Our partnership with this grassroots Indigenous organisation helps them meet community need

Kurbingui Youth and Family Development is an Aboriginal community-based not for profit whose vision is "to be a deadly organisation that supports our mob on their journey." From humble beginnings starting as a small boxing club in 2001, Kurbingui has grown to be an important pillar in the Indigenous community on Brisbane's northside and Moreton Bay. 

Kurbingui provides programs and services relating to educational support for children and families, youth engagement, domestic and family violence, family wellbeing, community access, men's and women's groups, employment readiness and much more.

As Kurbingui pivoted to delivering support online due to COVID-19, they realised many of their clients lacked the devices needed to access these services. Many clients also lacked the technology necessary for online learning as schools reverted to learning at home.

We recently visited Kurbingui to provide them with 20 laptops, four Surface Pros, and 15 prepaid sim cards. These will be distributed to disadvantaged clients for some of the activities above. The devices will also be used in the delivery of Kurbingui's Strong Deadly Spirits (National Suicide Prevention Trial) program.

Kurbingui are currently in the process of renovating an existing building to turn it into a new community space.  The refurbishment will allow Kurbingui to run more programs and sessions in a space that is safe, appropriate and built for purpose. The project is being partly delivered by trainees in Kurbingui's Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program.

Some of the materials for the refurbishment were donated via a GIVIT Together that ran before Christmas. Generously donated funds from Taubmans have also helped progress the project. 

Kurbingui were one of our early adopters - their tenth anniversary using GIVIT is fast approaching! In that time they've received high chairs, fridges and freezers, heaters, school supplies, wheelchairs, bikes, drawers and cupboards, microwaves, hoodies from Hanes, mattresses, linen and car seats. For donors, these items might not have seemed like much, but for the people receiving them, they make the world of difference, as Dean from Kurbingui's Yeaca Dhargo Familly Wellbeing team attests.

"A family moved into a new place and didn't have a washing machine. GIVIT provided a brand new washing machine. The mother cried her eyes out on seeing it. She'd never owned a brand new washing machine in her life. For her that was the chance to provide clean clothing for her children."

"GIVIT gives us a chance to provide those essential, much-needed items that families wouldn't otherwise be able to afford."

During the first couple of months of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia, many of Kurbingui's clients lost work and were struggling to pay bills and feed their families. A donated chest freezer from GIVIT meant Kurbingui could store meals for distribution in the community.

Through GIVIT, generous Australians have donated more than 455,000 items to Indigenous Australians experiencing hardship. We're currently working with more than 645 frontline organisations supporting for First Nations Australians, a number that's doubled since the onset of COVID-19.

At the time of writing, there's more than 14,000 items urgently needed to support Indigenous people in need. You can donate items, money or even time by heading to our Indigenous Appeal page.