Aboriginal Community Connectors

Aboriginal Community Connectors primarily work with Aboriginal students in Years, 10, 11 and 12, supporting them to be culturally strong and remain engaged in school.

Aboriginal Community Connectors assist students and their families by connecting them with people and services in the community, who, working together, support students to:

• Advance their education and employment goals
• Tackle challenges they may be facing at school
• Connect students to cultural activities and opportunities

Aboriginal Community Connectors meet with students at school, at their homes or anywhere they feel comfortable having a chat.

They talk to students about their passions and goals and some of the challenges they may be experiencing at school or in life that are having an impact on their education.

They work with students and their families to develop a tailored plan that helps them to address the challenges they are experiencing so they can reach their goals.

Aboriginal Community Connectors help students build their confidence and connections so that they have a strong foundation to realise their potential in education and in life.

A recent survey of students taking part in the Aboriginal Community Connector program found that Community Connectors are having a positive impact on students health and wellbeing and education outcomes.

All students reported that their health and wellbeing has improved since working with Community Connectors.  Students reported that Community Connectors have supported their mental and physical health and provided them with opportunities to connect with their culture and community.

The majority of students reported feeling better about school since working with the Community Connector.

The main reasons for this positive change were that the Community Connectors support students inside and outside of school, motivates them to stay in school, and strengthens their cultural identity.

The majority of students indicated they would recommend the Connector to friends and that they feel confident about knowing where to seek help since working with the Connector.

On the whole most students said the Community Connectors are trusted, supportive, and engaging and that there was nothing they thought the Community Connector could do differently or better.

Yes as [I] have now had more opportunities to connect with my culture (in school and out of school). I have also been able to decide who and what serv[i]ces are best for me and not just made to stay with som[e]one I didn't like or feel comfortable with. I have also gained greater confidence in myself since working with [Community Connector’s name]. I'm not afraid to ask for help as I know that [they do] not judge me.

[Community Connector] does everything can to help me with school. Even talks to the teachers to help them understand what is going on with my life. I love how we can see and talk to [CC] whenever is on the school grounds is never too busy to talk to me. The teachers though still need a lot of work when it comes to cultural things and what and where us students come from.

The best thing about working with [them] is that [I] feel like [I] have someone [I] can trust, someone that will support me and someone that genuinely cares about my future.

Helps me feel in touch with the community and those of my culture, and genuinely great person to ask for help and keeping me mentally and physically fit by engaging in programs.