Meeting with Aboriginal Groups at Kensington Monastery

We held a meeting and had a meal today with representatives from the Aboriginal Children's Service at Redfern. the Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Council, Two Women Dreaming indigenous womens health and support at La Perouse, and Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation from Mt Druitt.

The Friends of Kensington Monastery and other priests and religious also attended.

Some of these organisations we have been able to support during the past year, and this meeting was to hear about the work they have been doing and how we might assist with their work in the coming year.

The Aboriginal Children's service has been running in Redfern since 1975 and currently receive no government funding. The workers are all unpaid volunteers. Three years ago they began a food distribution program that supports up to 70 people each week. It has provided many disadvantaged single mums, their children, the elderly, socially isolated individuals and down and out members of the inner-city and inner-west community with a healthy and nutritious meal. The cost of the program $16,700 per year.Two Women Dreaming is a healing and indigenous health ministry helping women in the La Perouse community. They provide grief counseling, loss support and therapy activities including art and craft to assist deal with other issues in this community. They rent a small room where the activities are run. $5,000 support would be appreciated.

Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation at Mount Druitt organises family support groups and also undertake school visits in the Mount Druitt area. The work helps to keep families together and overcome the problems experienced by many struggling families through providing a supportive and sharing environment. The MSC Mission Office would like to be able to provide ongoing assistance for the coming 12 months, through our kind donors, $2,500 each quarter toward the cost of an indigenous facilitator and other expenses.

The Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Council draws representatives from Catholic Aboriginal groups across Australia to come together to share, discuss, and ultimately assist promote and celebrate the cultural identity of their peoples across the nation. Next year the three-yearly assembly will be held in Darwin.

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