Construction is on track at the new home of the Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, with the building set to open in January 2025.
The ACT Government committed to building a purpose-built facility for Gugan Gulwan under the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement for the 10th Legislative Assembly.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith said it was great to see the progress of Gugan Gulwan’s new home.
“The ACT Government is committed to supporting community-controlled organisations to strengthen and grow, enabling them to deliver more services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans,” said Minister Stephen-Smith,
The new building will support Gugan Gulwan to deliver a range of expanded services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families in a culturally appropriate and familiar setting.
There is a central gathering place that provides privacy from neighbouring facilities and will have a fire pit to acknowledges traditional and contemporary cultural practices.
The new facility will tell the stories of pre-colonisation, post-colonisation and contemporary history with an ongoing connection to Country through artwork and storytelling.
“This new building will be a welcoming place that prioritises cultural heritage in its arrangement of spaces, and provides privacy where required, with respect for the range of activities and different needs of people who use the building,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
“Although Gugan Gulwan is on the ancestral lands of the Ngunnawal, many Aboriginal peoples now call this Country home, and the new building seeks to reflect and uphold Aboriginal identity, including when connections to Country may be elsewhere.”
Minister Stephen-Smith said the architecture and design had been culturally led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and interpretive work within the new centre will reflect this.
“The building design recognises that Aboriginal culture should be understood as ongoing and living – while art and cultural practice reflect 65,000 years of history they are not stuck the past,” she said.
The unique shape of the building’s facade features 43 highly detailed precast panels with an average weight of eight tonnes per panel.
When complete, the project will be a certified 5-star Green Star building and will use 65 per cent less energy compared with similar builds. This has been achieved with a performance glazing system, efficient lighting and a large Solar PV System. The building will also collect water with a 1,700L rainwater collection tank.
“The Green Star rating is an example of the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainable building and infrastructure,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Damien Coke has recently been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, following the retirement of Kim Davison after decades of service.
Mr Coke is a proud Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba, and Yuin man and has extensive experience in cultural engagement for corporates and change management for diversity and inclusion outcomes.
Mr Coke is also a highly experienced senior manager and administrator, having held positions including Chief Operations Officer for Reconciliation Australia and Executive Director, Business Services at Indigenous Business Australia.
“I am delighted that Mr Coke has been chosen to lead Gugan Gulwan into a new phase, with great potential for expanding services in a culturally appropriate and purpose-built home,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
“I am confident Mr Coke will continue and build on Ms Davison’s incredible legacy and will continue to take Gugan Gulwan from strength to strength.”
