Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative will be able to provide additional intensive case coordination in Bairnsdale with outreach to Lakes Entrance, thanks to a $312,928 investment by the Coalition Government.
• More mental health, drug and alcohol support services for First Australians in Gippsland.
• Coalition Government investing $312,928 in Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative to deliver services.
• Investment is part of the Coalition Government’s $5 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS).
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said that Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative Limited would receive funding to provide intensive case coordination to support clients with complex issues, including mental health and drug and alcohol issues, until 30 June 2019.
“Improving the safety of Indigenous families and communities is one of the highest priorities for the Coalition Government – and this investment will enable the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative to provide additional support to people who need it the most,” Minister Scullion said.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said that through the $5 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), the Government was providing targeted investment to those working on the ground to make a difference in the lives of First Australians.
“This project is a great example of the Coalition working with Indigenous Australians to improve outcomes for First Australians living in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance,” Mr Chester said.
The Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative project is one of 43 recently funded under the IAS. Services have been funded to provide intensive support to Indigenous people most affected in the following areas: alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, mental health and wellbeing, and youth offending.
Existing service providers will share $18,019,301 in Government funding through until 30 June 2019 to transition from the Indigenous Community Links programme to new place-based, intensive support services that address specific safety and wellbeing needs.
A further $4,239,664 will be provided until 30 June 2019 for new services in areas where a safety and wellbeing service gap has been identified.
The final year of funding is dependent on the projects providing strong outcomes for their clients.
Service providers will be asked to collect service data to assess the impact of the service, to better understand what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage and contribute to the evidence base.