KARI Foundation and the Department of Social Services developed a KARI inspired Aboriginal youth engagement and mentoring program based on culture. Lead with Culture (LwC) has been operating for over twelve months and seeing exceptional results with outstanding feedback from schools, employers, community and youth participating in the program.
Currently the program has delivered personal cultural guidance plans to over 240 young people from NSW and supported the connection of Aboriginal youth back to their culture, building resilience and self-respect.
One of the LwC participants said,
“I want to thank each of the KARI Cultural Mentors for providing me with the courage to continue my search for employment and expand my horizons, I really couldn’t have done it without your support and confidence to now secure a fulltime role”.
“This is a ground breaking program for the KARI Foundation, we took both internal learnings from the past 20 years of community-based operations and program delivery and evidence from Canada’s first nations peoples research to develop this program. I am delighted to say that within such a short period of time the LwC project has shown connecting our youth back to our cultureis an important tool to the successful future of our people” – Casey Ralph CEO of KARI
Over the last two months, LwC have adapted the program with direct support from KARI Foundation corporate partner Optus. The Optus Donate Your Data program has ensured the KARI LwC Mentors are still able to deliver mentoring and cultural activities online. Testament to KARI’s Cultural mentors for their dedication, which has paid off with over 96% of participants indicating an increase in cultural wellbeing during this time.
Cain Slater from the KARI Foundation said,
“The past two months have been challenging but KARI Foundation has a commitment to ensure our community continues to have access to the services which support their needs. Our cultural mentors have supported over 90 young people into employment, a positive indicator that the Lead with Culture program is still able to deliver outcomes and will have a lasting impact of the lives of Aboriginal youth and families for years to come”.
Currently Lead with Culture have job ready Aboriginal youth seeking careers in the following industries:
- Mining
- Transport
- Retail
- IT
- Administration
- Civil Construction
- Hospitality
- Childcare
- Corrective Services
If the KARI Foundation can assist your business with delivering your Reconciliation Action Plan, Indigenous employment outcomes or workplace cultural competency please contact cain.slater@kari.org.au
