Community Leaders Program

Unity Foundation is offers a comprehensive community leadership program for young adults, aged 18-28 years who have an interest in a leadership role within their Indigenous Community. Participants will work and live with youth from all over Australia sharing their backgrounds in Aboriginal culture.  Participants come from settings with limited resources and are given the opportunity to live in Southern Metropolitan Melbourne in order to access a range of career, educational and personal development opportunities which may not be available in their town of origin.

Selection
Unity Foundation staff select a team of young adults, aged 18-28 years, who are keen to make positive contributions to their communities and others. Participants are selected for their maturity, commitment, adaptability, willingness to learn, communication, group skills, initiative and knowledge of Indigenous issues. Selected youth will have a good knowledge of the area where they are from so they can teach others about issues and Indigenous culture in Australia.

The Program
Participants have opportunities to increase their confidence and abilities through program activities based on Indigenous traditions and philosophies and experiential education. The educative portion of the program assists participants to make change for themselves, their families and their communities.  We aim to develop inspirational role models who are able to positively influence others!

The program is delivered from the perspective of a collaborative commitment from indigenous and non-indigenous people. Activities are chosen based on their capacity to challenge participants physically, mentally, honourably and emotionally. Three main program components will be followed throughout: personal development; cultural strengthening and rediscovery, and community leadership. Activities focus on team building, leadership styles and practice, group dynamics, conflict resolution, cultural understanding, organisational and general life skills. There is also intensive study on Indigenous issues in Australia, with the involvement of Elders throughout this program.

Each participant has the opportunity to develop skills that will enable them to work safely with young people while offering compassion and support to youth who are searching to understand themselves and their cultural backgrounds, and where they fit it in the world. Unity Foundation's facilitators assist participants in the running of a youth empowerment program aimed to increase the self-esteem of Indigenous children and youth. Participants deliver 'Cultural Rediscovery Activities' and help with local community projects. Unity Foundation's facilitators working on this program chose activities that assist participants to learn and be proud of their identity and culture and enable them to grow into strong, confident people. Elders, representing the local communities, will be involved, sharing culture, skills, experiences and knowledge.

For further information contact Unity Foundation on 03 9593 6259 or info@unityfoundation.org.au