The Program

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Tirkandi Inaburra’s 10-week program helps young Aboriginal fellas strengthen their cultural and personal identity and build confidence, cultural pride and resilience so they can take responsibility for their own lives and connect with their family, Country and community. Please review our service catchment area on the home page or in our Frequently Asked Questions to make sure you are eligible to participate in our program.

What do young fellas do on the program?

Build cultural knowledge

Head out bush with the uncles for walks and men’s camp. Learn Aboriginal dance and how to speak the ancient Wiradjuri language. Explore sites of cultural significance with Aboriginal elders and identify cultural plants and animal tracks. Make a didgeridoo and learn to play.

Improve physical wellness

Participate in sporting activities and a daily exercise program. Get a health and dental check-up, plus a sight and hearing test. Eat healthy meals and learn about nutrition.

Improve emotional wellbeing

Chat with the uncles and aunties, youth workers and Headspace about life choices, respect, peer pressure, gender fairness, culture, goals and more. Get one-on-one counselling sessions to talk about personal concerns and enjoy teamwork through Drumbeat music sessions

Develop life skills

Learn cooking and gardening skills. Learn good personal hygiene and hair care. Get water safety lessons and do daily chores to keep bedrooms and shared spaces tidy.

Improve learning

Learn in groups and get one-on-one tutoring sessions to improve mathematics and reading and writing skills.

Enjoy social activities

Play team sports and games. Go swimming, fishing and bike riding. Watch films, play table tennis, pool and air hockey. Learn photography. Start a music band. Or just hang out at the river.

What does a typical week look like

Monday to Friday we rise early for daily exercise, a shower, and a healthy breakfast before school learning from 9am and a program of cultural and life skills activities. There’s free time in the afternoon to play pool, ride the BMX bikes, swim or hang out by the river.

We serve healthy nutritious dinners every night and eat together, at the table, as a family. Bedtime is at 9:30pm, after a shower and relaxation time. It’s usually a little later on weekends as a reward for all the hard work during the week. And most weekends we get a sleep-in followed by fun activities, team games, camping and fishing. 

Want to apply?

You can talk with your parent or guardian, your teacher, doctor, social worker or counsellor about applying for the Tirkandi Inaburra Program. Or call our friendly team direct on freecall 1800 759 040 to find out more about the program and the application process.

If you are a parent, carer or referrer, you can submit an application for the Tirkandi Inaburra Program online, or download the application form and submit via email or post. Find out more about making an application.

Creating positive outcomes

Tirkandi is an evidence-based, trauma-focused program that helps young fellas make better life decisions, remain engaged in full-time school, study or work and minimise the risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

We develop and follow a holistic case plan (supported by a full medical assessment) for each participant while they are on the program. And all our graduates leave with a report on their academic and personal achievements during the program, as well as an individual learning plan for their school and a post-program support plan for community groups and services to help them achieve their personal goals.

And all our graduates leave with a report on their academic and personal achievements during the program, as well as an individual learning plan for their school and a post-program support plan for families/carers, community groups and services to help them achieve their personal goals.

Got more questions about the program?

You might find the answers you are looking for in our frequently asked questions.