Aboriginal Programs
Bankstown Community Resource Group continues to work with the local Aboriginal community through the following projects:
- Guring Gang Playgroup
- Koori Connections
- Koori Kids Club
- Families Connect to Culture
- Parenting Programs
- Community Yarn Ups
- Excursions and Incursions
- Community Event – Blak Santa
- Aboriginal Women’s Hope
- Canterbury Bankstown City First Nations Cultural Hub and Resource Centre
Guring Gang Playgroup
BCRG Aboriginal Program
Funded by NSW Department of Communities and Justice
Our playgroup is funded under the Targeted Early Intervention Program. The Supported Playgroups Programs are designed to create opportunities to build and strengthen children’s development, support families and promote community engagement, health and wellbeing.
The Guring Gang playgroup is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with children from birth to 5 years of age. The playgroup has been running since 2006 and is facilitated by a qualified Educator who creates a safe environment that builds essential knowledge, skills, and networks for children and families. Parents can share parenting experiences and children can socialise, play, and learn in a structured and positive environment.
Guring Gang Playgroup
Runs every Thursday during school terms from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Koori Connections
Funded by The Smith Family – Communities for Children Program
Koori Connections is a suite of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Programs for children 0 to 12 years of age and their families
Koori Kids Club
BCRG Aboriginal Program
The Koori Kids Club provides fun and engaging activities for children aged 9 to 12 years alongside the implementation of the Seasons for Growth Program which aims to:
- Provide an understanding of the importance of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing
- Increase ongoing participation in culturally specific experiences that enhance physical and mental wellbeing and enable children to build stronger connections with others.
- Build communication, decision making and problem-solving skills in dealing with stress and anxiety brought on by the onset of changes in their lives.
Koori Kids Club
Runs on a Tuesday for 8 weeks during school terms from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Families Connect to Culture
BCRG Aboriginal Program
The Families Connect to Culture program brings children and families together to connect and embrace culture. During the weekly sessions, children and families participate in a range of culturally embedded experiences such as Aboriginal dance, art, and weaving. Other activities may include Aboriginal Go4Fun, budget cooking, gardening, and craft.
The goals of the program are for children to develop a stronger sense of cultural identity and connection to their heritage, language, customs, faith, and family connections
Parents/carers will:
- Feel safe to share concerns or needs in a culturally sensitive environment
- Strengthen family cohesion and community connectedness through activities that are fun and meaningful to culture and identity
Families Connect to Culture
Runs on Wednesdays for 8 weeks during school terms from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Parenting Program
BCRG Aboriginal Program
Bringing Up Great Kids (BUGK) First 1000 days parenting program modified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families (0-24 months) was developed and established by the Australian Childhood Foundation in 2005.
The BUGK Program is an integrated suite of activities and tools that focus on building positive and nurturing relationships between parents and their children.
The program aims to support parents to review and enhance their patterns of communication with their children, to promote more respectful interactions, and encourage the development of children’s positive self-identity.
Bringing Up Great Kids
Runs for 3 to 6 weeks, twice a year
Blak Santa – Community Event
BCRG Aboriginal Program
Blak Santa has become an annual celebration held in December and is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities in the Canterbury Bankstown area. It is a celebration of culture and community with fun activities, food, and music.
Blak Santa
Annual celebration in December
Community Yarn Ups
BCRG Aboriginal Program
A Yarn Up or Yarning Circle is a forum specifically for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Yarn Up provides a comfortable, open, and supportive environment for participants to share their thoughts about our community, things to celebrate, and areas to work on in the future.
Community Yarn Ups
Two x 4 hour Yarn Ups are held per year
Excursions / Incursions
BCRG Aboriginal Program
4 cultural excursions/incursions for children 0 to 12 years of age and their families are facilitated per year.
Excursions / Incursions
4 per year
Canterbury Bankstown City First Nations Cultural Hub and Resource Centre
The CBCity First Nations Cultural Hub officially opened in June 2024.
It has been approved and supported by CBCity First Peoples Advisory Committee and endorsed by CBCity Council.
The Hub will focus on providing a space for the community to come together, to maintain and promote the First Nations culture. This will be achieved through a variety of community development projects, programs, services, information sessions, social activities, cultural art and craft activities, drop in support and educational opportunities.
BCRG has been appointed as the anchor organisation and is responsible for the co-ordination, facilitation and use of The Hub. In consultation and partnership with the steering committee made up of representatives from Council, the CBCity First peoples Advisory Committee and other key stakeholders. We will work to achieve positive outcomes for the local Canterbury Bankstown First Nations community.
The Canterbury Bankstown City First Nations Hub and Resource Centre will be an asset to the community and provide cultural awareness training and resources for all the community.
It is intended that the Hub will evolve over time to include educational resources and information to increase the communities cultural awareness, understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture.
