As the future ambassadors of our culture, young people are an incredibly important part of the community. Because of this, the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative prioritises programs that uplift Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. By offering services that build their cultural connections, community well-being, and personal growth, we help to make sure that our young people have the tools and support they need to achieve their goals while staying deeply rooted in their cultural identities. Read on to see how –
One of the Aboriginal children’s services we offer is the Milla Milla Playgroup – a great space for parents, caregivers, and kids to come together in a culturally safe environment. Here, we explore Aboriginal culture and help kids build a strong sense of cultural identity through play. The Milla Milla Playgroup takes place every Thursday and Friday and is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at any preschool age. We also have the Kitjarra Booboop Playgroup for families with babies under 12 months old, which runs on Tuesday mornings.
Another one of our initiatives, the Youth Aboriginal Mentoring (YAM) program, focuses on primary school-aged children and provides weekly sessions that combine cultural education, support with school-based learning, life skills, and community bonding. Held every Monday during the school term, YAM offers Aboriginal children a chance to learn from mentors who share their cultural backgrounds. Our goal is to build confidence in little ones, strengthen their sense of community, and help them gain a deeper understanding of their heritage. To ensure that everyone has access to the service, we also offer transport assistance, which can be organised here.
Our Mingo Waloom Best Start program, funded by the Department of Education and Training, is another opportunity for us to prioritise early childhood development in our community. This initiative brings different professionals together to run community-led programs that support positive, sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal children in early education. With a focus on children in preschool, the service brings in the skills of professionals from esteemed organisations, including the City of Greater Geelong, the Department of Education and Training, the Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited and Deakin University.
Because we understand how important early childhood development is, we offer maternal and child health services designed specifically for Aboriginal families. Our goal is to support mothers and children from birth to school age, with Aboriginal services that cover parenting advice, access to healthcare, and other early childhood development resources. This allows us to invest in our youth from birth, helping them connect with their community from day one so they grow up in an environment that celebrates and preserves their heritage.
Because Aboriginal families face such unique challenges, our family services team is dedicated to fostering strong, stable, and culturally connected families in every way possible. Through initiatives like the Integrated Family Services program, we’re able to support families facing mental health issues, parenting struggles, and domestic violence. We also support those experiencing intergenerational trauma from the Stolen Generation. Our focus is to ensure the safety of every child by offering a safe, confidential space where families can access the help and resources they need.
We’ve extended our Aboriginal children’s services to older age groups as well, to ensure that they remain connected to our culture as they transition into early adulthood. We do this by offering safe and supportive spaces where these young people can explore their culture, history, and community together. One of these spaces is called Karroong Kanyool, meaning ‘Home of the Young’ in the Wadda Wurrung language. Situated at one of the original Co-op sites in Norlane, this hub was developed in collaboration with the local Aboriginal youth themselves. It features creative spaces for art and storytelling, medical rooms for physical and mental health support, a sensory room, computer labs, and even a basketball half-court. Karroong Kanyool also runs after-school and holiday programs for children of all ages, making it a vital community hub that blends skill-building with cultural celebration.
As always, our aim is to prioritise cultural connection, encourage practical skill-building, and offer holistic well-being to Aboriginal children through meaningful culturally appropriate services. Our goal is to play our part in empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and allowing them to thrive in the modern world, while staying deeply rooted in their heritage. More than our efforts as an organisation, these services are a testament to the power of community-driven support. The more our people come together to support each other, the more we demonstrate that our cultural heritage is as much about our past as it is our future. Visit our services page for more information on each initiative, or get in touch with us to see how you can become part of the solution.
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