Aboriginal youth day to connect to culture

11 June 2010

Aboriginal school students at Quirindi will soon get the opportunity to try their hand at traditional painting and dance and go on a “walkabout” of local youth and community services available to them.

Hunter New England Area Health’s ‘Caring for our Mob’ project, in partnership with Quirindi High School and Quirindi Interagency, are hosting an event on Wednesday 16 June 2010 to support indigenous students to connect with their culture and with local youth services.

Up to 130 students in Years 5 to 12 from Quirindi and surrounding areas are expected to attend the day, to be held at Quirindi High School.

Among them will be about 50 non-Indigenous students who will get the chance to increase their understanding of the Aboriginal culture.

Aboriginal Mental Health Worker with Hunter New England Health Karen Winters said the name for the day, Winanga li [pronounced Win-anga-li], means ‘to hear, to know’.

“It encourages young people to open their minds to the opportunities their culture and community can offer them,” Karen said.

The event is based on a model that was piloted in Tamworth 2009 and has been tailored to meet the needs of the Quirindi community.

“It is important to feel connected in the community,” Karen said. “We wanted to offer an opportunity for young people to unite and participate in activities to celebrate culture, strengthen identity and foster pride in who they are.”

The students will be involved in a number of workshops, one run by the Gomeroi Dance group and another by local Aboriginal artist Terry Allen, and go on a ‘walkabout’ of local youth and health services, which will have representatives and information available.

Ambassadors from the local Aboriginal community will also be on hand to talk with young people about their experiences and how they have achieved their own success.

The day has been made possible with the support of Joblink Plus, Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation’s Social Emotional Well-Being Centre and Hunter New England Health’s Aboriginal Health services.

‘Caring for our Mob’ is a collaboration of health and community workers with Hunter New England Health and other local government and non-government organisations.

Contact: Frances Holz

Phone: (02) 4939 2216