Since 2009, Yarkuwa has delivered the Aboriginal Carers Project. This project has focused on understanding the needs of Aboriginal Carers in Deniliquin and Balranald, in South Western NSW.
Yarkuwa believes that caring is a traditional value of Aboriginal communities and the responsibility of all our families. Therefore there needs to be a strong connection between government policy and the Aboriginal community.
To assist with this connection Yarkuwa has been working from a place-based approach with its Aboriginal Carers Project addressing the need to develop and promote culturally appropriate resources for Aboriginal Carers. The project acknowledges that there is not one singular culturally appropriate resource for Aboriginal communities.
The Aboriginal Carers Project has worked to unearth organic, locally grown processes, and engage in an open process that supports communication, feedback and ultimately, the empowerment and self-determination of Aboriginal Carers within the communities of Deniliquin and Balranald.
The project is currently funded by the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services (FACS).
Project lead
Deidre Hamilton
Project Consultant
Jennifer Townsend
The intent of the project is to effectively and meaningfully model implementation of the NSW Carers Strategy in a place based context in Deniliquin.
The project will include practical, creative strategies to support Aboriginal carers and to build capacity in the community. It will produce evidence, outcomes and tools that can be adapted to support carers in other communities.
Examples are local models to support Aboriginal families by making available culturally appropriate information about carer health and well being in places they already visit (GP and hospital waiting rooms) and translation of the NSW Carers Charter into local language.