May 1, 2025
Kwaba Bidi’s first dedicated Bunbury office officially opens as new Regional Family Support Hub service begins
SWAMS program Kwaba Bidi has officially opened its new home in central Bunbury so it can provide more family and child services.
The Good Path, Good Journey program now operates the South West Regional Family Support Hub from 8 Spencer St, where headspace used to be located.
The hub team provides Early Intervention and Family Support in addition to services Kwaba Bidi already offered: Out of Home Care and post-care support services.
Launched on Thursday 1st May, about 90 staff, stakeholders and special guests were pleased to tour the facility and hear from guest speakers as well as South West Aboriginal Medical Service Acting CEO Braden Fisher.
Mr Fisher said it was a major milestone in the history of the organisation. “Kwaba Bidi has come a long way since it was founded in 2023 to provide culturally appropriate support to koolangkas (children) in the South West,” he said. “We started with less than a dozen staff and in less than two years, we are getting close to tripling that figure.”
It is the first time Kwaba Bidi, powered by SWAMS, will have its own dedicated offices after previously being based at the SWAMS Forrest Avenue Bunbury clinic.
The support hub also houses SWAMS partner Key Assets Australia (KAA).
Alongside the official opening of Kwaba Bidi’s new home, Thursday marked the start of full-service operation for the Hub.
KAA staff employed through the Hub will be based at the Spencer Street site alongside their Kwaba Bidi colleagues, while some of Kwaba Bidi’s staff will also have offices at SWAMS clinics in Busselton, Collie and Manjimup to expand the Hub’s reach outside Bunbury.
Mr Fisher thanked the SWAMS Board of Directors for their continued support of Kwaba Bidi and staff for their hard work.
“To see the range of services expand to now include moort (families) is a testament to our team and their dedication to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people in the region,” he said.
“We also thank the Department of Communities for putting their trust in us and Key Assets to deliver the Regional Family Support Hub services in this region.”
About Kwaba Bidi
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