24 October 2009

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

Hunter New England Area Health’s ‘Caring for our Mob’ project, in partnership with The Youthie and the Indigenous Coordinating Council, are hosting an event on Monday, 26 October 2009 to support indigenous students to connect with their culture and with local youth services.

Up to 100 students in Years 9 to 11 from five Tamworth high schools are expected to attend the day, to be held at The Youthie youth centre. Schools taking part include Tamworth High School, Calrossy School, Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, McCarthy Catholic College and Oxley High School.

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,” Ms Winters said.

The event is based on this year’s NAIDOC week theme, ‘Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth’ and the Mental Health Week theme, ‘Sign up, Link in, Get involved’.

“It is important to feel connected in the community,” Ms Winter 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. The young people will also go on a ‘walkabout’ of local youth and health services. 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.

Services involved are The Youthie, Aboriginal Affairs, Aboriginal Medical Services, Aboriginal Sexual Health, Coledale Youth Centre, Tamworth Youth Care, Tamworth Family Relationship Centre, Medicare, Centrelink, Community Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Service.

Ms Winter said recent work in the community had shown that young people often are not aware of what services are available to them.  

“Having a youth, health and support services showcase and meeting some of the service providers face-to-face may help break down some of the fear in accessing 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: 4939 2216