Project: Empowering Indigenous youth through education, employment, training, and life skills.
Organisation: Ganbina
Mission
Ganbina’s mission is to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 5–25 in the Goulburn Valley to reach their full potential through culturally grounded, self-determined pathways in education, training, enterprise, and employment. By fostering meaningful engagement and leadership, we aim to create lasting impact and share our learnings with other communities to support broader, intergenerational change.
Project
Ganbina supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 5–25 to build strong futures through education, training, and employment. At the core of this work is the Jobs4U2 program, a structured, long-term initiative that helps participants become confident, capable, and ready for the workforce.
Rather than offering short-term solutions, Ganbina focuses on preparing young people for lifelong success. This includes practical support such as resume writing, interview skills, and understanding workplace expectations. Participants are encouraged to stay in school, set goals, and take responsibility for their own progress.
Ganbina also works to remove barriers that can prevent young people from reaching their potential, such as lack of access to identification, transport, or early learning support. By addressing these challenges early, the program helps young people stay engaged and on track.The approach is grounded in self-determination, accountability, and cultural strength. Young people are supported to make their own choices and take ownership of their journey, while Ganbina provides the tools, guidance, and encouragement they need along the way.
With over two decades of experience, Ganbina has developed a model that is both practical and adaptable. The goal is to share this approach with other communities, enabling broader access to the same opportunities and learnings. By investing in young people today, Ganbina helps lay the foundation for stronger families, communities, and futures.
Impact
Since 1997, Ganbina has empowered over 1,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through education, training, and employment programs. Between 2016 – 2019 alone, Ganbina created $43.4 million in social and economic value, delivering $6.60 for every $1 invested. Ganbina participants achieved higher Year 12 completion and employment rates than national Indigenous averages, with 98% complete their relevant year of education, and 76% are engaged in work. Ganbina’s culturally grounded, long-term support model fosters leadership, confidence, and intergenerational change without any government funding.