A particular highlight for the young people is being able to attend the Dreaming Festival held in Queensland each June. This trip offers the young people the opportunity to experience a different part of Australia. The program of events includes the opening and closing ceremonies featuring dancers and performers from International Indigenous organisations, as well as from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. The young people are able to attend four days of workshops, dance performances, theatre, comedy, film, music and art exhibitions.
The interaction with the festival community has been a constructive experience for the students with one student responding that: ‘I feel like I’m coming home.’

 

Urayarra has strong links in the Indigenous community through Gugan Gulwan Aboriginal Youth Services, Billabong Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Corporation for Sport and Recreational Activities (Boomanulla Oval), Cultural Centre, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, ACT Government Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Services and Ngunnawal Land Council.

 

Contacting Urayarra

 

If you would like further information on the Urayarra program please call (02) 6290 2191
or email urayarra@galilee.org.au

Urayarra

The Galilee Urayarra program focuses on at-risk Indigenous young people and aims to increase the range of their skills, enhance personal development and build leadership capabilities. The Urayarra Program provides education and skills training, referral and advocacy for Indigenous young people at risk aged 12 to 16 years. The Urayarra program is funded by the ACT Office of Children, Youth and Family Support.

 

Urayarra is focused on involving Indigenous young people in a wide range of social and cultural experiences in order to build their confidence, social skills and understanding of the wider community. Some of these experiences include:

 

  • Involvement in the Indigenous Women’s Day Breakfast and attendance at the UNIFEM International Women’s Day Lunch

  • An Outdoor Education Camp at Jervis Bay including a bush tucker walk, bush medicine and camping in a national park; a first time experience for most of the young people.

  • Indigenous Dancing and Didgeridoo Player performances

  • Involvement in NAIDOC week each year

  • Workshops at Winnunga Nimmitjah Aboriginal
    Medical Centre

  • Aboriginal Rock Art excursion to Yankee Hat

  • Cross Cultural Program activities

  • Torres Strait Islander Elder Workshop