Some examples of the participants with which Benarrawa has worked in relationship with in the past and some of who we continue to work with, include:

• Local community members who are active in learning about Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander issues and the Solidarity with our First People’s movement here in Brisbane and nationally;

• Local community members interested in decolonisation

• Local community members interested in participating in a community choir where they sing songs in Aboriginal language

• Local schools and groups wishing to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and to make connections with the local Aboriginal history and community members we have relationships with;

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander networks and organisations working with our First people’s and their community;

• New and Emerging Community Associations;

• Newly arrived community members and people with refugee and migrant backgrounds;

• Members of the Brisbane East Timorese Community;

• Local community members interested in welcoming newly arrived and emerging community members into the community, in meaningful and respectful ways such welcome hub events;

• Local community members who are interested in living more intentionally less complex and financially demanding lives;

• Local community members who are parenting with little or no support;

• Local community members who are/have been full-time carers or have become isolated because of their caring role;

• Local community members who are interested in permaculture gardening and bushtukka/native plants - eating healthy and wholesome food, grown locally and organically and connecting with their local community;

• Local community members experiencing social and economic isolation or barriers to participation;

• Local Community members who were impacted by the January 2011 and 2022 floods;

• Local residents and community organisations coming together to be prepared for future disasters and extreme weather events due to climate change;

• Brisfest - connecting local community members with the Arts - cabaret, dance, song writing and yarning, community choir etc.

 These examples are by no means exhaustive and our relationships continue to ebb and flow according to our strategic directions (see below).

Benarrawa CDA also plays an educative role in addressing local, national and international social justice issues. For example promoting decolonising practice alongside learning and building relationships across Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous communities.

Community and professional education has been taking shape since 2011 and 2022 floods around disaster preparedness and resilience - sharing resources, providing workshops to local groups on our practice of doorstep visits, presenting on project work at various local and international conferences. Community education has been taking shape also through supporting local flood impacted residents to develop street and neighbourhood plans for future disasters. Overall, Benarrawa continues through all its community development work to foster inclusive, open and welcoming neighbourhoods.

Benarrawa The organisation networks extensively and collaborates with other groups both locally, across Brisbane and to some extent across national borders.  Some networks and/or services which the Association contributes to and engages with include refugee, housing, youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, carer’s, other neighbourhood centres, migrants, schools and faith based networks.  Benarrawa CDA , where possible, collaborates with a number of other organisations and groups on many activities, projects and issues of interest, and uses these collaborations as one method of developing significant referral pathways.