EON Aboriginal Foundation, a Western Australian not-for-profit that runs nutrition programs in remote Indigenous communities, says it made more than 20 written attempts to engage with state ministers and departments since June 2023 but was unable to secure meaningful discussion or direction. Chair Caroline de Mori has accused the Cook government of “arrogance and unprofessionalism” in a letter to the premier’s office, and says more than 60 communities are now on a waitlist for the program.
The charity, established in 2005 to combat health problems such as Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease in remote Indigenous communities by educating locals about nutrition, is described by the article as one of WA’s most successful grassroots not-for-profits.
In a letter sent to the premier’s office in March this year, de Mori wrote that the organisation had made sustained efforts to engage with relevant ministers and departments, but had been unable to secure meaningful discussion or direction on how it could help deliver on government objectives.
“As a not-for-profit running on the smell of an oily rag, the disproportionate investment of time and resources trying and failing to navigate multiple entry points across government (20 attempts since June 2023) demonstrates a level of arrogance and unprofessionalism by your government,” she wrote.
She asked for a meeting with relevant ministers and a clear pathway forward. De Mori told this masthead that she had only been able to meet with government advisors, not with ministers themselves, and that it had now been eight months since she sent the letter without hearing from the ministers.
“Across the board of the not-for-profit sector, and everyone has the same story,” she said. “[The government] doesn’t want to meet with you. They don’t want to talk to you. They only listen to a few of their advisors, and they’re so thin-skinned.”
A WA government spokesperson said the government recognised and valued the work of the EON Aboriginal Foundation. “Minister Punch’s office has been engaging with the foundation’s chief executive officer regarding future funding opportunities and provided advice on a range of available state and Commonwealth funding pathways,” the spokesperson said. The foundation was also encouraged to continue working with the Commonwealth National Indigenous Australians Agency on programs aligning more closely with its objectives.
But de Mori said the response felt like a brush-off. “Suggesting other departments we could meet with, all of whom then told us they were too busy, is not ‘engagement’,” she said. “Redirecting EON to Canberra is simply another handball.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The standoff means nutrition and food security programs for remote Indigenous communities are stalled, with over 60 communities on a waitlist.
- It highlights a broader disconnect between the state government and grassroots not-for-profits that deliver services in some of WA’s most disadvantaged areas.
- The outcome may signal whether the Cook government is willing to engage directly with community organisations or will continue to direct them to federal channels.
Background
The EON Aboriginal Foundation is a WA non-profit that runs edible garden and nutrition education programs in remote Aboriginal communities, targeting high rates of Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. It has been operating since 2005 and is considered a leading grassroots organisation in the state. The Cook Labor government was elected in 2023. The charity says it has attempted to secure meetings with relevant ministers since that election without success.
Key Perspectives
Caroline de Mori (Chair, EON Aboriginal Foundation): Accuses the government of disrespect, arrogance and unprofessionalism, saying it has ignored 20 written attempts to engage since June 2023 and has only offered meetings with advisors, not ministers. She says directing the foundation to other departments or Canberra is a “handball” and not genuine engagement.
WA Government spokesperson: Says the government values the foundation’s work, that Minister Punch’s office has engaged with the charity’s CEO on funding opportunities, and that the foundation has been advised on available state and Commonwealth funding pathways, including through the Commonwealth National Indigenous Australians Agency.
What to Watch
- Whether the premier’s office or relevant ministers agree to a direct meeting with the foundation’s chair.
- Whether the waitlist of more than 60 communities grows or leads to public pressure.
- Any response from Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton or Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch regarding future engagement.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedMore than 20 requests went unanswered.The Age - Latest News: ““However, despite our strong alignment with stated government objectives and more than 20 written attempts, we have been unable to secure meaningful discussion or direction on how EON can help deliver on your goals.””
- SupportedThe charity accused the Cook government of “arrogance and unprofessionalism”.The Age - Latest News: ““As a not-for-profit running on the smell of an oily rag, the disproportionate investment of time and resources trying and failing to navigate multiple entry points across government (20 attempts since June 2023) demonstrates a level of arrogance and unprofessionalism by your government,” she wrote.”
- SupportedMore than 60 communities are on the program’s waitlist.The Age - Latest News: “More than 60 communities are now on the waitlist to join the program.”
- SupportedDe Mori wrote that EON had made 20 attempts since June 2023 and called the government’s conduct arrogant and unprofessional.The Age - Latest News: ““As a not-for-profit running on the smell of an oily rag, the disproportionate investment of time and resources trying and failing to navigate multiple entry points across government (20 attempts since June 2023) demonstrates a level of arrogance and unprofessionalism by your government,” she wrote.”
- SupportedDe Mori said it had been eight months since she sent the letter without hearing from ministers.The Age - Latest News: “It has now been eight months since de Mori sent the letter, and she has not heard anything from the ministers themselves since.”
- SupportedDe Mori said she had only met government advisers, not ministers.The Age - Latest News: “De Mori said to date, she had only been able to meet with government advisors, but still had not been able to secure a meeting with a minister themselves.”
- SupportedDe Mori wrote that EON had been unable to secure meaningful discussion or direction on how it could help deliver government objectives.The Age - Latest News: ““However, despite our strong alignment with stated government objectives and more than 20 written attempts, we have been unable to secure meaningful discussion or direction on how EON can help deliver on your goals.””
- SupportedDe Mori asked for a meeting with relevant ministers and a clear pathway forward.The Age - Latest News: “De Mori asked the premier’s office to set up a meeting with the relevant ministers as soon as possible, and to identify a clear pathway forward.”
- SupportedDe Mori said, “Across the board of the not-for-profit sector, and everyone has the same story”.The Age - Latest News: ““Across the board of the not-for-profit sector, and everyone has the same story,” de Mori told this masthead.”
- SupportedDe Mori said, “[The government] doesn’t want to meet with you. They don’t want to talk to you. They only listen to a few of their advisors, and they’re so thin-skinned.”The Age - Latest News: ““[The government] doesn’t want to meet with you. They don’t want to talk to you. They only listen to a few of their advisors, and they’re so thin-skinned.””
- SupportedThe government spokesperson said Minister Punch’s office was engaging with EON’s CEO about future funding opportunities and had advised on state and Commonwealth funding pathways.The Age - Latest News: ““Minister Punch’s office has been engaging with the foundation’s chief executive officer regarding future funding opportunities and provided advice on a range of available state and Commonwealth funding pathways.””
- SupportedDe Mori called the suggestion to approach other departments “not ‘engagement’” and said redirecting EON to Canberra was “simply another handball”.The Age - Latest News: ““Suggesting other departments we could meet with, all of whom then told us they were too busy, is not ‘engagement’,” she said. “Redirecting EON to Canberra is simply another handball.””