Indigenous Community Volunteers

Having spent a large part of my working life as an economist, project management and Managing Director in places as varied as Paris, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East when I retired I wanted to put something back into the community.

I don’t believe money solves problems, people do.

Now aged 69 I first came into contact with Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) around 2000 which coincided with my semi-retirement.

I have been involved in a number of projects.

I am now working with the Koori Employment and Enterprises Co-Operative (KEE) which, due to changes to government funding and policies had to implement change in the way it offered employment and other services to its Indigenous community members.

I made several trips to Shepparton from my home town of Sydney spending several days at a time working with CEO John Martin and his senior staff.

We are aiming to reorientate the business – with me mentoring John and some of his staff while we formulate a 5-year strategic business plan.

My overall experience with ICV has been extremely rewarding for me.

I understand much better the difficulties Indigenous people face in accessing services mainstream Australians take for granted and I have a much greater empathy for them.

Bruce Bland has been involved on a number of ICV projects as a volunteer including the present one outlined above with KEE in Shepparton Victoria.

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