Our Kleenheat Community Grants program supports local groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations doing great things in communities across the Northern Territory and regional Western Australia. 

Ruah Community Services was a recipient of one of our ‘Cultural Diversity’ community grants. This grant category is designed to support organisations that maintain an awareness and understanding of diversity, and that actively celebrate the many cultures that enrich our communities across WA and the NT.

Who and what is Ruah Community Services?

Ruah Community Services offers psychosocial support to people with severe and enduring mental health diagnoses. It provides support in the community and within its residential facility. Ruah offers support that is client-centric and focuses on recovery. This includes helping people with maintaining tenancy, managing mental health, attending appointments and goal setting.

Ruah has been working with vulnerable people for over 60 years and operates in both regional and metropolitan areas.

Its client base is predominantly sourced via referrals from community mental health clinics, GPs and private psychologists.

The name Ruah is an ancient Hebrew word meaning vital breath, wind, air and spirit. It honours the legacy of Ruah’s founders, the Daughters of Charity, and is considered to represent the spirit of the organisation.

How did Ruah use its $1,000 Kleenheat Community Grant?

The team at Ruah applied for a Cultural Diversity grant so that it could create a yarning circle on it residential site. The yarning circle provided clients with a safe space to sit and yarn with peers or support people.

The yarning circle was installed using limestone blocks and incorporates native plants and was officially opened with a smoking ceremony.

Connecting the local community.

Ruah hosts a community barbecue every fortnight for clients and carers and uses the yarning circle as a safe and inclusive gathering area.

Learn more about RUAH Community Services via its website or via its Facebook, Youtube or LinkedIn.

Learn more about our Kleenheat Community Grants program.