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GIVIT helps this Indigenous organisation meet community need
Kurbingui Youth and Family Development is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation helping Indigenous communities in Meanijin/Brisbane. Their vision is "to be a deadly organisation that supports our mob on their journey." Kurbingui started as a small boxing club in 2001. It has grown to be a vital part of the Indigenous community in Brisbane's northside and Moreton Bay.
Kurbingui provides programs such as educational support for families, youth engagement, domestic and family violence, community access, men's and women's groups, employment readiness and much more.
Three ways GIVIT helped this Aboriginal community-controlled organisation
1. Laptop donations for First Nations communities
Digital connection by providing mobile, tablet or laptop donations are essential to access services, connect with loved ones and more. COVID-19 exposed the digital gap, particularly for First Nations young peoples in need.
Kurbingui pivoted to providing support online during COVID-19. This revealed how many people they supported who lacked the devices needed to access essential services. Many people also lacked the technology necessary for online learning as schools reverted to learning at home.
GIVIT provided Kurbingui with 24 laptops and 15 prepaid SIM cards to help bridge this digital gap and ensure vulnerable people can connect with essential services. The program Kurbingui's Strong Deadly Spirits (National Suicide Prevention Trial) also used the devices to provide support.
2. Built a space to run First Nations community programs
One of our favourite donations we helped make happen was renovating Kurbingui’s existing building for a new community environment. The refurbishment allowed Kurbingui to run more programs and sessions in a space that is safe, appropriate and built for the purpose to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.
3. Helping Kurbingui provide furniture, whitegoods and other essentials
Kurbingui was one of the first charities to register with GIVIT. Since then, we’ve provided essential items for struggling families, First Nations peoples with disability and more.
Here’s an example of the donations GIVIT has provided because of the generosity of our community:
- highchairs
- fridges and freezers
- heaters
- school supplies
- wheelchairs, bikes
- drawers and cupboards, microwaves
- hoodies from Hanes, mattresses, linen
- car seats.
GIVIT provides what’s needed by charities and organisations to ensure the donation solves a problem or barrier for someone struggling. Giving what’s needed means the donations have tangible, positive impact. The team at Kurbingui's shared how these donations have helped the Aboriginal and Torres Strait families they support.
"A family moved into a new place and didn't have a washing machine. GIVIT provided a brand-new washing machine. The mother cried her eyes out on seeing it.
She'd never owned a brand-new washing machine in her life. For her that was the chance to provide clean clothing for her children.
GIVIT gives us a chance to provide those essential, much-needed items that families wouldn't otherwise be able to afford."
Items for Indigenous organisations to provide services
GIVIT also provides donations needed by charities to deliver their program's support. During COVID-19 in Australia, many First Nations peoples lost jobs and were struggling to pay bills and feed their families. A donated chest freezer from GIVIT meant Kurbingui could store meals and distribute to those in urgent need in the community.
Catching up with Dean from Kurbingui's Yeaca Dhargo Familly Wellbeing team for NAIDOC week in their beautiful community garden
How to continue helping Indigenous communities
Since 2020, GIVIT has provided more than 1.6 million items and services to First Nations Australians in need, with the help of more than 1,100 organisations, community services, health programs and schools. First Nations peoples experience poor outcomes compared to non-Indigenous Australians across a range of measures, including:
- life expectancy
- child mortality
- literacy and education attainment
- disability and chronic disease
- kids in out-of-home care.
Via GIVIT, you can fund or give essential items that will help close the gap for the above poor outcomes and help First Nations Australians thrive.
You can also help GIVIT provide more items than ever before to First Nations communities by donating to our Frist Nations Support appeal. 100% of your public donation received by GIVIT will be used to purchase requested items from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander charities and groups.
If you don't have any spare funds to donate to Indigenous communities, donate physical items!
Look for a request that you can donate a physical item to. Donations of books and stationery, baby items, mobile phones and toiletries are needed. All easily transportable items that could also be posted to the requesting organisation.
Reminder - give something that you’d be happy to give to somebody close to you.
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