WORKSHOPS, VIRTUAL EVENTS OR THROUGH SPONSORSHIP, FEROS CARE AND MACKAY’S ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMUNITY STOOD SIDE BY SIDE TO CELEBRATE NAIDOC WEEK.

Highlighted by a Youth Art Exhibition featuring the best up and coming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent from the region, Feros Care staff also observed a virtual flag raising while honouring culture through the support of two workshops.

Feros Care’s partnerships ensured strong connections were bound across the week, and having the opportunity to be involved and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and its talented young artists was an honour not lost on Community Development Coordinator (CDC), Di Chataway.

“We were to be part of the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP) for NAIDOC Week, but when it was moved from July to November, we wanted to show our support, so we had the opportunity to sponsor weaving and yarning workshops, which was great,” Di said.

Featuring around 25 works from more than five artists, the Youth Art Exhibition, held in collaboration with Youth Justice, is on display at Mackay’s Jubilee Community Centre from now until November 27. Combining various colours and designs to ensure culture and talent is on show, the opening of the exhibition also featured a cultural dance and judging by Miss NAIDOC.

“The youth art exhibition was amazing, and we gained an insight into young artists’ interpretation and view of culture and art,” Di said.

“It gave me goosebumps, and with Youth Justice at the core, it was also a healing and coming together through the medium of art.”

HOW FEROS CARE’S INFORMATION, LINKAGES AND CAPACITY BUILDING PATHWAYS PROJECT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MACKAY

Support of NAIDOC Week in Mackay showed Feros Care’s commitment to supporting and increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living with disability to gain access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Underpinned by a commitment to building and providing culturally appropriate pathways into the scheme through the Information, Linkages and Capacity (ILC) building Pathways Project, Feros Care Mackay’s Service Area Manager (SAM) Carolyn Hann said great strides had been made.

“Having the opportunity to take part in NAIDOC Week activities such as the Youth Art Exhibition really supports our ILC work and helps us to assist youth in connecting with services,” she said.

In a show of support for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, Di said support for NAIDOC Week and other initiatives and events would continue to grow stronger into the future.

“Feros have got a great connection now with the community and it’s only becoming stronger,” she said.

“We were acknowledged for our cultural and community respect at the yarning circle, a plaque at the Art Exhibition showed the Feros Care name, and a dancer said it was good to see Feros Care supporting NAIDOC Week again this year.

“I think that’s really important and shows we’re here to show our support for the long haul.”

The Art Exhibition will make its way to North Mackay, before travelling to Whitsundays and throughout the Isaac Region.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT INFORMATION, LINKAGES AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS.

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