Southcare’s Aboriginal Family Support Programme is a community service offering support and advocacy and referral for Aboriginal families and individuals residing in Como, Karawara, Kensington, Manning, Salter Point, South Perth and Waterford. It is funded by the Department for Communities and the City of South Perth.

The programme provides support through a range of crisis situations including domestic violence and eviction and other housing problems. Other issues include :

• Parenting

• Relationships

• Health

• Social

• Legal

It also meets needs such as:

• Food assistance

• Clothing

• Some household goods and furniture

• Financial Counselling

Where appropriate families are linked to groups to help deal with or avoid crisis:

• Derbarl Yerrigan - an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation, incorporated under State legislation in 1973. delivers a range of health services across multiple sites in Perth. www.derbarlyerrigan.com.au

• Strong Families – a programme which brings together caseworkers from various government departments and non-government agencies to tackle the needs of high risk families and youth.

• Maamba MAAMBA is an Aboriginal organisation that has sought funding to train Aboriginal workers in existing agencies on the issue of DV using the 'Wrong Way' package.

• Victoria Park Youth Accommodation

• Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers

• Killara Outreach Support Service for young people and their families who are having problems which are attracting, or may attract, attention of the police and the law.

• Aboriginal health workers from Bentley South East Metropolitan Public Health Unit.

Schooling - General assistance is provided for families who may be having problems with non-attendance at school and in finding tutors for students. Facilitate Aboriginal Parents and School Partnerships committee meetings between Como Secondary College and Manning Primary School staff and Aboriginal Community Group Moorditj Keila.

The South Perth Aboriginal Community group Moorditj Keila (happy healthy dolphin) is the name given to the group by native title holder and elder Mrs Dorothy Winmar of Manning. The dolphin is significant to Aboriginal people for the Canning and Swan River areas adjacent to the City of South Perth.

Moorditj Keila has developed within the programme in partnership with The City of South Perth on its way to becoming an incorporated group. Moorditj Keila's Mission Statement is 'To develop the capacity of the Aboriginal community in partnership with the broader community to empower individuals and families to build a community of trust, engagement and participation for the mutual benefit of all'.

Moorditj Keila is the umbrella group for the Moorditj Yorgas (Women's) Danjoo Wangkanining group and Marmans (Men's) group, working collaboratively with Southcare's Aboriginal Family Support Services and relevant stakeholders in developing and supporting an holistic health and well-being service to Aboriginal people encompassing wider community benefits.

Meetings are held at their building in Bradshaw Crescent, Manning every Friday from 10am – 2pm. Programmes have included healthy eating, “healthy eating, living with diabetes”, health checks and visiting speakers on a range of subjects. The Men’s group members have obtained Skippers Tickets from Challenger TAFE as part of their vision of fishing and cultural tour employment and tourism venture.

The group also works with the City of South Perth in arranging entertainment for the annual South Perth Fiesta and NAIDOC celebrations.

Southcare Contact: Garry Gower Aboriginal Family Support Coordinator

Tel 9450 6233 or email Garry Gower for more information.