Goolum News - August 2023

July, 2023

You’ve got a ‘furry’ friend in me

The newest member of the Goolum Goolum family has a little trouble speaking, but what she lacks in communication skills, she certainly makes up for in emotional support.

Gracie, Goolum Goolum’s therapy dog, has been walking the corridors at the office since she was a wee little pup earlier this year.

Now finding her stride, Gracie has been taken under the wing of Family Violence Worker Samantha O’Connor who has been housing Gracie and training her since early this year.

Goolum Goolum has also been lucky enough to have the support of dog trainer Emma Söder. The Swedish expat has experience in training police dogs for the Swedish Police Force.

Emma has been interested in training dogs since a young age.

“Growing up with a Labrador he was my best friend, when I got older I saw so many dogs being misunderstood by their owners and just wanted to help build a lasting understanding friendship between owner and dog,” she said.

“I started walking dogs when I was 14 and then built up from that with courses and a lot of volunteering.”

Only a month into doggy boot camp, Gracie is already making leaps and bounds and is well and truly on track to reach her potential as a therapy dog.

Sam, who has taken on the task of housing and training her, said she was enjoying bonding with Gracie.

We are a primary health and wellbeing organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people operating on the traditional lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We strive to provide a holistic model that responds to the physical, social emotional, Cultural and spiritual need of our people.

Goolum Goolum welcomes therapy dog Gracie to the team

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative respectfully acknowledges that our offices are based on unceded land of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawajali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We pay our respects to their ancestors, and to Elders, both past and present, and to the future Elders and caretakers of this land.

Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Dalki Mulwill,

I am thrilled to share the success of our recent Pathways and Try Trade expo where we witnessed our young people embracing opportunities and forging promising paths. The energy and enthusiasm displayed by both participants and stallholders were truly inspiring. Building on this momentum, I'm excited to announce our upcoming mental health campaign and event in September HAND UP. Our commitment to holistic well being remains unwavering, and this initiative will amplify our collective efforts in supporting mental health within our communities. Together, we'll continue to empower our youth, foster resilience, and ensure a brighter future for all.

Meet the Goolum Goolum Board of Directors

Jake Goodes Chairperson

John Gorton Director

Nola Illin Deputy Chair

Lachlan Marks Secretary

Adrian Morgan Director

Kelly Britten Director

Makayla Secombe Director

Ants

Goolum CEO

t lie, going through the puppy

“But I would not change any of this as she is the most loyal, wonderful dog and is very intelligent. She is my little buddy.”

Sam said she had already noticed Gracie’s presence at Goolum was making a big difference around the office.

“I believe that Grace already has boosted morale in the workplace,” she said.

“She has already shown to improve teamwork with many colleagues taking on responsibility for walking and toileting her during the day.

training, chew everything in sight and

“My goal is to have Grace reach out to community and give comfort and support to community members of all ages or who are feeling anxious or low in mood. “

Yoorrook opens submissions for all Victorians

The Yoorrook Justice Commission is inviting all Victorians to take part in the truth telling process by making a submission that provides information about past or ongoing injustice experienced by First Peoples.

Submissions could include stories of interactions with First Peoples when Victoria was first settled. This could include relationships between Aboriginal people and settlers, knowledge of early stories and beliefs, or information about the impact of colonisation on the Traditional Owners in the area.

Submissions could also comprise documents from a workplace, farm, church or family archive about local histories. It could include information taught in school

about First Peoples’ history, culture and experiences, or knowledge and evidence of massacre sites. Submissions can be made by individuals, families or groups.

Yoorrook is Victoria’s truth telling inquiry and the first of its kind in Australia. The Royal Commission is scheduled to run until June 2025, and will make recommendations to end the injustice faced by First Peoples and create a better future for all Victorians.

Submissions can be made via the Yoorrook Justice Commission website yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au in any format including written, audio or video recorded, as well as photographs and historical documents. More information is available on the website.

Aunty Alva enjoying some Gracie cuddles when she was just a pup.

Pathways and Try-a-Trade Expo a huge success

Attendance tripled that of previous years for the Goolum Goolum Aboriginal CoOperative and Skillinvest annual Pathways and Try-a-Trade expo, with more than 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their family members participating in this year’s event in August. Students attended from across 12 schools in the Wimmera region, with some travelling as far as Goroke, Ararat and Donald. There were more than 20 stalls from universities, TAFE’s, trades, emergency services, Australian Defence Force, Government agencies and businesses that set up stalls at Maydale Pavilion in Horsham.

Doors open for Junior and Michael

Axis Worx is a supported employment organisation in the Wimmera. Junior and Michael are the first Indigenous employees within the organisation, so Axis wanted to take the opportunity to show their support and celebrate this achievement with the young men during NAIDOC Week.

Local boys rep Indigenous Basketball comp Melbourne

In late July, three families from Western Victoria attended an Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) under 17s community basketball league at Narrandjeri stadium in Melbourne.

The program is founded by Patty Mills and runs for six weeks. This is the 3rd year the program has ran. Ethan Clapham, Jandamurra Lauricella and John Clapham all participated in this years event and all previously participated in 2021 in the Bendigo u14s program.

Patty Mills and IBA are continuing to change the game for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, with opportunities for kids to be selected to go to Brisbane to represent Victoria. This is a great opportunity for both boys and girls to gain experience and skills.

Passions bring us together, culture unites us and the IBA program harnesses the power of both. A team is only as good as the individuals who come together as one, each member bringing something unique and special to the mix. But it’s that driving force deep within each and every one of us that makes any team work. So own who you are, what you bring to the team and together we can dream big. IBA Australia

Goolum Goolum’s HAND UP Shortlisted for regional award

campaign 'HAND UP shortlisted for a 2023 Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Award in an Indigenous Culture section.

HAND UP is our mental health awareness campaign and annual community event for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The event at Horsham’s Sawyer Park included a welcome to country and smoking ceremony from Aunty Jenny Beer and Uncle Ron Marks and dancing by Chunky Move. Proud Ngarrindjeri man, comedian and artist Kevin Kropinyeri MC’d the day and performed a stand-up comedy routine for our community. We also premiered a music video featuring several community members rapping about their experiences with mental health.

The HAND UP campaign and event achieved tangible and measurable benefits for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. After the event, inquiries for mental health support to Goolum Goolum increased by a staggering 300 percent. Goolum Goolum General

health and wellbeing services like Goolum Goolum have a huge role to play in helping to destigmatise the job’ of seeking support.

“We need to be proactive in starting this conversation with our community. Fronting up to a health service seeking mental health support can be confronting for our mob,” he said.

“Research shows being a part of a strongly connected mob will enhance every member’s mental health. It is not easy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be vulnerable and talk about their mental health. But this campaign has shown us that when we as the health and wellbeing service take the lead, we can empower our community to take the steps needed to seek support.”

Fun and games in Stawell and Horsham for Childrens’ Week

Earlier this month, Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative celebrated this year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Week with a morning tea for children and their families. This year’s theme was ‘Little Voices, Loud Futures’, all to raise awareness for the bright futures of children and the potential for their voices to pave a new path for Australia.