"Sorry Day" Funds Continue to Help Indigenous Australians
11 March 2008 at 1:27 pm
A campaign to help pay the transport costs for those who were part of the stolen generations to go to Canberra for the Sorry Day ceremony was so successful that the additional funds will continue to help on the road to reconciliation.
Organisers of the GetUp campaign say they have been blown away by the overwhelming response by Australians.
In total 4,649 people gave to the campaign and they were able to cover both plane and bus travel to and from Canberra, accommodation on the way, supported a billeting program in Canberra and arranged flights for older and more vulnerable members.
In total GetUp was able to help about 70 Indigenous Australians experience the Sorry moment in Canberra.
Donor generosity means that there is over $200,000 in additional funds which has been put into a newly arranged GetUp Reconciliation Fund.
Brett Solomon from GetUp says they are now in the process of further consultation with Indigenous organisations and individuals to determine the priorities and ways the GetUp community is best able to help in a range of identified areas (health, education etc).
He says the plan is to launch the GetUp Indigenous Learning Program where they employ young Indigenous leaders in the GetUp team on a 6 months rolling basis to learn while being paid to do lobbying, advocacy, online mobilisation and fundraising – sharing their skills with us, and us with them. After their employment here they can take those skills back home and teach others.
He says the fund will also help resource campaigns for the full funding of the Close the Gap campaign that was co-launched last year and taking concerted action in the Indigenous portfolios of housing, education and employment initiatives.
To find out more go to: www.getup.org.au
