Graduates shine in Bulldogs’ First Nations leadership program

LOCAL participants of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s Nallei Jerring program have celebrated their graduation.

The program, which means join and unite in Woi Wurrung language, supports First Nations and Torres Strait Islander young people to become leaders within the community.

Participants took part in a range of life, cultural, and sporting experiences that are a mix of theory and practical based activities.

The program is provided in partnership with schools to strengthen participants’ cultural knowledge, leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, and community connection.

Mount Clear College year 9 student Gabby said the program has helped her gain confidence and connect with her culture.

“I just wanted to connect with mob, get connected with not only the community but my culture a lot more,” she said.

“I grew up not knowing a lot about it so it kind of felt like a home to have all these people around me and some of them were in the same situations I was in.”

Year 10 student Sophie, who is also from Mount Clear College, said a program highlight was learning about Marngrook, a Gunditjmara word for game ball, which is thought to be the origin of Australian Rules Football.

Participants got to create their own Marngrook, which is made from possum skin and stuffed with grass.

“I really enjoyed the experiences that we got to do like when we did the Marngrooks,” she said.

“I’ve learnt communication and definitely courage.”

First Nations youth coordinator Jordon Eldridge said it was great to see young First Nations people connecting and learning.

“I see it as a program where basically it’s an excuse to bring all the young mob in the area, whether it be in the Ballarat area or the inner west area, to bring them all together and sometimes just do a simple workshop to learn and other times it’s yarning circles,” he said.

“It’s building that connection with other First Nations kids that have often not met.”

Last week, the Daughters of the West program participants also celebrated their graduation.

The 10-week health and wellbeing program aims to empower women to improve their physical, social and mental health.

The initiative includes educational sessions and group fitness classes.