Centennial Coal provides annual funding of as much as $160,000 to the WNAC to support the health and education of the Wonnarua people. Members of the WNAC can apply for health and education grants. The applications are assessed by the WNAC Aboriginal Health and Aboriginal Education subcommittees.

If you would like to apply for health or education support please complete and submit the relevant forms below.

Health Claim Form

HEALTH CLAIM FORM.pdf (download here)

There are limited funds available and not all claims can be paid. Each person can make only two claims per year and the annual benefit is limited to $1,500 per person.  Once completed this form must be downloaded, printed and sent to the WNAC or scanned attached and emailed to health-education@wonnarua.org.au.

Receipts must accompany your form and can be scanned and emailed, faxed or mailed with your application.

Under the WNAC Health policy, payment will be considered for a range of treatments and support, these are broadly defined as:

• relief of pain and suffering;
• providing respite care;
• access to health services which would not otherwise be available;
• reducing the effect of a disability or injury;
• help in recovering from an injury;
• assisting in improving a medical condition which prevents you from working, and
• gap repayments on services partly reimbursed by health funds.

Payments will only be made in respect of the balance owing after claim on Medicare and private health insurance if applicable. In some circumstances there will be no Medicare support available and a claim for the full expense can be made for consideration. The assessment panel may also consider claims outside of these areas.

Health Fund Expenditure

The following is a graph of the overall Health Fund expenditure:

Please note that the 2011 year is still in progress, thus the expenditure will continue to grow.

Closing the gap on Indigenous Health Outcomes

The Australian Government has introduced two new programs to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians better manage their health, especially chronic diseases. For more information, open the PDFs below.

Closing the gap on Indigenous Health Outcomes.pdf

Prescription Info.pdf

FUNERAL COSTS

A further Health Fund Policy is available to provide financial assistance to WNAC members in funding funeral costs; noting that there are other resources that can potentially assist Aboriginal families in need including a grant of $1,000 available from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

The Assessment Committee, at its discretion, may:

• Approve the granting of $500 for each bereavement of a Wonnarua person as a legitimate payment under the health fund as a consequence of loss of well being,
• Pay the $500 to the immediate family, on application and presentation of a copy of a tax invoice from a funeral director.

Education Claim Form

EDUCATION CLAIM FORM.pdf (download here)

The Wonnarua Education fund has been set up to assist after all other funding has been exhausted.  In the first instance members should explore mainstream funding that is available. Funds are limited and the intention of this funding is to assist members in genuine need.  In the event that there are insufficient funds to go around, priority will be given to first time applicants.  Each household/family unit is limited to a total benefit of $1000 per calendar year.  There is a lifetime benefit limit of $3000 per individual.  Members may lodge an application for their children providing they are under 18 years old.

If you would like to apply for assistance you can download the Education Claim form, complete and mail to the address on the claim form.  Receipts must accompany your claim form.  Alternatively all documents can be scanned and emailed to health-education@wonnarua.org.au or faxed to 02 6571 8551. 

Under the WNAC draft Education Policy payment will be considered for a range of study related costs for secondary, certificate, diploma, graduate, undergraduate, postgraduate or higher degree courses and professional development courses.  These are broadly defined as:

• Institutional fees, cost of text books, stationery and compulsory excursions;
• Cost of sporting equipment up to $300 per year for secondary students;
• Cost of tutoring – the tutor must be pre-approved by the Assessment Committee;
• Assistance towards cost of Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)

In certain circumstances the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation may be in a position to assist members towards the cost of the purchase of computer hardware (i.e. laptop). At the present time, members who are currently enrolled in studying at a post secondary school level, and have successfully completed at least one semester of study are eligible to apply for this support. Please refer also to the information required in the education application form.

Payments will only be made on presentation of a valid receipt. In some circumstances the Assessment Committee will consider pre-payment to an approved tutor. In addition reimbursement of half of the approved expenditure at the beginning of the year may be considered with the other half to be paid at the end of the sponsorship year on presentation of a record of final academic results establishing satisfactory completion of subjects studied. While the draft policy is still in operation the assessment panel may also consider claims outside of these areas for inclusion in the final policy, which will be determined after the fund has been in operation for a year or so.

Education Fund Expenditure

The following is a graph of the overall Education Fund expenditure: