Liverpool Drives Indigenous Youth Leadership Through Mentoring Camp

Liverpool Opportunity Hub has selected fourteen young women to participate the “Deadly Youth Mentoring Program” and “Nanga Mai Marri program” gathered at Lake Macquarie, situated on the ancestral lands of the Awabakal people, for a transformative Girls Leadership Camp.

The camp’s theme, ‘Belonging on Country, Rooted in Tradition and Rising in Leadership,’ aimed to foster a sense of belonging and self-discovery among the participants.

Commenting on program, a participant from the Liverpool Opportunity Hub, Rhianna Webster, said: “It was a great social and learning experience with lots of fun cultural and confidence-building activities.

“I really loved learning about the land and the people from Uncle Norm and Aunty Sheridon. I want to thank Souths Cares and my Mentor for giving me this opportunity to be a part of this camp,” she said.

A mentor from the Liverpool Opportunity Hub, Jess Curry, added: “This camp has been an incredible experience, I loved seeing the girls from all programs spend time getting to know one another, supporting and uplifting each other.”

“This was my first camp with Souths Cares, and I believe all of our girls left with a stronger sense of belonging and self-confidence,” Curry said.

Participants engaged in a variety of social and learning experiences, including cultural immersion activities led by Uncle Norman Archibald and Sheridon Noble, who shared knowledge about the land and local traditions.

These mentoring figures played a crucial role in guiding the young women through experiences such as a Traditional Smoking Ceremony and a guided bushwalk, fostering an understanding of the local environment and native wildlife.

Cultural workshops, also led by Sheridon Noble, provided hands-on learning opportunities where the girls explored cultural artefacts and bush medicine.

This mentoring aspect allowed each participant to create their own clapsticks, establishing a personal connection to their cultural heritage.

Evenings were dedicated to shared cultural activities like weaving, dancing, and storytelling, promoting strong bonds and potential lifelong friendships among the participants from different mentoring programs.

Mentors from programs like the Liverpool Opportunity Hub observed the positive impact of the camp, noting the development of a stronger sense of belonging and self-confidence in the young women.

The success of the camp was greatly supported by the generous contributions of Ingenia Holiday Parks, demonstrating the collaborative spirit behind fostering such initiatives.

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