Improved social wellbeing

Laying the foundations for a better future

We want our children to be proud Aboriginal Australians, learning our culture and developing into future leaders.

50% of the Aboriginal community in Esperance is below the age of 19. There is an urgent need to provide opportunities for this generation to prosper if they are to overcome the remarkable level of disadvantage experienced by the older generations.

The level of education that an individual achieves has a significant effect on their future employment and other life outcomes. We don't want our young people to experience the sorrow and trauma experienced by our Elders. Our culture only survives if knowledge is passed from one generation to another. We want to share our culture so that it continues.

The 2016 census tells us that only 20% of Aboriginal people in Esperance have completed year 12 compared with 43% of the wider-population, and only 11% have attained a Certificate III or IV compared to 22% of the general population.

As the only organisation that represents all Nyungar families in Esperance, we have a role to play in influencing change for our young people through education, training, cultural identity, healthy choices and positive pathways in life.

We want our people and community to be culturally, physically and spiritually healthy so that we can lead connected and fulfilling lives.

Building the change we all want to see

We don't think that the current health and well-being of our people is acceptable. Our people die too young and experience too many episodes of ill-health physically, mentally and emotionally whilst alive. The impact of past trauma, dispossession, separation of families, ongoing social disadvantage, racism and other historical, social and cultural issues impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities. Our members tell us that the health services they need are either not available, or not culturally appropriate and accessible to them in Esperance, and we advocate for better long-term health and wellbeing outcomes for our people.