Southern Aboriginal Corporation delivers grocery relief to Great Southern households

Grocery packs brimming with pantry staples have been delivered to homes across the Great Southern as part of a community mission to bring food relief to about 350 Noongar families in need.

The Southern Aboriginal Corporation, supported by COVID-19 recovery funding from the Minderoo Foundation, last week delivered its second round of food packs to regional households.

Grocery cards and food packs including flour, coffee, long-life milk and shampoo and conditioner were delivered to households in Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, Tambellup and Cranbrook.

SAC chief executive Asha Bhat said that in partnership with the Katanning Noongar Leadership Group and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, the team identified households in need of support beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

“Even though the Government has provided stimulus packages for people on welfare, at a time when the healthcare system is in crisis, it’s especially important to increase access to healthy food,” she said.

“With a reduction of services, and a reduction in access to supplies, food insecurity was increasing.

“With the JobSeeker payment ceasing in September, it will be important to provide more support to struggling families.”

After securing about $50,000 from the Minderoo Foundation and other donors amid the peak of the pandemic, SAC will roll out more family and domestic violence awareness workshops across the central Great Southern.

SAC offers a family violence prevention legal service providing free, culturally appropriate legal assistance to Noongar people who have experienced family violence or sexual assault.

Ms Bhat said the team had seen access to their legal services spike by 18.5 per cent since WA’s lockdown period began in April.