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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 16 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 DET. 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. Click here for a map of our catchment area.

The NSW government provides funding for the centre through the Attorney General’s Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

To come to Tirkandi Inaburra all boys need to apply and be accepted for inclusion in the program. Being selected to come to Tirkandi Inaburra offers a participant a unique opportunity to positively change his attitude and behaviours and develop skills and abilities which will significantly reduce his risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

However, whilst Tirkandi Inaburra provides a supportive and structured learning environment for each participant that will lead to change, a participant must ‘voluntarily’ reside at the Centre for 3-6 months and be prepared to fully participate in all of the activities which have been designed to empower him. Mostly, a participant must be willing to ‘have a go and try his best’ and be ready to make a change in his own life.

The ongoing support of the participant’s parent / carer is essential throughout the program and post Tirkandi Inaburra if the participant is to ‘sustain the change’ which he will experience as a direct result of his ‘journey’ through our program.

Aboriginal boys who want to be considered for inclusion in the program need to apply by filling out an application form and obtaining parental consent.

Potential applicants may also be sponsored by a family or community member or by a government or non-government agency.

If you are not the applicant’s parent or carer you must make sure that you discuss this application with the young person and be convinced that he wants to come to Tirkandi Inaburra as this is a ‘voluntary’ program.

You must also discuss your intention to lodge an application on behalf of the young person with Tirkandi Inaburra with his parent or carer as Tirkandi Inaburra will require his legal guardian to sign the appropriate consent form and provide a medical history.

Sponsors need to be committed to supporting the participant during and on exit from the program so that the participant has the best chance possible of ‘sustaining the change’ that he will experience as a direct result of his ‘journey’ through our program.

Because participants go to school on-site at the Centre they must also be enrolled as a student at the Coleambally Central School.

Tirkandi Inaburra will also require information relating to a potential participant’s medical history so that they can properly assess the applicant’s eligibility and manage his medical issues if accepted into the program.

CLICK HERE for all application forms.

If you would like to know more about being a sponsor CLICK HERE.

If you would like more details on the Application and Assessment Process and Eligibility Criteria CLICK HERE.