Empowering the voices of First Nations youth

Partner with us to develop future leaders in Australia

Empowering the voices of First Nations youth

Partner with us to develop future leaders in Australia

Young Mob - First Nations youth program

Having a strong cultural identity and connection to country is vital to the health, social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous youth. Many Indigenous students struggle with their confidence, self-esteem and self-identity and often don’t finish Year 12.

Through the Young Mob Program, Indigenous students have increased their knowledge and deepened their understanding of their culture. This has enabled them to improve their confidence, personal growth and ongoing development for life, education and work.

Young mob participant learning traditional painting

In 2018, the Young Mob program expanded into more schools than ever before with more camps and trips delivered with our partner, the Aboriginal organisation First Hand Solutions. Participants have built on their life skills, increased their school engagement and are more empowered and excited as they confidently step up and take on opportunities focused on their future.

They are now looking towards a brighter future, positively engaging with the world around them. In turn, many schools have increased their cultural knowledge and understanding of its importance and are more inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 

Young Mob FAQs

Is Young Mob community driven?

Young Mob works with communities where we are invited, our aim is to respond to individual school and local community needs and align to priorities to make a collective contribution.  

Is Young Mob led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?

Young Mob employs, trains and strengthens local First Nations people. Facilitators range in age, knowledge and skills. The team have links to local community, land and culture and are staff, elders and members of the community. 

What is Young Mob's core method of teaching?

The core method of teaching and learning is yarning. Other ways of learning that emerge from this yarning include: country/place, ritual/meaning, visual/hands-on, observe/listen, respect/strong spirit and story/memory. 

What are the different themes covered by Young Mob?

  1. Identity
  2. Culture
  3. Strong spirit
  4. Yarning and storytelling
  5. First Nations resilience
  6. Social justice
  7. Health
  8. Goal setting
  9. Community contribution 
  10. Public speaking 

How long has Young Mob been running for?

Young Mob has a long history and a big future. The success of Young Mob is seen in its story: Young Mob started in 2006 at Redfern Community Centre – "The Block" and has now grown to be part of 25 schools in Sydney, Hunter Valley and Melbourne regions and we are continuing to grow.

Where does Young Mob take place?

Young Mob is in the city, the regions and out bush. Activities happen at schools, day forums, road trips, camps and exchange trips. Young Mob programs offer experiences to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from urban New South Wales and Victoria.

Who does World Vision partner with for Young Mob?

Our Young Mob program partners with local First Nations organisations and communities to give young First Nations people a hands-on opportunity to connect with culture.

Hands on solutions - we work from the grass roots 
Hand free solutions - we believe that empowerment comes from people being empowered by the possibility of change within
Hands together solutions - we work in partnership to make a difference to peoples lives
My hands - we work together with First Nations people to show them how to put their future in good hands - their own

Meet a facilitator: Mark

Mark is a proud Gamilaroi and Ngemba man. He is also a facilitator in the Young Mob Program, having begun as a participant a few years back.

Facilitators like Mark go out to schools and run a ten-week program with First Nations youth. The program helps engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in topics that can help them positively engage the world around them, diving into topics like identity, culture, strong spirit, social justice and public speaking.

Mark also brings young First Nations leaders in the Young Mob program on camps out to the bush, where they can experience their own land and culture first-hand. Most of the youth who come out on the camps live in cities like Sydney, and aren’t necessarily familiar with their tribe, totems or what it takes to be a leader for their community.

Mark, a facilitator in the young mob program

"It’s important because Aboriginal people in the past have been shunned upon," Mark says. "So making these kids strong within themselves and within their culture and making them proud Aboriginal people is the main goal for us."

Young Mob is an opportunity for these young people to build confidence, to confront difficulties and to experience their culture first-hand. These are skills and experiences that First Nations young people can carry with them back home – and for life.  

“We’ve had so many kids come through our program who started off shy or getting in trouble at school,” Mark says. “But this program gives you an attitude towards life, it opens you up not only to becoming a leader and learning about public speaking, but also opens you up to your culture as well. 

“We want to build future leaders and future role models and this program is a perfect thing for that.” 

Young mob teenagers walking
Learning to make tools

Our work in supporting First Nations Australians

When you support World Vision’s work in Australia, you are helping strengthen partnerships between First Nations and non-First Nations people. 

We adapt our successful community-led development approach from around the world to partner with Aboriginal communities, charities and organisations to help support them to lead their own development and realise their own goals. 

You can be a part of this journey and a part of our shared story – connecting with and listening to the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Together, we can create stronger future for all. 

Learn more about other ways you can support First Nations communities, including our Early Childhood Care and Development program.

Young aboriginals learning traditional skills

We want to build future leaders and future role models and this program is a perfect thing for that.

- Mark, facilitator in the Young Mob program