ALMOST $1 million will be invested in the Mallee to boost support for Aboriginal residents.
Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) will receive more than $666,000 and $300,000 will go to Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative as part of the $40 million Aboriginal Workforce Fund.
MDAS chief executive Jacki Turfrey said the organisation was excited to be one of the 44 selected in Victoria to receive funding.
“This funding will continue to assist the Aboriginal community to lead the way in the exercise of self-determination,” Ms Turfrey said.
“The allocated $666,667 to MDAS will be used to increase the qualifications of existing Aboriginal staff and implement strategies for employing a casual workforce and more qualified Aboriginal staff members across key sectors including health services, primary health care, mental health, alcohol and drugs, social and emotional wellbeing, and family and community services.
“This funding aligns with MDAS’s current strategic plan for growing the number of Aboriginal staff and ensuring all current staff have the opportunity to obtain qualifications tailored to MDAS’s service delivery requirements.”
In addition, Aboriginal Housing Victoria will receive $400,000 to support Aboriginal Victorians secure appropriate, affordable housing.
The Aboriginal Workforce Fund supports upskilling, training, worker health and wellbeing, organisational capability building, and extra staff to assist service delivery.
“The Aboriginal Workforce Fund gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Mallee the chance to lead their own priorities and rebuild after the pandemic,” Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said.
“We want to create a stronger workforce to better serve the local Aboriginal community in the Mallee region – and this has never been more important after the year we just had.”
