The team at Burraja Cultural Centre are not only celebrating NAIDOC Week but the success of their new youth program.
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The Burraja Koori Youth and Young People Project Journeys initiative, to support young people identified as at-risk, received $200,000 from the Victorian government last year.
Centre steering committee member Mark Cottee said the 12-month program had been underway since February with the first group due to finish soon.
“It’s a special program funded by the youth justice (department) in Victoria and it’s all about getting young people who are at risk of disengaging and giving them some cultural awareness training,” he said.
“Groups of around eight to a dozen kids are coming in at a time for a 10 week program.
“There’s a range in the ten programs; everything from making artefacts to storytelling and day trips to find resources.
“We’ve had to expand the age group so we’re catering to a larger number and that’s been going really well.”
Mr Cottee said the centre, next to GIGS Gallery on the Lincoln Causeway, had also been hosting more community groups.
“I was linked to the centre back when it first started – it’s been reinvigorated and we’re now using it as a platform to build off,” he said.
“It gives the cultural experience we want on the Border.”
Burraja held an open day on Wednesday for families and young people to get an insight into the centre.
Leanne Kenny brought her four girls from Eskdale – Dakira, 11, enjoyed the cultural displays.
“We have been to other centres but not this one; I like the paintings,” she said.
“When we go back to school we’re having NAIDOC week there.
“We haven’t had it before at school, that I can remember, so that’s pretty good.”
Her older sister Hannah has been doing her own research for an art project.
“I did mine on the Bogong moth, as it’s natural to the area and Aboriginals used to go up there to catch eat them,” she said.
