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“Boys to Men: Learning to Live Their Dream”

Tirkandi Inaburra Cultural and Development Centre is an Aboriginal community run centre offering Aboriginal
boys aged 12-15 a culturally-based residential program aimed at reducing future contact with the criminal justice system by strengthening the boys’ cultural identity, self-esteem and resilience.

The centre houses 14 boys at a time and the boys stay at the Centre on a voluntary basis for 3-6 months. Whilst at the Centre the boys engage in educational, sport, recreational, life, living skills and cultural activities which have all been designed to incrementally develop each participant’s skills and abilities. Schooling is provided on site by the NSW DEC. The Centre is located on a 780 hectares rural property between the townships of Coleambally and Darlington Point in the Riverina district of south-west NSW.

The name “Tirkandi Inaburra” means “to learn to dream” in the Wiradjuri language. Tirkandi Inaburra delivers a culturally based residential program aimed at strengthening cultural identity and resilience and empowering its young participants to reach their full potential in life.

Boys who live in communities located between the Lachlan and the Murray and between Balranald and the western side of the Blue Mountains are eligible to apply to come to the Centre.

The NSW government provides funding for the centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Promoting Resilience
The Tirkandi Inaburra philosophy is based above all on promoting resilience. It aims to empower Aboriginal youth to develop and draw on their own resilience in order to take responsibility for their own lives, develop strategies to deal with their problems and minimise the risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. The promotion of self-confidence, identity and cultural pride in Aboriginal youth is seen as central to the development of resilient young men.

Guiding Principles
> .A select school for boys with potential
> .Cultural relevance and involvement of elders
> .Confidence and resilience building
> .Voluntary participation
> .Flexible and challenging programs targeted to individual needs
> .Acting at all times in the best interests of the young people
> .Providing a safe, secure and challenging environment for young people
> .Active engagement of families / carers and communities
> .Aboriginal community control and leadership within a working partnership with the NSW government
> .Responsiveness to youth and community needs
> .Working in partnership with other government and non-government agencies
> .Equity of access across communities in the catchment area
> .Empowering participants to return to their communities


For more information about
Tirkandi Inaburra, click on this icon
to download the 2-page Factsheet.