ABOUT US

DHULAWANG'S PURPOSE

Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation’s purpose is to support and empower Aboriginal families in the Kempsey region through the delivery of culturally safe and supported family dispute resolution and mediation services. Our services are provided by experienced and qualified practitioners, who facilitate neutral conversations to come to agreements that result in safe and positive outcomes for children and families.

OUR VISION

A safe, connected, thriving community, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families feel supported and understood. A community where children thrive in an environment that is safe, strong and ensures ongoing connection to Country and culture.

OUR MISSION

To provide a service that improves the lives and outcomes of First Nations children and families within the Kempsey area and beyond. We strive to ensure our services are provided in a way that is professional, ethical, and culturally safe. We operate from a place of informed understanding of the complex histories and needs of First Nations families in Kempsey. This includes acknowledging the ongoing grief and intergenerational trauma experienced by Aboriginal people, the ways in which Aboriginal family structures operate, and working with the community and individuals to support and empower stronger futures.

OUR VALUES

Care

We understand the role we play to help care for our people and community.

Community

We believe our community should be at the heart of what we do.

Culture

We focus on culture as a source of healing and strength.

GOVERNANCE

Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation is a public benevolent institution and a not-for-profit charity, registered by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. We are also endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient (DGR). We are governed by a board of directors and commit to adhering to all legal, financial, and governing requirements to maintain these registrations. If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

OUR LOGO

‘Dhulawang’ means ‘rainbow’ to the Dunghutti people who reside in the Macleay Valley of northern New South Wales. A rainbow is a symbol of hope and new beginnings and has been used here to depict “Barralbarayi” ( Anderson Sugarloaf Mountan), a local sacred place. The centrepiece of the logo, a praying mantis (gurginj gurginj), is a river totem that symbolises strength, agility, and patience, which mirrors Dhulawang’s ethos.

The Dhulawang logo represents the beauty and diverse culture of Indigenous Australians, with a specific focus on the connection between the land and the People.

SERVICE STATEMENTS

We will provide culturally safe models of Family Dispute Resolution that are appropriate to the unique needs of First Nations individuals, families, and communities.

We are committed to being a key agency in First Nations Family Dispute Resolution and understand our responsibility to create better outcomes for First Nations children and families.

We define ‘family’ beyond the western style family structure to include broader kinship networks and extended family.

We make provisions for multiple parties to be involved in the Family Dispute Resolution process, and understand that appropriate time, travel, allowance, and resourcing may be needed to accommodate this.

We will be guided by Dunghutti Elders and local cultural authorities to ensure the services we deliver are culturally safe and appropriate for First Nations families.