The Aboriginal-led Spear Foundation has received a helping hand from KPMG Australia to become a more sustainable organisation, so it can continue delivering programs that empower First Nations people and their communities.
"Since 2013, the Spear Foundation has been committed to empowering young Aboriginal women, ensuring no child misses out at primary school and to closing the generational disconnect through establishing strong cultural connections," KPMG Consulting Partner James Arnott said.
"But to do so, they need to be financially sustainable and have a strong organisational framework. We were delighted by the opportunity to engage with and support the Spear Foundation and their vital role in community."
The team from KPMG conducted interviews with stakeholders and board members, benchmarking the Foundation against standards set by the national regulator.
"It was a cross-firm effort to identify gaps and recommend improvements in the Foundation’s governance structure," Mr Arnott said.
"We were also focused on investigating new social enterprise opportunities and partnerships, to help the Foundation and build a resilient framework for sustainable growth and long-term impact."
The Foundation’s support is centred around three programs:
Smiling Child: Ensuring all children from all backgrounds and cultures, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, are not excluded from learning experiences due to economic hardship.
Everlasting Elders: Events to facilitate the connections and kinships across Aboriginal generations.
Djeelya Young Woman: A preventative program holding young Aboriginal women in a nurturing space, providing them with tools and supporting their journey to alternative learning and earning pathways.
Spear Foundation General Manager, Becky Sangster said, "We are very grateful to KPMG for both the governance and social enterprise support they provided. Their contribution has strengthened the Spear Foundation and positioned us for long-term sustainability as we scale our impact across all our programs."
As part of their engagement, KPMG team members attended a ‘pamper day’ for the Everlasting Elders program in Bayswater, in Western Australia.
Around 40 elders attended the event, where Aboriginal teenage girls from the local high school did their nails, hair, and make-up while sharing stories of cultural significance.
