About

A City of Stirling funded project fostering and enabling Balga residents to build healthy, safe, inclusive communities where children and families grow, work, play and live. The Aboriginal community in Balga describe Boodja as ‘country or land’.

The Balga Boodja Project (BBP) part of a network (Social Inclusion Mirrabooka) of over 40 government and Non-government agencies with a presence in this area, facilitated by North Metropolitan Public Health.

The focus is on families and young people, with specific appreciation of the social and cultural contribution of local Noongar people as well as the celebration of other cultures and ethnicities sharing the area. So far, strategies implemented by the Balga Boodja partnership include:

• Design and implementation of the interactive Balga Boodja Walk trail. Six signs and QR code Applications for people walking along Balga Avenue to virtually access the content of six local Aboriginal Elders’ interviews.
• Development of training resource for young people to interview Aboriginal Elders. Recruitment and training of 12 Aboriginal youth (15 – 25 years of age) using Appreciative Inquiry interview methodology, which was guided by Aboriginal Elder Dawn Gilchrist. Interviews, recording and editing of 6 local Elders stories.
• Implementation of Way-Finder footpath stickers to promote walking groups and facilitate community interaction. This was completed in June 2021 in partnership with Department of Transport (Your Move Stirling).
• Training of six community Heart Foundation Walking leaders to engage community with weekly walks.
• Two community workshops have taken place (February and August 2021) using an appreciative inquiry framework to assist in the co-designing of future interventions for a vibrant, healthy, safer, inclusive community.
• Commission of Artwork to emerging Aboriginal Noongar artist. Successful applicant Rubeun Yorkshire’s artwork depicts Balga Boodja community.  The BBP logo is based on the artwork developed by Rubeun Yorkshire, also displayed on printed stickers used on bins along Balga Avenue. The artwork placed on wheelie bins along Balga Avenue is thought to make a visual statement of community connectedness.
• List of BBP partners.