About
This report summarises key activities undertaken as a part of Connecting 2770, an initiative undertaken by Jesuit Social Services in collaboration with community partners on the traditional land of the Darug people in north west Sydney, New South Wales. Connecting 2770 was a series of cultural activities and events held across 2023, aiming to build meaningful and empowering connections to country, culture, and community across the postcode 2770.
A primary objective of Connecting 2770 was to foster community cohesion while enhancing the capacity of Willmot residents to become advocates and agents of change. Equally important was addressing and dismantling the barriers that hinder full participation in society, ensuring that families and other community members had equal access to opportunity. Over the course of the initiative, participants engaged in activities such as Aboriginal dance programs, Dreamtime story workshops, art and ecology sessions, and community garden projects. The initiative culminated in the “Willmot Many Friends” festival, attended by 260 people, during which several activities from the initiative were showcased and celebrated.
The evaluation of Connecting 2770 assessed the initiative’s impact on participants’ sense of connection—to others, to Aboriginal culture and to their local community. Mixed methods, including surveys and impact yarns, were used to evaluate outcomes such as self-confidence, pride and sense of belonging. The findings highlighted the initiative’s success in fostering stronger networks and enhancing local capacity within the Willmott community.
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