Communities
ICV works in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations through linking skilled and trained volunteers to projects that have been identified as part of a community’s vision or development plan.
ICV is a not-for-profit and non-government organisation. We do not charge a fee for the services we provide to communities or organisations.
ICV works on projects that have been identified as part of a community’s vision for the future, often in the community’s development plan. It is important for ICV to support projects that have engagement by local people in their development and implementation. We can also help communities to document their vision for the future in a development plan.
ICV works by building on local strengths, knowledge and developing strong respectful relationships between ICV, volunteers, communities and other organisations.
ICV volunteers can play an important role in communities, supplementing existing skills and helping to develop new skills that contribute to a stronger future for the whole community. Projects are conducted by community invitation only. Communities determine the skills needed, manage the project design, select the volunteers, and run the project in a way that works best for them. An ICV Project Officer supports the community as it undertakes these processes.
Our Project Officers work closely with communities and are active facilitators, engaging with other agencies on the ground, making referrals and suggesting and supporting partnerships where appropriate. It is important communities have the capacity and time to undertake projects they identify, and local people need to be involved and engaged with the project.
Community story
Traditional culture strengthened with the young in Queensland’s capital
Suburban Brisbane was the scene for an ICV project which helped Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children re-connect with their culture and traditions.
The Binambi Barambah camps held in Brisbane’s north, are the brainchild of respected elder Ruth Hegarty and her late husband, and are aimed at children aged between seven to 16 years.
Aunty Ruth says it became clear that many of the children who had moved with their parents to the Queensland capital were in danger of losing their culture.
A stitch in time
A group of women in Palumpa in the Northern Territory learnt the art of sewing and gained a new wardrobe as part of a community-driven ICV project. The project helped revitalise the Palumpa Women’s Centre. The volunteers also ran an informal school holidays art program.
