Three Aboriginal organisations among latest recipients of Wesfarmers community grants

Wesfarmers Chemical, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF) has announced the latest recipients of its community grants program, with all from the Rockingham and Kwinana areas.

This year’s program awarded $23,000 in grants to seven local community groups, which for the first time includes three not-for-profit Aboriginal organisations.

It brings the total value of grants awarded since the program’s inception in 2017 to $98,000.

WesCEF managing director Ian Hansen said the grants program was recently expanded to incorporate local Aboriginal groups and organisations.

“We believe that all businesses have an important role to play in developing a more equitable, just and harmonious society, particularly through supporting reconciliation and strengthening relationships between the Aboriginal community and socially responsible organisations,” Mr Hansen said.

“WesCEF has a long-standing presence in the Kwinana and Rockingham areas through its CSBP and Kleenheat businesses. Many of our people, including our Aboriginal employees, live and work in the area, giving us a closer connection and understanding of the local community.

“This connection has allowed WesCEF to build long-term relationships with Aboriginal organisations, listening to these groups and tailoring our grant programs to what they need and what can most meaningfully support their community.”

Grant recipient Moorditj Koort is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the health and wellness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in WA.

The organisation is set to use its $5000 grant to run three mental health workshops with community elders groups in the Kwinana and Rockingham regions, with a focus on mental health and suicide prevention for Aboriginal people.

Moorditj Koort’s health projects co-ordinator Mark Bateman said launching the organisation was “vital” for the community.

“Moorditj Koort was established as a ‘one-stop shop’ after it became obvious that a big issue facing Aboriginal people was the increased number of services engaging with Aboriginal people without clear beneficial outcomes,” he said.

“Community elders groups are an excellent gateway to deliver information regarding important issues affecting their communities. With this in mind, we wanted to use this funding opportunity to raise awareness around important issues such as mental health and suicide prevention.”

Other grants recipients include East Waikiki Primary School to support an after-school robotics club, Wellard Primary School to create a Noongar yarning circle, City of Rockingham Library for an after-school ‘girls in STEM’ program and Bungaree Primary School to create a native Aboriginal garden.