Donations Renovated A Sydney hostel for First Nations students

Biala Aboriginal Boarding House in Northern Beaches asked GIVIT for items to enhance their indoor and outdoor areas. This upgrade ensured the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation and students had the tools they needed to thrive.

The Aboriginal boarding house offers housing for First Nations women attending the nearby public high school. Biala is a home away from home for students and grants access to new opportunities and experiences.

How did GIVIT support Biala Hostel?

In 2021, led by Zali Steggall OAM, MP, the local member for Warringah, Biala received a much-needed upgrade. This included external landscaping, painting and artwork, as well as a refreshed look and feel inside the accommodation.

GIVIT provided a range of items to ensure the hostel was comfortable and nurturing for the students, including:

a dining table and 12 chairs
study desks
curtains
rugs
drawers
lamps
and other essential furniture.

GIVIT also provided paint, indoor/outdoor plants and gardening tools to create a friendly environment that celebrates culture and respects the stories of students. We also donated ten laptops to the students, ensuring they have the tools for study and future opportunities.

As soon as I met the girls from Biala, I knew our community could come together to help them and make their hostel more comfortable.

As someone who was away from home a lot when I was competing, I know how important it is to have a home away from home. I'm so proud of Warringah coming together to achieve this amazing result.

ZALI STEGGALL, OAM, MP FOR WARRINGAH IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NORTHERN BEACHES REVIEW

Education’s role in Closing the Gap for First Nations Australians

In 2021, as GIVIT helped Biala meet the needs of the hostel, the 2020 Australian Government Closing the Gap Report, reported that the proportion of First Nations Australians aged 20-24 years who had attained year 12 or equivalent increased from 45% in 2008 to 66% in 2018-2019. This was considered good progress, but what does the gap look like in 2024?

Improving year 12 attainment is a target of outcome area 5 in the Close the Gap report. The goal is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their full learning potential. By 2031, the goal is for 96% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 to 24 to finish Year 12 or equivalent (Certificate III or above) qualification.

The most recent data from 2021 shows the attainment rate at 68%. This is below the target trajectory goal for 2021 which was 74.1% (AIHW 2023).

There is undeniably an education divide that exists for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, especially those living in remote areas where secondary school options are limited. The year 12 attainment rate for First Nations Australians in major cities is 85%, compared with 8% in very remote areas.

Donate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait education by funding or giving what’s needed here.

Biala Hostel needs your help to continue supporting First Nations students

To help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, you can fund self-care products for the students at Biala Hostel. The support staff at the boarding school say,

“Living away from country is hard, and so is finding your place in a new community. This is why we work hard to build confidence and encourage self-care for the Young First Nations Women we support. Resources to support self-care can be expensive and many of our students miss out.”

This is when GIVIT is essential. We’re here to ensure no one misses out on essential items and services needed because of a lack of resources.

Our community helps us meet need by either funding or giving items and services. The hostel is looking for a range of self-care products such as:

Face cleanser
Makeup
Moisturiser
Bath and shower products
Haircare
And more.

Donate $10 to fund products for these Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Screenshot of a request for makeup via GIVIT for first nations students

How else can you support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations?

GIVIT has received over 16,000 requests for essential items for First Nations communities (as of 27/08/24). Via GIVIT, there are three ways you can help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

By donating money via GIVIT's First Nations Support Appeal. 100% of publicly donated money received by us goes to purchasing essential items and services. Our team purchases what’s needed, where it’s needed most, requested directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait charities.
Browse stories and choose items you’d like to fund from the Appeal’s What’s Needed list.
Donate pre-loved, quality items by clicking the ‘GIVIT’ button on a request that matches what you can give.

Screenshot of the GIVIT website showing item request for the What's Needed list

How can I help my local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

To support First Nations peoples near you, use our Location filter to select your suburb and radius of your search. You’ll find the location filter on our What’s Needed list pictured above. Once you see what’s needed by local First Nations organisations, you can either fund or give the essential items needed.