Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation

JOBS4U2 Expansion

Regional job pathways for Indigenous youth

Indigenous children in Australia are often severely disadvantaged. Many come from families where unemployment and welfare dependency is intergenerational, and may have few role models to help them realise a brighter future.

Ganbina are an ambitious and highly focused organisation aiming to achieve economic and social equality for Indigenous people in the Goulburn Valley area within two generations.

The team take a practical, hands-on approach to help Indigenous children, from a very early age, to develop and sustain the personal motivation, confidence and enthusiasm they need to ensure they complete their education and secure employment.

“Ganbina recognised that early intervention was key. This approach was different to the proliferation of services that were only accessible once a person was in trouble," says Anthony Cavanagh, Ganbina's Chief Executive Officer.

60 per cent of Indigenous youth aged 17-24 are not engaged in post-school education, training or employment compared to 25 per cent of non-Indigenous youth.

In less than a decade, the Ganbina model has facilitated a cultural shift away from welfare for young people involved in their programs.

They are remaining engaged in education at higher rates and are aspiring to, gaining and keeping themselves in private sector employment in higher numbers than ever before.

Having successfully implemented the JOBS4U2 program in Shepparton, Victoria, Ganbina sought a funding partner to help test the replicability of the program suite in another Indigenous community.

Since receiving an Innovation Grant from Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Ganbina has formed a partnership with the Collingwood Football Club Foundation to deliver the program in three sites across the La Trobe Valley from February 2020.