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Wunan Foundation

Wunan Foundation was established in 1997 by the ATSIC Wunan Regional Council. ATSIC Commissioner Ian Trust was the Founding Chairperson of Wunan Foundation. The key objective of the Foundation is to alleviate poverty amongst Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley by supporting long-term Aboriginal community development. The Foundation seeks to achieve this by raising funds directly and by making investments that will generate long-term economic and employment benefits for Aboriginal people in the region.

The rationale behind the Foundation's longer term focus is to complement other programs aimed at meeting more immediate economic and welfare issues affecting Aboriginal people. Over time, Wunan Foundation aims to build a sustainable source of funding, independent of government support, for community development projects that will help improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley. Currently, the Foundation's activities provide significant training and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people.

Wunan Foundation is a not-for-profit Aboriginal organisation. The Board is made up of representatives of Aboriginal communities in the East Kimberley, the ATSIC Wunan Regional Council and a special advisor.

Wunan Foundation is a deductible gift recipient. Donations of $2.00 or more are fully tax-deductible. If you would like to make a donation or wish to discuss ways of helping the Foundation achieve its aims, please contact Paul Davis on (08) 9168 3881 or via e-mail: pdavis@wunan.org.au

Projects

Wunan Foundation's goal is to provide long-term economic benefits for Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley by developing commercially sustainable and successful Aboriginal-owned business enterprises. Whilst maintaining a long-term view, the Foundation currently undertakes various projects, as part of its main activities, to help provide training and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people. These projects include: -

The Wunan Foundation/Kimberley Group Training (KGT) partnership

· Since 2001, Wunan Foundation has been providing financial and management support to Kimberley Group Training (KGT) to assist them in their recruitment, training, placement and coordination of young trainees and apprentices. Wunan Foundation's support of KGT has helped them grow to become a successful CDEP organisation in providing real training and job opportunities to help build sustainable community employment and skills capacity amongst Aboriginal people.

Kimberley Wilderness Adventures

· Wunan Foundation's investment in and subsequent development of Kimberley Wilderness Adventures (KWA) since 2000 has seen them become the largest Aboriginal-owned tour operator in the Kimberley. Over that period, KWA has received numerous accolades for its service to its customers and the quality of its tours in some of the world's most remote locations.

Some of the awards received by KWA include: -
2002 Tourism Hall of Fame for Significant Tour Operators (Western Australian Tourism Awards)
2001 Winner - Significant Tour Operator Award (Western Australian Tourism Awards)
2001 Winner - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Award (Western Australian Tourism Awards)
With the support of the Foundation, KWA provides significant employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal people and leads the way in its development of relationships with local Aboriginal communities with regards to land access and tourism development.
Recently, the Wunan Foundation negotiated a joint venture arrangement with Australian Pacific Touring (APT) to help KWA achieve further growth and development for the future.

Wunan House

· In 2003, Wunan Foundation acquired what was then Duncan House (a 4-star Bed & Breakfast facility) to establish Wunan House - the first and only hostel in the East Kimberley catering especially for young Aboriginal people pursuing education, training and employment opportunities. The aim of Wunan House is to assist positive long-term training and employment outcomes for Aboriginal people in and around Kununurra. Wunan House offers high quality accommodation and all meals are included. Wunan House also provides, for its residents, computer facilities with internet access. Wunan House by managed by a full-time residential House Manager. To find out more about Wunan House, click on the link below to visit the Wunan House webpage.
For any enquiries about Wunan House, please contact Leticia Humpheries on (08) 9168 2436 or e-mail: wunan.house@wunan.org.au.