current donor opportunities

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1. Disability Justice Advocacy

Project: Aids and Equipment Alliance

Amount sought: $51,058

The Aids and Equipment Alliance (AEAA) is a growing coalition of 49 members including people with disability, advocacy agencies, organisations which support people with a disability, disability sector service providers, health and human service agencies, academics, researchers and assistive technology suppliers. It was established in 2006 to empower people to challenge the current inefficiencies and implement an equitable distribution of aids and equipment (assistive technology) for people with disabilities in Victoria.

Over many years, people with a disability, carers, therapists and other support staff have reported significant problems gaining access and funding for aids and equipment in Victoria. The Victorian Aids and Equipment Program has always been a subsidy program and therefore top-up funds, largely from philanthropic sources, have been required. However, the level of funding has not kept up with increased demand. This increased demand has been led by a range of factors including an ageing population; social policy that encourages community inclusion; higher equipment costs associated with increasingly sophisticated equipment; and inflation.

Project

The project aims to:

  • Ensure greater choice and equity for people with a disability in the way aids and equipment policies, programs, and supports are delivered.
  • Achieve increased investment in the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program.

Funds are sought to continue and increase the project coordinator’s hours from 2 days per week to 3 days. Whilst members donate their time and expertise to the alliance, further funds are sought to enable AEAA to continue project coordination, policy and submission writing.

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2. East African Women’s Foundation

Project: Somali Community Care

Amount sought: $30,000

The East African Women’s Foundation (EAWF) was established in 2005 by East African women to help East African women and their families in Australia to:

  • reduce poverty, hardship and isolation;
  • assist with resettlement and re-establishment in Australia including helping women develop, establish and operate their own businesses;
  • improve East African women’s health, standards of living, and recovery from injuries and disease arising from war and political upheaval; and
  • provide relief and support to East African women and their families in Australia.

EAWF has 108 full members (women from East African background) and 10 associate members. It is managed by a Committee of Management which has nine members. Of these, eight are women from East African background.

EAWF receives no recurrent Government funding. It has an office based in Footscray which is provided at no charge by a member of the management committee. The office is run by volunteers. The following activities are run out of the office:

  • English classes for women who have had their allocated 510 hours from the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) but still require additional tuition;
  • parenting sessions for parents of Somali and Burundi background who have teenage children;
  • Somali girls cultural and homework support program;
  • a walking group;
  • an elderly social activity group; and
  • connecting communities through African Muslim art program.

Funding is sought to employ a part-time worker for the organisation.