Participants touring University of Melbourne main campus with Chancellor Ian Renard

The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program was established in recognition that the lack of numbers in indigenous leadership means that current leaders are stretched to the limits. With low life expectancy experienced by the Goulburn Valley indigenous community, this ageing group, typically 40-plus, have limited tenure. The program is an investment into sculpting the next generation of leaders in their ability to comprehend indigenous community issues and successfully represent them into the broader context of Australian society.

Each year three local indigenous Year 11-12 school students are selected through an application process on their ability to demonstrate suitability to the project, commitment for a ten month period and maintaining academic achievement.

The individuals are introduced to various styles of leadership, governance, Indigenous and broader community issues, through a series of small focus discussions and locality visits. This includes visits to communities and cities in Australia and New Zealand. There are 3 main areas of focus for the discussions and locality visits, so as to provide a broad depth of leadership styles and types, and exposure to issues and initiatives:

• Government – local, state and federal.
• Indigenous issues – local, Cape York, New Zealand
• Leaders – community, business and finance.

Program materials are distributed and must be read before each discussion group to provide participants with the background on the different industries and issues.

Participants also complete a community capacity building project. They receive a small stipend (expense allowance) as participants need to travel during school holidays and forgo work opportunities.

The program, an initiative of Ganbina Koori Economic Employment & Training Agency, has received support locally from the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, Worktrainers Ltd and the Academy of Sport Health and Education. Support has also been provided by the University of Melbourne, Social Ventures Australia and the Berg Family Foundation.


Participants meet with Peter Nobel founder/CEO of Citrus Internet