We are proud to have supported local organisations for over 80 years through grants and sponsorships, and look forward to making positive and meaningful impact well into the future.
WesCEF is pleased to announce the recipients of FY24’s Community Grants round. This year, we have awarded $24,000 across four organisations to fund projects that benefit Aboriginal engagement, promote environmental sustainability or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.
Meet our recipients:
Ngalla Yorga Waangkan Aboriginal Corporation – Intergenerational Activities and Sewing Project
Ngalla Yorga Waangkan Aboriginal Corporation (NYWAC) encourages local women’s gatherings and yarning opportunities through cultural events and activities.
After a successful pilot program, NYWAC will present a series of intergenerational activities for local Elders, in collaboration with Moordijt Kulungar Playgroup. Intended activities include collective bush walks and arts/crafts sessions. It will be an opportunity for cultural knowledge and skills sharing across age groups – ranging from newborns and toddlers to seniors.
In addition to this, WesCEF is providing additional support to purchase sewing machines for an Elders’ project.
Warnbro Primary School – Noongar artist school workshop
The WesCEF grant will be used towards an arts and cultural workshop delivered by award-winning Noongar artists, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. The funding will secure the artists to share an immersive learning experience with 260 students (10 per cent of which identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander). Noongar song books supplied by the artists will be utilised as a continued classroom resource. Building upon their current education practices, the incursion will celebrate Noongar language and culture across the entire school, encouraging Aboriginal students to yirra yaak (stand tall) amongst their peers.
Naragebup Rockingham Regional Environment Centre – Loggerhead Turtle Rehabilitation
WesCEF and Naragebup have been connected since 2022. The continued support of their loggerhead turtle rehabilitation program will provide critical materials and marine expertise for the volunteer-run facility.
As one of only three rehabilitation programs in WA, their contribution to marine conservation has saved 200 of this endangered loggerhead species. The grant will help provide critical materials like food, sea water and equipment for hatchlings. Naragebup continues to help educate the public on what to do if they see a turtle washed up on the beach, along with their other important environmental work they do.
City of Rockingham Libraries – Girls in STEM
After extraordinary demand in 2023, City of Rockingham Libraries will run their Girls in STEM program at each library branch across the year.
The free and collaboration workshops are delivered in conjunction with Little Genius. The after-schools program offers an encouraging environment for girls to participate in hands-on workshops. The activities and topics range from biology, physics, chemistry and engineering. The program aims to boost the engagement of the next generation of female STEM stars!
Congratulations to each of the recipients. In FY24, we received an unprecedented number of applicants. Each organisation offers a valuable service to the community and we were pleased to see strong interest in all of our key focus areas. We encourage all community minded organisations to keep in touch and apply when our WesCEF Community Grant FY25 round opens (to be announced mid-year).