Bundanon Outreach and Youth Pathways Excursion to Canberra

Through our successful partnership with Access Community Group’s Youth Pathways, a DEEWR initiative, over 100 young people from five local secondary schools at risk of disengaging with their school have created artworks during a series of workshops at Bundanon and Riversdale in the lead up to an exhibition to be held at Shoalhaven City Arts Centre from June 26 to August 4.

Young Indigenous students and their teachers involved in this program travelled to Canberra to visit the National Gallery, the Australia National Museum of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies to gain experience of presenting exhibitions and to engage in cultural learning activities. A highlight of this visit was a meeting with Jenny Macklin, Minister for Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs at Parliament House.

What an extraodinary experience we were all treated to yesterday! The kids had a great time, were suitably exhausted, and their cultural awareness was enriched. To have 28/35 attendance was totally unprecedented for an Indigenous group. Usually it is 50%. The attention to detail in terms of organisation was superb. We did not have to wait anywhere and all sessions were so well thought out and fabulous. In terms of behaviour, the kids were very good. Those few small slips in behaviour that occurred were easily addressed and responded to swiftly. I know the kids will take the experiences from yesterday well into the future. Alot of the kids did not know one another until yesterday, but formed strong bonds immediately, almost as if they had known one another for a long time. I am speechless...and that does not happen very often!! Well done and a huge thankyou. Cath McGill Manager Youth Pathways