August 2010 - Waminda
Faye Warner, the Manager of South Coast Women's Health and Welfare Corporation- Waminda, came to KV VIEW Club with Shelley, one of her program managers and spoke eloquently and passionately about this organisation. Waminda is a non-government organisation run by a board of seven women, six of whom are aboriginal. Twenty-five women work there.
It was started 27 years ago when a group of strong-minded aboriginal women went to Canberra and demanded the Federal Government help them. It is a grass roots movement by women for women and their children. This group was granted some funding by the government and it is the only group like this in Australia.
In other parts of Australia aboriginals tend to be together in one area. In the Shoalhaven there are seven aboriginal groups spread over a large area in four communities. This creates transport problems for aboriginal women and children as lack of public transport to Nowra restricts their access to health and welfare services.
Waminda's aim is to work in partnership with other services so aboriginal women are aware what services are available and can access them.
Programs run by Waminda include transport services, family support programs, a playgroup with special help from another Nowra group, a court support worker, an aboriginal artist co-operative, an aboriginal preschool, high school program, primary school care, early childhood service, drug and alcohol service, women's health clinic and more.
Waminda is funded by grants from State and Federal government and anyone else they can get to help them. It has been extremely successful and goes from strength to strength.
Thank you, Faye, for taking the time to inform and inspire us by the work of this group.
The next lunch will be on Friday 13th August.
Victoria Barger will be speaking on mental health illness and treatment in hospitals and the community. Victoria has a degree in nursing from Sydney University, specialising in mental health, as well as a diploma in psychotherapy. She has worked in hospitals and community centres and has run her own psychotherapy practice.
Please let Barbara Bloom know by the Wednesday before if you are not coming:
4464 3808, 0417 290 397 or
As usual we invite and welcome anyone who is interested to attend our meetings.
Please ring Margaret McLachlan, 4465 1946, for details.
Jenelle Brangwin Publicity Officer