Indigenous programs

Our Indigenous program provides services and benefits to Australia’s First Nations individuals and communities.

Indigenous Wellbeing Support (IWS) Program

Our Indigenous Wellbeing Support program is committed to improving the lives of First Nations people.

Our goal is to ensure all Indigenous Australians enjoy the same levels of physical, emotional and social wellbeing as Australians from other cultures do.

Our support includes:

  • Improving wellbeing and resistance programs
  • Substance misuse and harm interventions
  • Improved contact with the criminal justice system
  • Violence and victim support interventions

In Victoria, we provide these services in Mildura, Robinvale, Swan Hill, Kerang, Shepparton, Wangaratta and Echuca.

In South Australia, we provide these services in Berri, Renmark, Point Pearce, Maitland, Christies Beach, Warradale, Port Adelaide and Murray Bridge.

Indigenous Youth Leadership Programme (IYLP)

Targeted to the needs of school aged Indigenous children, our objectives are to:

  • Support families to give children a good start in life through improved early childhood development, care, education and school readiness.
  • Improve literacy and numeracy.
  • Support successful transition to further education and work.

We achieve these by supporting individual participants to:

  • Overcome barriers to education system engagement.
  • Boost access and participation of Indigenous children in early childhood education.
  • Reduce educational disadvantages for Indigenous youth.
  • Improve school attendance and educational outcomes, including literacy and numeracy.
  • Increase Year 12 or equivalent attainment, including vocational training.
  • Raise the number of students pursuing post-school qualifications at Certificate III or above.

We have supported almost a thousand First Nation Australians to alleviate poverty or distress since the inception of the program. We are proud to continue to play a prominent role in improving outcomes for young First Nation Australians, as future leaders of our communities.

Get in touch with our Indigenous programs team