Youth Programs

These cover a wide range of areas including issues like social and emotional well-being, healing and leadership that are discussed in other sections of this resource.

These programs also cover more practical life skills, education and career paths. These programs could include school supports throughout the young one’s ‘academic’ life, as well as scholarships for university or TAFE.

There are also several programs that exist for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who would rather not go to university or TAFE, preferring to do something else, such as a traineeship.

This section seeks to link you to some of these opportunities to support the child or young person in your care to access supports available to help them to set and to realise their own goals.

“In almost all areas of Indigenous affairs, leadership has been identified as a priority. Leadership projects and activities encourage personal growth, enhance self-confidence and build self-esteem in individuals, which in turn enhances mental health and wellbeing and strengthens communities. Well-designed leadership initiatives can also provide hope for Indigenous peoples to work towards fulfilling dreams and aspirations, particularly so among Indigenous youth.”

(VicHealth, Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2005)

The young person is ‘mentored’ by someone who offers advice, companionship and support to them. This also can foster deeper sense of culture, with Elders passing on important learnings to become strong and proud Aboriginal men and women.Mentoring programs can focus on a range of things such as, crime prevention, education, employment, social and emotional wellbeing and culture.