Grants were given to three Wimmera Aboriginal groups to help reduce family violence.

It has been supported by Grampians Community Health, with Aboriginal women from Stawell and Ararat joining in sessions at Brambuck in Halls Gap.

Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the groups would share in $28,000 to help reduce family violence in Aboriginal communities.

Horsham Wimmera Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group will receive $16,181 for a Koori Youth Forum.

Goolum Goolum will receive $7,561 for a Hands Together Cultural Camp towards achieving an indigenous family violence 10 year plan. 

Wurega Aboriginal Corporation will receive $4,260 for a Wimmera Women’s Weaving Group to provide a culturally safe environment where women and girls can attend and become involved in the art of weaving. 

Wurega volunteer Gail Harrison said the group would use the money to continue its successful weaving group sessions that have been held at Brambuck and Dimboola.

“It was recognised that there was a lot of disadvantage with the women and the health and well being aspects of producing arts and craft was beneficial,” she said.

“They expressed the wish to do more workshops.”

Ms Harrison said the group had previously held workshops on feather decoration with Aboriginal artist Glenda Nicholls.

“Out of that we formed a lot of friendships. We had a lot of women come along,” Ms Harrison said

“They really wanted to meet with Glenda Nicholls again. She’s a Ngarrindjeri woman and has great skills in working with weaving and she also does net weaving.

“We’re hoping to hold another series of workshops in March and April for fishing nets and pine needle baskets.” 

Goolum Goolum health and wellbeing program manager Dean O’Loughlin said the Hands Together Cultural Camp would help out disadvantaged young people.

“It’s camp specifically set up to support indigenous kids who are in out of home care or supported environments,” he said.

“The whole idea around that is to connect them with local services.”