The Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council was chosen as one of four sites in the state to run the program, “which connects local youth with services, keeps them engaged with education and meaningful employment, and generally raises their aspirations to be part of the community and society.” 

Samantha Duncan, Hollie Taggart and Jacob Stanton all finished the program last year, and have now changed sides of the desk, taking up employment opportunities and on-the-job training with the Opportunity Hub and LALC.

Samantha and Jacob are both engaged in a traineeship with the Hub, while also studying towards a Diploma of Community Services at TAFE, while Hollie, who recently won an Aboriginal Student of The Year Award, has taken up an administration traineeship with the LALC.

Senior Leader Community Engagement Simon Taylor said it is great to be able to see the success of the program, which has so far seen 834 students, first hand.

“We can put our hand on the outcomes that we have achieved,” Mr Taylor said.

“There are so many possible outcomes that the Opportunity Hub can achieve – I have no doubt that we are the peak, and the top example, of the four in the state.” 

The other hubs are based in the Hunter, Campbelltown and Dubbo, and are an initiative of the NSW Government’s Ochre Aboriginal Affairs Strategy.

The broader program involves local schools, job services, health services, cultural services and much more, and while it is not exclusive to indigenous youth it is focused in that direction, working with anyone aged between year five to one year post school.

Opportunity Hub coordinator Deborah Perry-Brown believes the program is so effective because it is backed by a network of different services, targeting a range of different outcomes, “but all working towards the same purpose – a better community.” 

Mrs Perry-Brown has also witnessed the program’s successes, ranging from students picking up casual work in local retail stores through to attendees finishing high school studies to take up medical degrees at university, and everything in between.

“It really is helping to close the gap, and that is why we believe it is so important not to exclude aboriginal students from others, we are passionate about all the kids in the community and take an holistic approach,” she said.

“It’s great to see it work and make a real difference.”