Journey Tracks is a program run in partnership between EACH (Social and Community Health Organisation), the Victorian Department of Education and Training Koorie Engagement Unit and participating schools in Melbourne’s east. The program is an initiative supporting schools and early years settings to become culturally competent in the Knox and Maroondah regions.
Journey Tracks includes a 10 week program which brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for peer support, cultural learning and health and wellbeing in the school setting. It is about working with students in a strengths based way to create a sense of belonging and identity within their school, family and community. It promotes cultural safety in the school and helps empower them to identify and feel comfortable and proud to express their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
This poster will outline the key components of the Journey Tracks program and highlight the importance of providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with the opportunity to strengthen their cultural identity and become leaders in their school and community. It will also describe how our organisations have worked in partnership to support schools and early years to achieve Cultural Competency through staff Cultural Respect training and completing a checklist to become a Culturally inclusive setting.