The Narromine community will be empowered to deal with COVID going forward, thanks to a grant from the NSW Government.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has today announced $10,000 for the Narromine Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to deliver a series of workshops on reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses, as well as strategies for coping with future challenges.
“The Narromine Local Aboriginal Land Council played a pivotal role during the region’s Delta outbreak, providing support for children to learn from home and for families to stay connected safely while under stay-at-home orders,” Mr Saunders said.
“We hope we’ll never be hit by an outbreak that deadly and disruptive again, but should the worst happen I’m confident the Narromine community will be even better equipped to cope.”
The Narromine LALC received support from Aboriginal Affairs NSW during the height of the outbreak to deliver cultural connection packs, which included colouring-in activities and find-a-words for children and families.
They also delivered tutorials and devices including WiFi dongles to support Elders to stay connected, and to help families with online learning.
Narromine LALC CEO Shelly Bayliss welcomed the continued support of the NSW Government, and said the Narromine Keeping Place will host some events in 2022 around coping with challenging times going forward.
“We’ll be running a series of workshops on home and personal hygiene, where they’ll be given the products and knowledge and skills of how to reduce the spread of all germs, but COVID in particular,” Ms Bayliss said.
“Then the final workshop is also about empowerment, if they’re feeling down and depressed about restrictions or not seeing friends who are on the border, referring them to counselling or other support services. Just showing them some strategies and where they can go for help.”
A total of 85 grassroots community projects worth than $1.8 million have been funded under the latest round of the Multicultural NSW Empowering and Supporting Local Communities Grants Program. This is in addition to the more than $3.4 million invested in the first round of the program, prioritising communities in areas hit hardest by the Delta outbreak.