Capacity Building (Aboriginal Community Capacity Building)

Sector Connect is working to enhance small Aboriginal organisations (who have or are developing services for families and children) to be sustainable in providing community services

A reference group has been established to direct the project's outcomes. The group is made up of representatives from across the region being covered: Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield and Bankstown

Consultation with the reference group has provided a comprehensive list of support needs for small Aboriginal organisations and a resource list has been developed (LINK). The Metro West Aboriginal Services Capacity Building Report (Bradfield Nyland Group) and Summary has also provided important information on the issues and needs of Aboriginal organisations and provides a recommended 3 stage strategic framework for implementation. The current limited funding for this project will begin to look at stage 1 of this framework.

The reference group has approved The Echidna Group's proposal "Mutually Beneficial Mentoring Partnerships" pilot project. The project involves assisting selected Aboriginal organisations to establish mentoring partnerships with other selected suitable organisations, either Aboriginal or mainstream. The goal of the partnerships is to enable a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship, whereby both organisations have something to offer and something to gain from the other.

The Echidna Group are currently matching the relevant partners and commencing work to address the outcomes of this project.