Tirkandi Inaburra has the capacity to house up to 16 participants who reside at the Centre on a voluntary basis for between 3 and 6 months.

Participants will come from communities located between the Lachlan and the Murray and between Balranald and the western side of the Blue Mountains.

Tirkandi Inaburra will assess each application in accordance with clear eligibility criteria. Scroll down or click here for our Eligibility Criteria.

Tirkandi Inaburra’s program targets Aboriginal boys who demonstrate potential but are just starting to get into trouble or showing signs of being at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

Tirkandi Inaburra aims to teach young people how to make better decisions, develop strategies to deal with their problems and to develop and draw on their own resilience in order to take responsibility for their own lives, and minimise the risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Participants at Tirkandi Inaburra will be engaged in structured and challenging activities that

> are individually tailored to their educational and developmental needs
> strengthen cultural and personal identity
> build resilience
> promote cultural pride

Each participant at Tirkandi Inaburra has a Personal Learning Plan and a Case Plan designed to build on the participant’s strengths.

Tirkandi Inaburra will foster a welcoming environment and ongoing communication between the participant and his family and/or carer. Families are strongly encouraged to visit their sons throughout the program and will provide accommodation free of charge in two fully self contained units on site.

Families, Aboriginal elders and Aboriginal community members are critical in the support needed by our young people when they graduate from the program and return to their community. Graduates will still require support to stay on track and to maintain their learning from Tirkandi Inaburra.

Tirkandi Inaburra will ensure that the legal and human rights of all participants are upheld.

Aboriginal community control and leadership will ensure programs are culturally appropriate and effectively respond to the needs of Aboriginal youth and their communities.

Tirkandi Inaburra will ensure responsiveness to local Aboriginal communities, including Aboriginal youth, through broad representation on its management structures.

Tirkandi Inaburra will ensure transparent and accountable management and abide by government guidelines and requirements in relation to;

> child protection,
> performance standards,
> financial management,
> privacy and confidentiality
> human resource management, and
> complaints handling.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Definite ‘Yes’

1. . 12–15 year old Aboriginal boys
2. . Boys who want to commit to the program for 3-6 months
3. . First offenders/ non-serious offenders
4. . Boys who are ready to make the ‘shift’
5. . Boys who are dropping out / have dropped out of school / have a history of suspension from school
6. . Boys coming to the notice of police / involved in conferencing / making their first court appearance
7. . Boys who have support from either their family, community, or sponsoring agency

Definite ‘No’

1. . Non-Aboriginal boys
2. . Boys over 16yrs or under 12 yrs
3. . Girls
4. . Boys who live outside the catchment area
5. . Repeat offenders who have become institutionalised
6. . Sex offenders
7. . Serious violent offenders
8. . Boys with an existing drug and/or alcohol dependence
9. . Boys with a diagnosed mental illness
10. Boys with complex medical needs which are not manageable at the centre
. . .(please discuss these needs with Centre staff)
11. Boys who are assessed as posing a safety risk to themselves and others

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COMMUNITY INFORMATION DAY IN YOUR AREA
OR A VISIT FROM THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER
PLEASE CONTACT US NOW ON
1800 759 040