How Noongar Mia Mia is helping connect First Nations’ kids to their culture
- QBE Foundation is supporting Noongar Mia Mia with a $25,000 local grant
- Noongar Mia Mia is a 100% Aboriginal owned and operated charity that provides community housing and tenancy advocacy in Perth
- The local grant will help establish a cultural book gifting program for children.
The QBE Foundation works to create strong, resilient and inclusive communities, with a particular focus on supporting initiatives working to address climate change and inclusion.
At QBE, we’ve also had a long-term commitment to reconciliation which remains focussed on two-way meaningful and impactful partnerships with First Nations peoples, communities and businesses.
Our vision for reconciliation is to embed an understanding of our shared past where all Australians are united together to celebrate, acknowledge and respect the contribution of Australia’s First Peoples.
"The QBE Foundation local grant program is a way for us to support local organisations, outside of our charity partnerships, who are making a positive impact in our communities," says QBE Foundation Co-Chair, Jason Clarke.
One such organisation is Noongar Mia Mia, a 100% Aboriginal owned and operated charity that provides community housing and culturally-safe tenancy support for the Noongar people in Perth, and recipient of a $25,000 QBE Foundation local grant in 2021.
Turning houses into loving homes with Noongar Mia Mia
Noongar Mia Mia was established in 2000 to support Noongar people from disadvantaged communities who have been on the waiting list for social housing, or are experiencing homelessness.
"Many Aboriginal people find it extremely difficult to find private real estate," says Managing Director, Tina Pickett. "Especially large families. When you are of colour and turn up at a real estate showing, the unfortunate experience for many is that you rarely receive an equal chance."
Sadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are continuously challenged by systemic bias and stereotypes which makes it harder for them to find the housing that they deserve. In WA, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are 13 times more likely to be homeless and on average, it takes twice as long to house a First Nations rough sleeper.1
Noongar Mia Mia have 90 properties that they maintain and rent out to families so that they can have a safe, culturally-supported place to live and raise their children. For Pickett, this is about more than simply providing housing, it’s about making connections to culture and community.
"What we do is save lives," says Pickett. "And the fact that we are 100% Aboriginal owned and operated means that we deeply understand the struggles – the intergenerational trauma that they’ve experienced – because we have too."
"Our tenants feel comfortable knowing that it’s their mob delivering the service. We do have a lot of connections with Noongar people either through family or friends. We are all familiar with the different family groups and we can connect with them and their Boodjar – the land where they come from," says Picket.
"As one of our directors, Gordon Cole, says: it takes hands to build a house, but hearts to make a home. And we have a lot of heart."
Connecting Noongar children to their culture
The QBE Foundation local grant will be used to make these houses even more welcoming, with a book gifting program that will provide children with stories that connect them to their land and culture.
Noongar Mia Mia employee, Shelby Robinson, is proud that support from QBE means that they can start sending books to deserving families. "We’ll set up 40 tenants with bi-monthly, culturally-appropriate books for children aged three to twelve" says Robinson. "Parents will be able to sit with their children at night, read them a story and partake in interactive cultural activities."
Not only will this foster even stronger family connections, but will also help improve the literacy rates of Aboriginal children.
"One in four Aboriginal year five students remain below the national minimum standards in reading," says Robinson. "Early intervention and supplying families with free resources to increase literacy levels is key. But also, we need to give them an opportunity to intertwine literature with their culture."
As part of the program, Noongar Mia Mia will engage Aboriginal authors, artists and entertainers to create bespoke books that focus on Aboriginal stories, culture and community. This is something that children can be proud to be part of.
"We want to empower children with self-pride," says Pickett. "Pride in their homes and pride in the nice things they have – books being one of them."
Picket smiles, "It is incredibly special to me that we can create books that tell our stories to future generations. Without the QBE Foundation local grant, this program would just be an idea. Now we can actually make it a reality."
Making a difference through books
For Clarke, Noongar Mia Mia’s book gifting program is a beautiful way to provide Aboriginal children with education that makes a real difference.
"QBE is excited to play a small part in furthering the connection between Noongar children, their culture and language through books," says Clarke. "We’ve already had one of our people supporting the charity to build their database and I know we can’t wait to see how this program grows in the future."
Tina Pickett can’t thank QBE enough for their support. "We are so grateful," she says. "It really shows that QBE cares and that they are interested in Aboriginal organisations. QBE is so large and for them to support our small charity and what we do makes me feel so warm. It’s something we’re really proud of. Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of people who are disadvantaged."
Find out more about Noongar Mia Mia
Learn more about the QBE Foundation
