Benarrawa Community Development Association acknowledges the Traditional and Spiritual Custodians of this land. Benarrawa CDA adopted this name with permission from some Jagera Elders and the Brisbane Council of Elders in the mid 1990s. From Benarrawa Place at 79 Waratah Avenue, we build relationships with individuals, families & groups, that reflect the diversity of community to Connect, Welcome & Work together to:
Share histories and stories & build knowledge
Reflect community interests and needs
Create innovative responses to address identified needs
Enhance the strengths of the wider community, including our organisation
Develop purposeful networks and partnerships
Act for social and ecological justice. So that working together with people we grow a resilient and connected community based on mutual respect. Benarrawa is a small and beautiful incorporated not-for-profit community organisation that predominantly uses community development methodology in working with local people across southwest Brisbane to together create, develop and sustain positive initiatives which address issues of poverty, social and economic isolation and exclusion, loneliness, and general neighbourhood concerns. Benarrawa auspices the Graceville Community Garden, East Timor Community Centre and Naturebabes Playgroup. One of Benarrawa's regular groups is the Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity group which began in the mid 1990s. It began from grassroots origins, with local interested people connected with Christ the King Primary School and Parish, wanting to further develop their social justice arm and to learn more about First Nation's culture and develop authentic respectful relationships with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Over the past 30 years a calendar of annual events has been created that take place at significant cultural locations. These include the Annual Survival Day Ceremony on 26th January 7.30am, Annual Sorry Day on 26th May. 7am, Annual Elders lunch (mid October) Yarning circles and other smaller events that bubble up through the year. There is also an Educators learning circle held on the third Tuesday of each school term from 4-6pm, where interested members of the public and Educators meet and share resources, ideas and build connections to support the implementation of indigenous perspectives into the school curriculum. "Benarrawa is flowing. We dream that the people will listen to the land and to each other." - Benarrawa Dreaming Statement
