Indigenous leadership program
Why does VicHealth support Indigenous leadership?
Discrimination confronting Indigenous communities in Australia is well documented and manifests in entrenched levels of poverty, limited education, unemployment and inadequate housing, all of which are major factors determining poor mental health.
VicHealth supports the development of Indigenous leadership in order to promote the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of Indigenous communities in Victoria. By building leadership potential among young people, the skills required to combat experiences of discrimination and to forge positive futures are created.
For a number of years, VicHealth supported a youth leadership program in partnership with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. A range of youth leadership projects based in metropolitan and rural areas across Victoria provided leadership training, mentoring by senior community members, support and resources to develop leadership skills and access to participation in a range of community and professional activities.
Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria
The statewide network has established an incorporated body that was launched in October 2008 as the Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria. This network aims to bring together information, resources and people to inform and build the capacity of Indigenous leadership in Victoria.
Building Indigenous Leadership (publication)
Building Indigenous Leadership records the experience and key learnings of five early projects and the statewide ledership network, covering the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of Indigenous communities and the importance of building leadership to the ongoing survival and growth of Indigenous communities.