TFFF supports initiatives that improve the wellbeing of communities, redress isolation through inclusion and connectedness, and build the capacity of communities to cope with challenging circumstances.
The figures in the infographics below refer only to new funding approved in the 2019/20 financial year. Prior to the 2017/18 financial year, these figures referred to both new and ongoing approvals.
new approvals
average total approved
multi-year approvals
Waltja is a community-based organisation that works with families from Central Desert indigenous communities to address major issues affecting their communities. Waltja means ‘Family’ and its services follow the life-cycle of the family, with programs supporting youth, mothers and fathers, and elders in day-to-day activities.
All Waltja Directors are Aboriginal women appointed from the remote communities where Waltja works. They must have been living in the community for at least 5 years and be recognised for their leadership, either paid or voluntary in the community. At the core of Waltja’s work is a desire to develop members of the Central Australian community’s capacity for self-management and determination, through programs which aim to alleviate social distress and improve community relations more broadly.
TFFF funding over four years supports Waltja to deliver the Nintipulka mitiyaku – Getting smart about media program, which aims to engage disadvantaged youth with media and technology in order to protect, revive and maintain Indigenous culture, language and knowledge. The program also provides media traineeships for young Aboriginal people across 30 remote indigenous communities and 9 language groups in Central Australia.
Through participation in the Nintipulka mitiyaku – Getting smart about media program, young people learn skills which enable them to become job ready in the areas of graphic design, photography, new media, and Arts management. TFFF-funded trainees have gone on to more senior positions at Waltja and other organisations.
Some projects the young people have worked on include:
“I’m truly grateful to Waltja and to the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation who fund my position and training. I like working with the Waltja mob!” Kiara Dempsey, Waltja Trainee
“Waltja workers listen to all people in the community with the Directors, young and old, men and women. We work together Anangu* with Kardiya*, workers with Directors, Waltja with community. It gives Waltja a better understanding of what people need and gives us a strong voice with communities and with government. We make family from far and near. That’s why we called it Waltja – family.”
*Anangu is Luritja for Aboriginal people and Kardiya is Luritja for Non-Aboriginal people
Irene Nangala from Kintore Community
Waltja Chair
Support the delivery and expansion of Pets for Life program, which reduces social isolation by matching seniors and people with reduced capacity, with volunteers who visit and care for their companion animals.
Development of an intergenerational sharing and learning initiative in partnership with the Asyrikarrak Rangers, facilitating quarterly on-Country harvesting excursions and workshops to re-engage children and young people with traditional harvesting practices.
Support for grassroots, community-led projects that benefit Queensland communities impacted by various hardships, especially drought, to reduce social isolation and build community resilience and capacity to deal with challenges into the future.
Assisting FRRR to raise their profile in Queenslad and NT, to build relationships with communities and understand their unique needs, and then respond directly through targeted grants via the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.
Support for key leadership roles and formal evaluation of inform Outback Futures’ work strategy to deliver robust, well-designed and effective mental health services to rural, regional and remote communities in Queensland in partnership with Government and other service providers.
Support enables Pathways to Resilience to deliver tailored Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) training programs to educators, families and communities in rural and remote Queensland.
Build the sustainability and capacity of the Media Team, enabling them to work more closely with Waltja’s communities through their Nintipulka Mitiyaku Media Strategy.
Expand the reach of Youth Insearch’s early intervention program across regional and remote Queensland, to empower young people to rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.
The continued operation and expansion of Youth Cre8 Kuranda through exended operating hours and the employment of an arts worker. Youth Cre8 Kuranda provides opportunities for young people to engage and develop skills to support their social and emotional wellbeing.
