The Meeting Place
Our flagship and longest running program, The Meeting Place, continues to be held fortnightly during school terms for primary school-aged mob. We currently have 30 children from the 15 primary schools in Mount Alexander Shire, and recently have included primary aged students from Maryborough Education Centre (MEC). Each session has an Indigenous Teaching, Bush foods (healthy snacks and lunch), Circle time, and Indoor and outdoor learning through Indigenous pedagogies. We learn as a Community through Country and honour all who attend.
Kuli Business
Kuli Business (Men’s business) is for those who identify as male of the age of 12 -25, or at secondary school, under the guidance of Uncle Rick Nelson our young men are taught about Culture and Country. Going out to various parts of Country and various Cultural activities which enables them to continue to be aware how strong and deadly they are. This program is in partnership with Castlemaine Secondary College.
Wararak
Wararak is for young First Nations woman and gender diverse young people between the ages of 12 and 25. Meeting fortnightly during the school term, we engage in soul and community building activities on Country, we learn about woman’s business, traditional ceremony, and anything else that interests our beautiful members. We hope this will help ground the youth in our Community and help them feel more connected to each other and our Culture. Our dream is also that our amazing young people learn to become more present, strong and independent adults.
Me-Mandook Galk Bush Tucker and Education Place
Through a successful crowd fund campaign in 2020 we bought back land near Chewton to heal Djandak, watched over by Me-Mandook Galk, Grandmother Tree. It is the site of our new First Nations youth lead Bush Tucker Place, where we sow, grow and sell plants. Our dream is for this place to be an Indigenous Educational hub, to grow our programs and grow our young people. For more details about the Bush Tucker Place or buy plants go to our page here and keep an eye out on this space as plans emerge.
Aunty and Uncle Mentoring Program
Nalderun facilitates the development of a Community of care by creating wrap around services that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families. Using a wrap around effect, Nalderun helps kids through the school season through tutoring, supporting school and helping schools with curriculum. Anything that is needed to help our students thrive.
Nalderun SBAT Wrap Around Service
The Nalderun Wrap Around Service for the School Based Apprentice Traineeships (SBAT) is a program that helps support sustainable employment and training for young Aboriginal people as they transition from their Year 12. Nalderun continues to play a key role in the SBAT program to secure local Indigenous students in paid traineeship positions with host employers who are committed to improving employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians. The cultural component of the project and continuity that we provide to students through partnering in the delivery of this program will set up the students for certification, training, and employment outcomes, through an Indigenous lens. But most importantly through our way of seeing, living and being in the world.
Nalderun Curriculum Team
Nalderun Curriculum Team provides curriculum support, writing of curriculum, training on Indigenous worldviews and pedagogy, going into schools and universities to take lessons and classes, mentoring program for leaders and lecturers at university level, and publishing of papers.
First Nations Youth Leadership Program
The Nalderun Youth program was created to build connections and knowledge in Central Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. The program was launched in 2019 and is now led by three awesome Youth Mentors. Created to address concern that at a certain age young people were losing connections and even de-identifying the program is built on a strength-based approach that builds trust and interest in Culture. The program is overseen by Elders and has succeeded in building capacity in school staff to prioritise Culture, it has put student voices to the forefront, and built relationships across the region. The program has run camps, cultural days, excursions, in-school class enrichment, responded creatively to the challenges of Covid, and built Youth capacity in communicating, dealing with government departments and promoting the necessity for Culture to be taught, understood and celebrated.
Tabik Mooroopook Upper Loddon Landcare Group
This is a recently formed Landcare Group by and for the Nalderun Upper Loddon Aboriginal Community. They have partnered with other local Land Care Groups interested in healing Country, with a focus on three local sites of significance including Me-Mandook Galk Bush Tucker and Education Place.
Indigenous Relational World Views and Pedagogies
This training run by Nalderun is primarily for schools and educational purposes. It discusses Indigenous ways of seeing and being in the world, Indigenous pedagogies and using Indigenous protocols to introduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content. For enquiries about fees or further information please contact info@nalderun.com.au.
Community Food Share Program
A fortnightly program for those Mob who have really been needing it – sourced through Bendigo foodshare when possible and delivered to families around Mount Alexander as they need it and with the support of Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative.
