The City of Sydney recently announced over $450,000 in funding for 11 local projects aimed at supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Two of the projects receiving significant attention include a weekly pop-up food bank in Redfern and a program to reconnect Elders with their ancestral lands.

First Nations Response, a grassroots organisation run by local Aboriginal women, will receive a $50,000 grant and $5,000 in-kind for venue hire to provide regular pantry items to over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Founded during the COVID-19 lockdown, First Nations Response addresses food insecurity within the community by offering accessible, culturally appropriate support and food relief.

"COVID exposed food insecurity as a serious issue for our communities," said Coral Lever, co-founder of First Nations Response.

She emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for assistance, saying, "we believe that food is a right, not a privilege."

Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care Program has been granted over $30,000 to fund their NAIDOC Week celebrations, in line with the 2023 theme, "For Our Elders."

Wyanga, which offers culturally appropriate services to Elders, plans to organize morning teas, a brunch on Sydney Harbour, and a return trip for inner-city residing Elders to their native lands in northern and southern NSW.

"The return to Country would give them the opportunity to meet up with family and friends," stated Wyanga CEO, Roslyn Silva-Blair, highlighting the significance of social interactions and connections for the Elders.

The City of Sydney's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collaboration Fund, established in 2022, supports projects led by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations.

It offers up to $50,000 grant funding, including $5,000 for capital expenditure or equipment purchases, plus venue hire fee waivers.