas has been designed to inspire the youth of these areas. The aim is to provide youth with the leadership skills to establish Youth Ministries.