history

^
2001

West Coast Eagles registered David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc

Endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)

^
2002

David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc is register for Income Tax Exemption

^
2005

David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc launch at the old Subiaco Football Club

Wirra Club program commences

^
2006

Pilbara office opened in Wickham with the support of Rio Tinto

^
2007

Dare to Dream for girls commences at Balga SHS and develops into the Deadly Sista Girlz (DSG) Programs

On My Way Leadership program in Pilbara

Troy Cook Health and Fitness program in Pilbara

^
2008

P242 Employment Program with Bunnings

Change of name from David Wirrpunda Foundation Inc to David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc

^
2009

Commenced P242 Employment Program in Partnership with Central Institute of Technology based in Leederville

^
2010

Commenced the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) with Central Institute of Technology

^
2011

Moved head office from Subiaco Oval to Central Institute of Technology in Leederville

Commenced DSG in Doonside and Queanbeyan in NSW

Commenced DSG in Healesville in VIC

Commenced DSG Program in Broome with the support of Shell Australia

^
2012

Opened Victorian Office to support the delivery of DSG programs

National NAIDOC Person of the Year Award – David Wirrpanda

The DSG program named a best practice program by the Commissioner of Children and Young People in WA

DSG was named a best practice program in the AMP Foundations Best of Every Woman: An overview of approaches for philanthropic investment in Aboriginal women and girls

^
2013

National DEADLY AWARD for Excellence in Education for DSG Program

National NAIDOC Youth of the Year Award – Kate Malpass (DSG Mentor)

Opened ACT Office in Canberra to support the Wirra Club Program

^
2014

Change of Name from David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc to The Wirrpanda Foundation Ltd

^
2015

Launched the Moorditj Ngoorndiak Program in Perth Metro

Launched the Deadly Sista Girlz Program in Brisbane in Partnership with Institute of Urban Indigenous Health and Office for Women

^
2016

Foundation attended the SOD ceremony at Lathlain facility site

Commencement of the Remote School Attendance (RSAS) program for Wiluna

Commenced delivery of TTW in partnership with Communicare

^
2017

Launch of the youth justice contracts: Bunuru in partnership with Outcare and Full Circle partnership with Life without Barriers in the West Kimberley

Launch of the Empowering Youth Initiatives program: Bidi Waalitj, in collaboration with the West Coast Eagles and the Department of Jobs and Small Business

Commencement of program delivery in Onslow, WA

Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz program to to include 12 delivery sites across Australia

^
2018

ReSet program launched

Expansion of our Employment program to include Goldfields, Wheatbelt and South West Regions

VTEC program alongside Skill Hire named as a finalist for the Innovation in Indigenous Emplyment award at the NESA Excellence Awards

^
2019

Relocated operations to our new home at Mineral Resources Park, alongside the West Coast Eagles in Lathlain

Commenced delivery of the Community Development Program in the Yaaliku Region of WA

Design and delivery commenced for the WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub (Wirra Hub) in Burswood

Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz Program to include 14 full-time delivery sites

^
2020

Opened the Waalitj Hub: WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in Burswood, WA, supporting over 100 Indigenous Businesses.

Our partnership with the Town of Victoria Park, West Coast Eagles and Perth Football Club won the national award for the Community Based Initiative of the Year at the 2020 Parks and Leisure National Awards of Excellence.

Onslow Family support won the Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry People’s Choice Award

^
2021

The Wirrpanda Foundation proudly changed our name to Waalitj Foundation, signifying our evolution and expansion after two decades of growth.

As the Foundation grows, Waalitj becomes a symbol of our commitment to upholding our values so the Foundation, like Waalitj, is able to fly great distances and hold respect wherever it goes.  

Whadjuk Noongar Boodja is our base. Nested with the West Coast Eagles we are proud to identify with our parent company. Waalitj represents this connection and our deep appreciation to Whadjuk Noongar and the place of the Foundation’s birth.  

The Foundation exists to support and enable the success of First Nations people and lead in the provision of education, employment and business services.  

 

 

^
2022

Launched the Indigenous Scholarships program in Queensland, aimed at increasing the number of First Nations Australians with tertiary and trade qualifications.

Expanded the Plan 2day 4 2morrow Employment Program expand into the Kwinana, Peel and Upper-South West Region.

Commenced our tailored boys program at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth.

 

^
2023

Relocated the Waalitj Hub from Burswood toour Head Office at Mineral Resources Park

Commenced Deadly Sista Girlz at two additional school sites

^
2001

West Coast Eagles registered David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc

Endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)

^
2002

David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc is register for Income Tax Exemption

^
2005

David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc launch at the old Subiaco Football Club

Wirra Club program commences

^
2006

Pilbara office opened in Wickham with the support of Rio Tinto

^
2007

Dare to Dream for girls commences at Balga SHS and develops into the Deadly Sista Girlz (DSG) Programs

On My Way Leadership program in Pilbara

Troy Cook Health and Fitness program in Pilbara

^
2008

P242 Employment Program with Bunnings

Change of name from David Wirrpunda Foundation Inc to David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc

^
2009

Commenced P242 Employment Program in Partnership with Central Institute of Technology based in Leederville

^
2010

Commenced the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) with Central Institute of Technology

^
2011

Moved head office from Subiaco Oval to Central Institute of Technology in Leederville

Commenced DSG in Doonside and Queanbeyan in NSW

Commenced DSG in Healesville in VIC

Commenced DSG Program in Broome with the support of Shell Australia

^
2012

Opened Victorian Office to support the delivery of DSG programs

National NAIDOC Person of the Year Award – David Wirrpanda

The DSG program named a best practice program by the Commissioner of Children and Young People in WA

DSG was named a best practice program in the AMP Foundations Best of Every Woman: An overview of approaches for philanthropic investment in Aboriginal women and girls

^
2013

Opened Kwinana Office to support the delivery of the P242 Happy Families Employment Program, Parenting Program, Driver Training Program, Deadly Brotha Boyz Program and DSG Program

National DEADLY AWARD for Excellence in Education for DSG Program

National NAIDOC Youth of the Year Award – Kate Malpass (DSG Mentor)

Opened ACT Office in Canberra to support the Wirra Club Program

^
2014

Change of Name from David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc to The Wirrpanda Foundation Ltd

Opened Great Southern Office in Albany to support the Wirra Sports Program and the role of the Great Southern Aboriginal Sports Development Manager position

^
2015

Launched the Moorditj Ngoorndiak Program in Perth Metro

Launched the Deadly Sistas Program in Brisbane in Partnership with Institute of Urban Indigenous Health and Office for Women

^
2016

Decision to move to Cannington to be closer to many of our participants and readiness for our transition to the new Lathlain Facility

Foundation attended the SOD ceremony at Lathlain facility site

Commencement of the Remote School Attendance (RSAS) program for Wiluna

Commenced delivery of TTW in partnership with Communicare

^
2017

Launch of the youth justice contracts: Bunuru in partnership with Outcare and Full Circle partnership with Life without Barriers in the West Kimberley

Launch of the Empowering Youth Initiatives program: Bidi Waalitj, in collaboration with the West Coast Eagles and the Department of Jobs and Small Business

Relocation of our Victorian office to Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI) at Richmond Football Club

Commencement of program delivery in Onslow, WA

Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz program to to include 12 delivery sites across Australia

^
2018

ReSet program launched

Commencement of the ParentsNext Program, in collaboration with Stirling Skills Training

Midland/Perth North office opened

Expansion of our VTECs to include Goldfields, Wheatbelt and South West Regions

VTEC program alongside Skill Hire named as a finalist for the Innovation in Indigenous Emplyment award at the NESA Excellence Awards

^
2019

Relocated operations to our new home at Mineral Resources Park, alongside the West Coast Eagles in Lathlain

Commenced delivery of the Community Development Program in the Yaaliku Region of WA

Design and delivery commenced for the WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub (Wirra Hub) in Burswood

Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz Program to include 14 full-time delivery sites

Extension of the Bunuru and Full Circle Youth Justice Programs of a further 2 years

^
2020

Opened the Wirra Hub: WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in Burswood, WA, supporting over 100 Indigenous Businesses.

Our partnership with the Town of Victoria Park, West Coast Eagles and Perth Football Club won the national award for the Community Based Initiative of the Year at the 2020 Parks and Leisure National Awards of Excellence.

Onslow Family support won the Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry People’s Choice Award

Commenced Stronger Communities Program as part of P242, providing intensive mentoring support to Indigenous Jobseekers

^
2021

The Wirrpanda Foundation proudly changed our name to Waalitj Foundation, signifying our evolution and expansion after two decades of growth.

As the Foundation grows, Waalitj becomes a symbol of our commitment to upholding our values so the Foundation, like Waalitj, is able to fly great distances and hold respect wherever it goes.  

Whadjuk Noongar Boodja is our base. Nested with the West Coast Eagles we are proud to identify with our parent company. Waalitj represents this connection and our deep appreciation to Whadjuk Noongar and the place of the Foundation’s birth. 

^
2022

Launched the Indigenous Scholarships program in Queensland, aimed at increasing the number of First Nations Australians with tertiary and trade qualifications.

Expanded the Plan 2day 4 2morrow Employment Program expand into the Kwinana, Peel and Upper-South West Region.

Commenced our tailored boys program at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth.

^
2023

Relocated the Waalitj Hub from Burswood toour Head Office at Mineral Resources Park

Commenced Deadly Sista Girlz at two additional school sites

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