Building strong futures for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Marigurim Yan, the Butchulla word for ‘strong walk’, is the inspiration behind a research-based educational program guiding First Nations youth to dream big and think deeply about their futures. 

The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC)-led program is helping young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students living in regional and remote areas build self-motivation and personal accountability using culturally appropriate, and locally driven ways. Their new-found confidence and drive is resulting in students being more future-focused, and engaged in achieving educational, career, and life aspirations. 

About this grant 

The Marigurim Yan program is a result of Indigenous elders and community members on the Fraser Coast recognising engaging the University of the Sunshine Coast to help create a program that would build confidence and motivation in First Nations youth. 

It was codesigned by the community and experts, has shown clear outcomes, and has gained strong school and community support to continue. With JVT’s funding, they will now upskill education and support staff to make the program sustainable and scalable. 

Supporting country Queensland
Marigurim Yan is a futures focused program based on building self-belief, motivation and confidence in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students in years 7-9 at school – and the educators and workers who support them. 

System change goals 

A successful pilot of the program resulted in students having increased understanding and knowledge of: 

• community awareness 
• cultural connections 
• self-motivation 
• factors influencing learning 
• educational and career aspirations and pathways 
• personal accountability 

This translated in to increased school attendance, engagement, and improved academic achievement – and demand for the program from schools, elders and locals across multiple regions increased. 

Marigurim Yan wants to make the program sustainable by supporting and mentoring local Indigenous education workers to deliver the program. Investment is being made in building capability and documentation so it can be expanded to other rural, regional, and remote schools in the future, independent of further funding. 

Alignment with JVT’s priorities  

The Marigurim Yan program aligns with our mission and goals and meets our five criteria for support.

1. Partnerships and collaboration
   The program has been designed, tested, and delivered with the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC), the local Indigenous community, schools, the Department of Education First Nations Education Team, and UniSC education team. The community’s engagement of multiple stakeholders and UniSC demonstrated their commitment to leveraging collective resources and their expertise, knowledge, connections and experience. 
2. Harm prevention and early intervention to bring better outcomes
   Students are developing self-belief, confidence and motivation which builds aspirations and a future-focus. 
3. Ideas that are community-led, driven or informed
   The Marigurim Yan program was initiated and co-designed by the community and aims to continue building local capability and connections. 
4. Projects that have deep or multiple impacts
   The program is building self-worth and motivation in students and educators, having far-reaching positive impacts across the community. Educators and Community Education Counsellors (CECs) are being trained and developed, improving their skills and ensuring the program can be expanded further. UniSC’s educational output is also being strengthened.
    
5. Investments that build organisation and sector capacity which will outlast our involvement
   Educator and CEC capacity is being invested in, and the program documented, so that Marigurim Yan can be shared and scaled, and run by more local communities.

With JVT’s support, the initiative will develop and evolve to create a sustainable program with the potential to be adapted and adopted by regional and remote communities throughout Queensland and make a difference to many more First Nations students. 

Watch: 

• New focus on learning for Indigenous students  
• Marigurim Yan Podcast  (35mins) 

 Links: 

• UniSC Knowledge Systems