Babana group gets boost

A program which promotes the health and well-being of Sydney’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men has been given a $10,000 grant from the City of Sydney.

Every last Friday of the month Babana Aboriginal men’s group meets at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern to bring together men from around Sydney and the greater metropolitan area to promote positive values and address issues which concern its members.

The issues of greatest concern include men’s health, family relationships, anti-violence, anti-drug and alcohol campaigns, and post prison release programs.

Babana means ‘brother’ in the Dharuk language. A common form of greeting among Aboriginal men, the term ‘brother’ also conveys a sense of the cooperative effort and community that underpins Babana, according to its members.

Mark Spinks, who started the Babana group, said that in spite of the groups strong affiliation with the indigenous community “its doors are open to everyone, regardless of the colour of your skin we’re all brothers.”

“Babana started around four years ago,” Mr Spinks said. “We average about 70 participants a week and we have service providers who come along and help people, community health people, job service agencies, Carers NSW…it’s a forum where we get information and share that information, that’s the best way to describe it.”

One of the main focuses of the group is to promote healthy living to combat the high incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and strokes among Indigenous men caused by alcohol and tobacco use.

“I believe if we fix a man’s health you’ll build a strong foundation for a stronger family and we can trace a lot of the problems of the Aboriginal people back to ill health,” Mr Spinks said. “How’s a man going to go and look for a job when he’s battling illness?”

The City of Sydney grant will help by allowing the group to create a website so that they can reach out to more of those in need of advice.

The group has been busy since its inception holding a community walk on Sundays followed by a breakfast, fundraisers for people doing it tough, cultural exchanges, and a domestic violence forum. They have also been instrumental in an Anzac day march to honour Indigenous soldiers.

“We’ve marched for the last four years to honour the coloured digger,” Mr Spinks said. “ We march at Redfern Street, the Governor comes to that, Clover Moore, Tanya Plibersek and we’ve been marching to the Block down at Redfern Park…it’s just our way of honouring the Aboriginal men and women who served this country.”

“We are delighted to support an initiative that focuses on long-term health benefits,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP. “Through this program we are improving the overall wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

“As part of our commitment to Indigenous families, we are providing them with a greater understanding of the long-term importance of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.”