Jakohda Holland-Wiesner (centre), with the support of driver-mentors Teleah Woods (left), Katrina Goolagon (middle) and Simone Fox (right), has clocked up 100 supervised driving hours as part of the On-Country Pathways’ free Driver-Mentor Program. Photo: Eleisha Collins.
Albury Wodonga-based not-for-profit On-Country Pathways is set to launch a First Nations-run social venture to fund its free employment and driver-mentor programs for young Indigenous people across The Riverina Murray region.
The charity, which celebrated its third anniversary this week, wants to expand across NSW and Victoria to empower more regional youth seeking pathways into employment.
So far, 84 young mob have passed their test with support from On-Country Pathways, which provides a free, culturally safe, learn to drive service across 16 communities. A further 212 are involved in the program, building up their supervised driving hours.
On-Country has also partnered with 26 Riverina Murray businesses to offer 54 work experience placements and assisted 29 young mob into full-time jobs through its Job Placement Support Program.
There are more than 40 high schools, TAFEs, registered training providers and Aboriginal organisations supporting On-Country Pathways’ work, so far providing more than 600 referrals from young people and their families.
General manager and proud Wiradjuri man Jebb Hutchison said On-Country would look at other avenues for providing services that weren’t subject to government funding.
“We want to become less reliant on funding and more self-sufficient, so later this year, we will launch a procurement business, run by First Nations people, that sources goods and services for Australian businesses, from verified First Nations-owned and operated companies,” he said.
“As it grows, the social venture will provide employment opportunities for young mob and 100 per cent of the profits it makes will go directly into operating our free employment and driver-mentor programs and developing new programs based on community needs.
“The free programs have been funded mainly by the Australian Government, including the Indigenous Skills and Employment Program and the Strong and Resilient Communities program.
“For every $1 spent with an Indigenous business, you create more than $4 in social and economic value. This adds up to positive generational change for First Nations people, and that’s our vision.”
Driver-Mentor Program participant and On-Country Pathways’ Trainee Business Administrator Jakohda Holland-Wiesner said the charity was a lifeline for regional First Nations youth.
“I only had 30 hours in my logbook when I started working at On-Country Pathways, and now, because I get to drive into work every day with one of the driver-mentors, I have 100 hours. I can go for my Ps in October, then I’ll be driving myself to work in the car I bought with my earnings.”
Jakohda, a proud Yorta Yorta woman, said she strived to be a role model for her younger siblings and wanted to use the pathways program to set an example.
“My sister is 16 and is applying for her Ls, then she’ll start building up her supervised driving hours with On-Country Pathways’ Driver-Mentor Program,” she said.
Jakohda will complete her Certificate III in Business Administration in March next year and is already planning her next block of study, with the dream of owning her own hospitality business by the time she is 30.
“On-Country Pathways is enabling people like me to break the cycle. It empowers us young mob who think we can’t choose how to play the cards we are dealt, giving us independence and control over our own employment journeys,” Jakohda said.
