Community wellbeing projects get an $800,000 jump start
Community organisations across the state have been given an $800,000 boost to deliver 19 projects to strengthen South Australians’ resilience and wellbeing in response to the impacts of COVID-19.
The Wellbeing Fund is part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s ground-breaking new wellbeing strategy, Open Your World, launched to provide further support to South Australians after an unprecedented start to 2020.
The 19 successful community-based projects have received individual co-contribution grants between $10,000 to $100,000 and will help people of all ages across both metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
One example of a successful project is a partnership with ACH Group to deliver the “Stay in the Game” program to engage older South Australians in online videogaming and simultaneous voice chat, enabling physical activity, social engagement, goalsetting and achievement from home.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs, who has overseen the development of the wellbeing strategy alongside Wellbeing SA, said the Open Your World Wellbeing Fund is targeted at community-based projects to build wellbeing and resilience.
“In this time of uncertainty, our priority is to ensure the immediate and ongoing health and wellbeing of South Australians,” said Minister Speirs.
“The unprecedented start to 2020 is having a significant impact our way of life and while the restrictions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic are only temporary the effect on our mental health and wellbeing could be much longer.
“These projects will be delivered by community groups, NGOs and Local Government to boost South Australians’ wellbeing and strengthen resilience.”
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said successful projects promote physical activity, create connection through arts and culture and link up people in their local communities.
“The Wellbeing Fund projects are wide ranging from engaging older South Australians in online videogaming, to a youth-led social support program at skate parks in the northern suburbs,” said Minister Wade.
“This is all part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s strong plan to keep South Australians safe and healthy during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our Open Your World wellbeing strategy will provide a single source of wellbeing information for South Australians and bring together government and non-government organisations.”
Community Wellbeing and Resilience Projects
Organisation | Project Description | Grant Amount |
LBI Foundation Ltd | The Bush Telegraph project will build the wellbeing, mental health and whole of life outcomes of COVID-19 vulnerable communities across the Eyre Peninsula, through building the capacity of Community Champions. | $50,000 |
ACH Group | The Stay in the Game project will engage older South Australians in online video gaming and simultaneous voice chat, enabling physical activity, social engagement, goalsetting and achievement from home. | $75,000 |
City of Playford | The Skatelight project will engage with young skate park users from both the Elizabeth and Munno Para skate parks to co-design youth led social support programs, integrating place-making principles as skate parks are safe spaces for wellbeing. | $65,000 |
Uniting Communities | The Artist in Residency at U City project will involve the provision of cultural and creative artistic activities to address anxiety, loneliness, improve mental and physical health and assist with people’s emotional wellbeing which has been exacerbated due to COVID-19. | $60,000 |
St Vincent de Paul Society SA and Vinnies House of Welcome Kilburn | Art Around the Table is a dynamic creative initiative that aims to bring together cross generational, socially isolated, culturally diverse people to build community resilience and hope through sharing stories, creating art, drinking tea, and building friendships. | $25,000 |
City of Salisbury | The World of Wellbeing project will deliver programs designed to contribute to positive wellbeing and resilience outcomes that address the impacts of COVID-19 on priority groups, including supporting and reconnect parents and children who have experienced family violence, and creation of a wall mural by a local aboriginal artist that captures and reflects the voices of aboriginal and non-aboriginal youth on resilience and hope during COVID-19. | $50,000 |
Regional Development Australia – Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains | The Barossa Volunteer Finder project will connect residents, particularly young people. to online to micro volunteering opportunities within their community to build a sense of belonging, connectedness and purpose. | $10,000 |
Beach Road Artworks Inc. (Artworks Inc.) | The Art Reach project uses art to engage with vulnerable community members through three distinct yet integrated elements – posted care packs, online art workshops and the creation of an accessible website to access the Art Reach resources. | $20,000 |
District Council of Peterborough | The LIFE Program (Lift, Inspire, Feel, Embrace) is a targeted wellbeing and resilience program that will address key areas of health and wellbeing identified by the community including physical and mental health, personal development, community engagement and social connectedness. Key health messages will be delivered in a range of formats including, face-to-face and online events, and an education and information sharing campaign | $65,000 |
Federation of Equatoria Community Association in Australia Inc | The Community Conversations about Health and Wellbeing project will engage the South Sudanese community in building health literacy and community resilience, including through engaging community members in designing and delivering new approaches to health and wellbeing messages, with a focus on COVID-19 info and its impact to support the South Sudanese community. | $23,000 |
The Food Centre | The Paddock to Plate project aims to reconnect the community through a range of food related activities and actions at The Food Centre, including rebuilding its volunteer workforce and existing food services (supermarket & café) as well as create new services (cooking & growing) to build a local food paddock to plate system. | $59,000 |
Raukkan Community Council | The Raukkan Community Council in partnership with Raukkan Aboriginal School will develop a cultural play space for children and youth that meets the physical and social needs of young people using elements and practices that reflect traditional Ngarrindjeri culture. The fabrication process of the cultural play space will offer skills development opportunities (through workshops and mentorships) for young people and interested community members in traditional skills such as knotting, weaving and woodcarving. | $60,000 |
South Australian National Football League Inc (SANFL) | Rebooting Footy aims to provide targeted support to Leagues and Clubs in regional areas that did not participate in the 2020 football season to provide them with additional skills and confidence to manage their clubs and competitions in a safe and viable way, providing benefits for local communities more broadly. | $60,000 |
Parndana Bowling Club Social, Mental & Physical Community Connection | Parndana Bowling Club aims to become a welcoming hub for the community to reconnect as they struggle to recover from bushfires and COVID-19. By using new initiatives (such as Pilates, young mums and catered for events) and targeting diverse population groups the club will be encouraging and welcoming new users to try both bowls and the facility in different ways. | $13,500 |
Inclusive Sport SA | The Community Connector project is a multifaceted project that will strengthen resilience through the power of stories including exploring the trials, tribulations and triumphs of life in COVID-19 lockdown in South Australia. It will include short documentaries with stories celebrating the personal narratives of innovation and resilience of both metropolitan and regional community organisations in providing accessibility and engagement during restriction. | $30,000 |
Healthy Cities Onkaparinga | The Community Food Expo project aims to use community interest, unleashed by weaknesses in our national food distribution system, as an opportunity to connect, engage and inspire those who are vulnerable in the north of our community, as we build a more sustainable local food system that supports our wellbeing. | $18,000 |
Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Inc | The Fit and Deadly Futures Program will provide an online presence to health education with a focus on healthy lifestyles activities. This will help to create innovative modes of delivering education to community groups, while showcasing positive outcomes and community resilience during the ever changing landscape of COVID-19 restrictions and life post COVID-19. | $25,000 |
City of Onkaparinga | Onkaparinga Neighbourhood Play Streets is a community-based project targeted at neighbourhoods who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and will be delivered in four locations. Organised street play encourages children and families to get outside and connect with their neighbours through fun and inclusive physical activities, growing quality connections between neighbours to unite people. | $70,000 |
APY Art Centre Collective | The Kurunpa Katuringanyi - Rising Spirits - Anangu Family Culture project will support Anangu Elders to plan and deliver bush camps in the APY Lands and Adelaide Hills for Anangu who currently live in Adelaide. Anangu of all ages will be supported to participate and camp at sacred sites nominated by Elders. Families will be supported to spend quality time at the sacred sites, collect bush foods, hunt, and engage in cultural song and dance and other culturally important activities. | $20,000 |
