Community Development

Yorgum considers that a complimentary part of the counselling work is the need to provide community development and education in an attempt to reduce levels of violence in the community.

The aim of the community development program is to raise awareness about family violence to Aboriginal communities, families and individuals and to develop ways of enhancing the safety of family members. This is achieved by building on the cultural strenghts of community, through activities and strategies identified by the community, as relevant and suitable to them.

Grandmother's Group

The Yorgum Grandmother's Group consists of elders who meet every month. The women come together to do art, craft and yarn. Clients (primarily children) sit in with the group and do art and yarn with them. It is very beneficial to both the women and the clients.

Link Up Program

Background
In September 2006, Yorgum was successful in the tender process for the Link-up program. The Link Up Program is more formally known as the Access to Effective Family Tracing and Reunion Services Program. It provides funding to organisations, not individuals, for the purpose of family tracing and reunion services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been separated from their families as a result of the past removal policies and practices of Australian governments.

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What can Link Up Services do?
There are a number of core activities required from the Link Up Services under the
Link Up Program, including:

  • Client contact, assessment, referral and support and guidance;
  • Support and Guidance – Initial Family Contact;
  • Researching client files and other relevant information;
  • Secondary Link Up Service negotiation and liaison;
  • Reunion management;
  • Phase 1.     Pre-reunion (preparation);
  • Phase 2.     Reunion; and;
  • Phase 3.     Post Reunion;
  • Post Reunion Support;
  • Cultural and Family Value Awareness;
  • Public Awareness (i.e. promoting the Link Up Services);
  • Staff Training and Development;
  • Representation on Government and Community Forums; and
  • Administrative Management, including the development of Memorandums of Understanding.

The following activities are ineligible under this program:

  • Native title, land rights, compensation or reparation claims;
  • Return to Country;
  • Institutional reunions;
  • General community education;
  • Genealogy assistance; and
  • Locating missing persons.

Who can access the Link Up Services?
The people Link - Up Services assist include:

  • People affected by past removal policies and practices and their families;
  • Individuals and families, who have been adopted, fostered or raised in institutions.

Funding need not be strictly confined to support only those who can demonstrate that they have lost contact with their families and communities as a direct result of the past removal policies and practices of Australian governments.

Link-Up Services can provide assistance to clients identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or who believe they have Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage. However, if records or research indicates Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage has not been documented, Link Up Services will be unable to assist further. An appropriate referral agency will be recommended in this instance eg: Salvation Army - Family Tracing Unit, Jigsaw (SA) and Post Adoptive Resource Centre. The person is able to return to the Link Up Service to become a client if they find documentary evidence of their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage.

An individual, who may or may not have already confirmed their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, may be trying to establish and document their family history – this is a genealogy or family tree exercise – not family tracing, and accordingly cannot be undertaken by a Link Up Service. Referral should be made to the State Museums, State Libraries or Genealogical Societies.

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Staff and Regional boundaries
This program consists of a Coordinator and four Caseworkers covering the following regions;

  • Midwest/Murchison – Lionel Gregory (Coordinator),
  • Goldfields/South East – Gail Wynne (Caseworker),
  • Bunbury South West – (Caseworker),
  • Metropolitan – (Caseworker),
  • Wheatbelt – Mary Nannup (Caseworker).

Regional Boundaries Map

Previously there were five link-up sites throughout these regions, however, Office of Aboriginal Health decided to amalgamate these regions having the service delivery centralised from the metropolitan area.

Yorgum would also like to acknowledge Fred Penny who was the previous Coordinator however, Fred left Yorgum in August 2007 and Lionel Gregory was promoted to act in the position.

Sub Offices
Currently Link-up service has sub offices in regional areas which are located at;

  • Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service servicing the Murchison/Midwest region,
  • Bega Garnbirringu Aboriginal Health Service servicing the Goldfields and South West region,
  • South West Aboriginal Medical Service servicing the Bunbury and South west region,
  • Moora servicing the Wheatbelt region.
Regional visits are conducted on a monthly basis to ensure that the regions are being serviced regularly.