#yarningcircles

Indigenous excellence comes in all different forms, and at IDX we get to see it almost daily. With a more digital focus, we promote, research and discuss things that are happening in communities across the nation, and in the realm of the world wide web. But recently, we ventured to the Macquarie University’s Mana Allawah community day, where numerous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups gathered to inform, enlist and engage our mobs in the local area with their services and opportunities. Mana Allawah is Darug for “Get Together”.

There were powerful yarning circles where everyone was invited to take part in discussions around education, health, employment and housing led by Community leaders—Simon Jovanovic, Sue Pinkham and Jan Perret. These yarns looked at what was working, what wasn’t and were then followed with strategies and options of what we could do as a community to help fix the problems.

While these were happening inside, the stalls with brochures, giveaways and smiling faces were buzzing in anticipation of the members of community coming through that day. One thing that stood out, was the fact that so many different organisations, companies and people were all there for the one reason, to help our communities in one way shape or form. It was a great opportunity to connect and reconnect with people and the traditional food was DELICIOUS!

Throughout the day, interviews were being done by Koori Radio and speakers such as Aunty June Riemer and Aunty Diane Brookes gave a powerful speech on our struggles with the right assistance, and knowledge regarding those with disabilities. They had a strong call to action for our mob to have a yarn and to go to the right places for answers. Their website is Aboriginal Disability Network NSW.