Viva Energy is supporting Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative to provide better connections to vital services under a $375,000 partnership.
Supporting First Nations people from Colac to Werribee in Victoria, the partnership will involve the purchase and operation of a new community bus for the next three years, while also covering the overheads associated with the co-operative’s patient transport service.
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative CEO Simon Flagg says the partnership will make a difference to the lives of First Nations people in the local area.
“We’re really excited about the partnership with Viva Energy,” he says. “We will be able to take the community across the state, improve connections to health services, take kids to more activities and really provide our community with a great resource to get our mob out and about.”
About 2000 First Nations people are expected to use the bus to access health, community and cultural activities each year, with a further 1500 First Nations people requiring patient transport.
Viva Energy Executive General Manager – Refining Dale Cooper says the company is delighted to be officially partnering with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative for the next three years.
“Wathaurong plays a critical role in the region, providing health, family, community and cultural services for First Nations people,” he says.
“We’re proud to play a small role, by providing funding for a local bus and patient transport to help the community connect to these vital services.”
The program will support First Nations people in Greater Geelong, Colac, Lorne, Little River and Werribee.
Viva Energy is also supporting events and activities to engage First Nations school students in education and employment opportunities in the Greater Geelong region.
