Founding CEO of Ngalla Maya Mervyn Eades (right) with office manager Beverley Eades.
Camera IconFounding CEO of Ngalla Maya Mervyn Eades (right) with office manager Beverley Eades. Credit: Supplied/Marie Nirme        www.communitypix.com.au d469350

Belmont: Ngalla Maya CEO closing the gap after prison

Jessica WarrinerSouthern Gazette

The Belmont-based not-for-profit organisation offers a variety of services to help the indigenous and disadvantaged communities, specialising in helping people find work after prison.

It recently received a $5000 volunteer grant from the Department of Social Services.

“We’ve run for nearly three years with nothing. Sometimes our phones get turned off,” Ngalla Maya chief executive and Noongar man Mervyn Eades said.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Mr Eades, who was first in the justice system at just 13 years old and has been out of prison for 15 years, knows first-hand what services are needed.

“As lived experience I’ve been in prison, and coming out I knew that there’s a gap in the community that doesn’t create realistic opportunities of education, training and employment for our brothers and sisters,” Mr Eades said.

“My thought at the time was to close the gap, close the prison-to-community gap, and give opportunities to these boys and girls – some self-hope and self-worth.

“If they get engaged in training and get qualifications and get into jobs, that changes the dynamics of their families and their children. It’s just a small pebble chucked into the water with a little ripple effect.”

Grateful Ngalla Maya – Noongar for ‘our place’ – graduates came back to help Mr Eades and his team when the centre was struggling to make rent last year.

“They heard we weren’t travelling too well and in jeopardy of having the doors shut, even though the landlord helps us so much and goes out of his way,” Mr Eades said.

To find out more about Ngalla Maya or donate, visit its website at ngallamaya.org.au.

MORE: Revealed: Perth’s worst suburbs for animal cruelty

MORE: Ellen Stirling PS parents fear for students’ safety

MORE: Rivervale ‘bin chickens’ plague becoming a problem

MORE: City of Bayswater to shut down outdated dog pound