Grassroots youth program keeping culture strong in Wellington
A community-led program in Wellington (Wiradjuri Country) is bringing young Mob together, keeping culture strong, and building positive pathways into education and employment.
The Wiradjuri Bingang Youth Group, supported through an Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grant, gives local young people aged 12 to 17 a safe place to come together every second Thursday and Friday night.
Run in partnership with the Wellington Local Aboriginal Land Council and Wellington Information and Neighbourhood Services, the program focuses on culture, connection and community and is delivered by local Aboriginal people.
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Wiradjuri man Jeffrey Amatto, who leads the program, says it’s filling a real gap.
We open our doors when other services are closing. The first hour of the evening is about burning energy with sports like basketball, football and swimming. Then we share a feed and run structured sessions into the evening, led by Elders and local mentors.
Jeffrey Amatto, Wiradjuri Bingang Youth Group
Jeffrey says Culture is at the heart of every session. “Auntie Connie runs Wiradjuri language classes, and we’ve introduced dance workshops too. For many of the young people, it’s the first time they’ve danced in a cultural way.”
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The program is also helping young people stay engaged at school. Improved attendance and behaviour are rewarded with things like ten pin bowling or movie nights, giving them positive goals to work towards.
“We’re showing our young people there’s a future and a big focus is on helping the kids to find employment pathways by connecting them with local businesses,” said Jeffrey.
For Jeffrey, it’s about much more than activities. It’s about identity, belonging and walking strong in culture.
We are supporting boys and girls to connect to their culture and have clear pathways. It’s a lot easier to mentor and guide young boys and girls than it is to fix broken men and women.
Jeffrey Amatto, Wiradjuri Bingang Youth Group
“We are proud of the work that we are doing. The reason this is working is that it’s a grassroots program led by Aboriginal people.”
The Community and Place Grant program is part Aboriginal Affairs NSW’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal community-led solutions. These grants invest in local programs that strengthen culture and help Close the Gap in areas like education, employment and health.