March was a busy and energising month across KARI, from empowering women and young leaders to delivering culturally grounded programs for students, carers and families, each initiative created space for people to feel supported, confident and connected to who they are.
Aboriginal Women’s Wellbeing Conference
March was a powerful month of connection, learning and wellbeing, highlighted by the KARI Aboriginal Women’s Wellbeing Conference and Expo held on 11 March at Liverpool Catholic Club.
Proudly supported by Wilson Security and bringing together over 200 women, the event opened with a Welcome and Acknowledgement from Aunty Gail Smith and created a space for women to feel informed, supported and connected. Attendees engaged in sessions from Host Plus, First Nations Women’s Legal, Fair Trading and Transurban, covering financial wellbeing, legal support and consumer rights, while also connecting with practical resources.
The day was complemented by a range of cultural and wellbeing activations, including traditional weaving, jewellery making, yoga, First Nations sound healing, native flower arranging and a wearable art station where participants designed their own t-shirt transfers.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many women leaving feeling refreshed and empowered, each taking home a pamper pack to extend that sense of care beyond the day.
The event followed International Women’s Day on 8 March, continuing the focus on celebrating and supporting women across our communities.
Empowering the Next Generation of Female Leaders
In March, we delivered our Female Young Leaders Camp, bringing together young Aboriginal women in Out of Home Care for a three-day experience in Port Stephens focused on confidence, connection and leadership development.
Across the camp, participants took part in a range of shared experiences including cultural learning at Murrook Cultural Centre, outdoor adventures like 4WD tours, sandboarding and camel rides, and hands-on wildlife encounters. These moments created space for fun, connection and stepping outside of comfort zones, with many participants trying new experiences for the first time.
What stood out most was the shift in confidence. Attendees spoke about feeling nervous at first, then finding their courage, supporting one another and building new friendships. Simple moments, like trying something new, connecting with peers or learning everyday life skills, became powerful reminders of their capability and growth.
Grounded in culture and connection, the camp created a safe and supportive space for participants to explore their strengths, find their voice and build a deeper sense of identity and belonging.
Initiatives like the Female Young Leaders Camp play an important role in supporting the next generation. By investing in young women and creating spaces where they feel seen, heard and supported, we are helping to build confident leaders who will continue to shape strong futures for their communities.
VIP Workshops March
Round 2 of the Vocal Identification Program (VIP) workshops took place this month at the Liverpool Powerhouse Theatre, bringing together First Nations high school students with a passion for music, language and performance.
Across the workshops, students took part in vocal training, rehearsals for their closing performance and the Spirit Walk, a cultural dance, strengthening both their performance skills and their connection to culture.
A key part of this process is the integration of First Nations Language, with students engaging with and performing songs in Language, supporting the continuation and visibility of Aboriginal languages through contemporary expression.
For young people, this creates a powerful sense of identity and belonging, strengthening pride in who they are and where they come from. More broadly, embedding Language within programs like VIP contributes to the ongoing revitalisation and celebration of Aboriginal languages, ensuring they continue to be heard, shared and carried forward for future generations.
Through these experiences, participants are supported to build confidence, step into their identity and feel proud in who they are, both on and off the stage.
VIP is more than a performance program. It’s about voice in every sense of the word, empowering young people to express themselves, strengthen connection to Language and culture, and create opportunities to be seen and heard in a culturally strong and supportive environment.
We look forward to watching these talented young performers continue to grow throughout the program and carry this confidence with them beyond the stage.
QLD Backpack Deliveries
Following on from deliveries in February, our Community Programs QLD team continued rolling out Kindy and High School backpacks to schools across South East Queensland, supporting students as they begin important stages of their education journey.
Backpacks were delivered to Woodhill State School, Ballina Primary School, Crestmead State School, Currumbin State School, Yarrabilba State School and Tweed Heads South Primary School, helping students feel prepared, confident and ready for the year ahead.
This is a program we proudly run each year across QLD and NSW, providing practical support while encouraging strong starts in both early learning and high school.
If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to have you. Whether it’s businesses helping pack backpacks, teachers registering your school or parents encouraging your school to take part, every bit of support helps us reach more young people.
Get Involved!
To volunteer, as a business email lauren.pitkin@kari.org.au.
Schools can get involved by contacting community.programs@kari.org.au (NSW) or communityprogramsqld@kari.org.au (QLD).
Optus Scholarship Workshops
KARI’s Community Programs team has launched the 2026 Optus Scholarship and Mentoring Program, supporting Year 10 students from Ashcroft, Miller Technology High School, Wyong High School and Kingswood High School.
The program began with a cultural awareness workshop delivered by KARI’s Cultural Unit, creating a strong foundation for the year ahead.
Through a smoking ceremony, greeting and acknowledgement in Language, students were welcomed into a culturally safe space where connection, identity and belonging were at the centre of the experience.
Students explored the Map of Indigenous Australia, tracing where their Mobs are from and strengthening their connection to culture. They also developed a deeper understanding of cultural load, sacred sites and songlines, alongside the ongoing impact of colonisation on connection to Country.
KARI Limited Big Day Out to Give Carer Families a Special Easter Show Experience
KARI is proud to once again provide our carer families with the opportunity to attend this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, with free tickets for every household member.
For children living in out of home care, experiences like this can have a lasting impact. A day at the Show is more than just rides and showbags, it’s a chance to feel included, create positive memories and simply be kids.
For carers, it offers an opportunity to spend quality time together as a family without the pressure of cost, strengthening relationships and creating shared moments that matter.
At KARI, we know that connection, stability and joy all play an important role in a child’s wellbeing. Opportunities like this support not just the child, but the whole family unit around them.
We are proud to create these moments and to see our families out enjoying the day together.
Building Futures Through Real-World Experience
In late March, students from Holy Cross College Ryde stepped out of the classroom and onto a live construction site in Yennora, gaining first-hand insight into the world of construction through a site visit with Texco Construction.
The experience provided more than just a look behind the scenes — it created a real connection between education and future career pathways. Students explored a large-scale warehouse project, engaged with industry professionals across multiple trades, and experienced the pace and coordination of a working site.
Throughout the day, students heard directly from electricians, plumbers and riggers, learning about different pathways into the industry, including apprenticeships, business ownership and specialised roles. For many, this was the first time seeing these careers up close, and it sparked genuine interest, with many students already considering their next steps.
Opportunities like this are key to building confidence, expanding horizons and helping young people see what’s possible for their future.
Delivered through the Greater Western Sydney Opportunity Hub, proudly funded by the NSW Government, this initiative continues to create meaningful pathways between school and employment for Aboriginal students.
Vacation Care Corporate Volunteering
To finish off the month, staff from our long-time partner AWM Amaroo visited our Liverpool HQ to pack and distribute many free Vacation Care seedling kits to families across our community, including all KARI carer families.
While simple in concept, the impact is meaningful. These kits create an opportunity for children and families to engage with Aboriginal culture in a hands-on way, learning through doing and connecting to Country from home.
Each kit, provided by IndigiGrow, included native seeds such as Dusky Coral Pea, Oldman Saltbush and Sweet-Scented Wattle, plants with strong cultural significance and traditional uses.
Initiatives like this play an important role in building awareness and appreciation of native foods within the broader community. By making these experiences accessible, we are helping to embed cultural knowledge into everyday life, creating small but powerful moments of connection and understanding.
We thank AWM Amaroo for their continued support in helping us extend the reach of this initiative.
Supporting Industry Through End-to-End Flooring Delivery
KARI Aboriginal Procurement (KAP) was proud to recently deliver a high-quality flooring outcome as part of an office fit-out project in Woolloomooloo, NSW.
Our team successfully managed the removal of existing flooring and the supply and installation of four different carpet types throughout the space, each selected to meet both functional requirements and design intent.
From planning through to delivery, this project highlights KAP’s ability to coordinate complex flooring packages, ensuring seamless integration across multiple finishes while maintaining program timelines and quality standards.
Working alongside our trusted delivery partners, we continue to support the construction industry with reliable, end-to-end procurement and installation solutions.
We look forward to continuing to deliver strong outcomes on projects across NSW and nationally.
Every purchasing decision has the potential to create impact.
By partnering with KARI Aboriginal Procurement, your organisation can support Aboriginal businesses, create employment opportunities and contribute to stronger communities, all through everyday procurement.
If you’re interested in working together, we’d love to hear from you.
Email kap@kari.org.au
As we move into the coming months, we look forward to continuing this momentum through upcoming programs, events and community initiatives. Every partnership, every conversation and every shared experience helps strengthen the work we do and the opportunities we create for Aboriginal children, young people and families. Thank you for being part of the journey and for continuing to support KARI’s vision for stronger communities and brighter futures.
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