Wunan News News & Updates from the field
Jul 26 2019
Wunan’s Financial Wellbeing team recently worked with a dedicated team of superannuation industry volunteers and the First Nations Foundation‘s Big Super Day out team to bring the first event of its kind to the East Kimberley. The First Nations Foundation is dedicated to achieving economic freedom for Aboriginal people across Australia. They have been hosting Big Super Day Out events since 2014, predominantly in the Eastern states. Wunan’s Financial Counsellor initially discussed the idea of hosting a Big Super Day Out in Kununurra when they were attending an ATSI Network function in 2017 at a Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) conference. Wunan’s Financial Counsellors were excited and initially hoped to host the event in Kununurra in 2018, however, the logistics and funds required pushed the timeline out to 2019. Wunan’s Financial Wellbeing Hub focussed on working with community partners Ngnowar Aerwah in Wyndham, Warmun Arts Centre and Kalumburu’s EKJP team to […] Read More.
Jul 18 2019
Wunan recently welcomed their new CEO on board, Mr Viane Watson replaces former CEO Jim Lewis after health issues saw him tender his resignation in late 2018. Mr Watson has arrived in Kununurra with a diverse professional background which includes local government, health, bodies corporate (Strata), indigenous incorporations, the education sector and running and managing his own international business. Having previously spent time in the West Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing, whilst working for the Kurungal Council, and in the Central Desert region of the Northern Territory whilst working for the Lajamanu Community Council, Mr Watson is acutely aware of the challenges Aboriginal people face when it comes to embracing the opportunities their non-Aboriginal counterparts in regional and remote Australia take for granted. Mr Watson holds a post graduate Diploma in Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and describes himself as a generalist manager who specialises in governance, […] Read More.
Feb 28 2019
Wunan’s Financial Wellbeing and Housing Hub has secured new funding from the Department of Social Services that now enables us to provide Emergency Relief assistance free of charge to assist eligible clients in immediate need of support. People in financial crisis, unable to pay their bills or at imminent risk of not being able to meet their financial obligations are able to receive Emergency relief support. Considerable staff time has been invested in putting together the comprehensive, winning bid, and developing guidelines around the program so that it works as a capacity building initiative rather than a form of passive welfare. The new service is inter-connected with existing Wunan services which focus on building self-reliance and helping people pay their bills and reduce the risk of returning to financial crisis situations in future. Financial or material aid may take the form of vouchers for food and clothing, but also extends […] Read More.
Mar 30 2015
Twelve months into the design stage of Empowered Communities in the East Kimberley, seven Aboriginal organisations in Kununurra recently made history by coming together to sign the East Kimberley Aboriginal Charter. This Charter formalises their commitment to work together to close the gap of social and economic disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley. For the first time we have an Aboriginal coalition of support for change which will provide leadership in our communities, encouraging individual responsibility and empowering Aboriginal people to live positive, healthy lives. Read More.
Topic: Foundations, Wunan
Feb 9 2015
Wunan Chairman, Ian Trust, has announced the appointment of Christian Zahra as new CEO for the organisation following an independent executive search process. Christian Zahra, until recently a Director of KPMG’s Strategy Group, has had extensive experience in senior roles in both the private and government sectors and has served previously as a Chief Executive Officer in an Aboriginal Health and Housing service in regional Victoria. Mr Zahra has also served in several leading public official roles including as Chairman of the Federal Government’s $1B Regional Development Australia Fund Advisory Panel. Mr Trust said Mr Zahra will bring a new perspective to Wunan and our future direction. The Wunan Board is keen to work with him to achieve outcomes for Aboriginal people of the East Kimberley. Mr Zahra said ‘Wunan is an organisation with a well deserved reputation for doing important work that is having a real impact in the […] Read More.
Topic: Foundations, Wunan
Feb 2 2015
Find out what’s happening at Ningkuwum-Ngamayuwu (Halls Creek Children & Family Centre) READ BELOW: NINGKUWUM-NGAMAYUWU Newsletter- February 2015 – PART A NINGKUWUM-NGAMAYUWU Newsletter- February 2015 – PART B For a compact version of the newsletter please call us on (08) 9168 3881 or email: admin@wunan.org.au Read More.
Topic: Education, Foundations