THE Puuya Foundation in Lockhart River will receive around $1-million under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) grant round to deliver projects that will improve the lives of First Australians in the region.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said the Government’s investment through the IAS grant round had increased from $860 million to $1 billion, with 996 organisations to receive funding for over 1,350 projects throughout Australia.
“The increased investment through the grant round is the result of the Government honouring its commitment to provide longer funding agreements for important frontline services and ensure that any gaps that emerged as part of the round were filled as quickly as possible,” Minister Scullion said.
“This investment will help deliver on the Government’s key priorities of getting children to school and adults to work and making communities safer.”
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the $1-million in funding will be divided across two major projects by Puuya Foundation.
“Around half will go towards providing early childhood education and care, family support, and maternal health services to the Lockhart River community,” said Mr Entsch.
“The second half of the funding will contribute to the construction, fit-out and establishment of the Kuunchi Kakana (Families Together) Centre and staff accommodation for the Centre’s service provider.”
Mr Entsch said the IAS was a fresh approach to engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve real results.
“It’s a way for the Federal Government to provide flexible, better-designed funding to meet the goals and priorities of individual communities – helping to close the gap on disadvantage and ensuring every Australia has the same opportunities in life,” he said.
