First Nations participants from remote Communities in the Northern Territory have taken part in the official launch and inaugural workshops of the Talent Pathways Program in Sydney with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF).
ILF's innovative new Talent Pathways Program, supported by Lendlease's Workplaces with Impact Grant, is a two-year pilot program to prepare and equip First Nations participants to use their creative skills within their Communities as publishers, graphic designers and or writers.
ILF CEO Ben Bowen said:
"I am incredibly proud of the ILF organisation launching the 'Talent Pathways Program' with the support of our donors. As a Community led organisation, this new program has been a long time in the making off the back of decades of supplying support through the provision of culturally relevant books and literacy material around Australia.
"In life it is easy to lose sight of where you can have true sustainable impact but the ILF has the incredible privilege of trust in the Communities we have partnered with. This value of the lived experience has given us the insight and confidence to invest in people to access the opportunities and live up to our motto of 'reading opens doors'. Through 'Talent Pathways' the ILF will invest in people and work with partners to support them in accessing opportunities and support in their aspirations and futures."
Bi-annually, the ILF will select four participants aged 17-24 years who are not studying but looking for new career opportunities, from ILF's existing CREATE and Pamela Lofts programs to go into Talent Pathways. The program will involve learning modules, mentorship, practical experience and tailored study based on each person's unique career passions, in Community.
Participant Deborah Archie, who goes by "Rose", is from Bulla in the Northern Territory, located 130 km east of the Western Australian and Northern Territory border. Rose, who turns 23 in April, says her goal with ILF's Talent Pathways Program is to "find new and creative ideas to write and illustrate".
Rusinya Brooks, who goes by "Ruby", is 21 and hails from Milikapiti, which sits on the northern side of Melville Island, the bigger of the two Tiwi islands. Ruby is multi-lingual and speaks her people's Tiwi language, and English. With the program, Ruby wants to "turn words into illustrations". Her goal is to, "make a graphic novel, cover or illustration" and "to get better at digital art".
Murrwale Godden, 23, comes from Jilkminggan, which is 145 km south of Katherine, which itself is 320 km south of Darwin. Murrwale lives in Katherine and he speaks a mix of Kriol-English. His creative interests are within the IT and drawing space of digital art.
Bronanna Waterloo is from Amanbidji, Northern Territory which is located 115 km east of the Western Australia and Northern Territory borders. Bronanna is 21 and she speaks Ngarinyman-Kriol. Her creative interests within the program are in colour and design.
ILF's new Talent Pathways Project Manager Darren Moncrieff said:
"It's exciting to be at the start point of this program — for the participants and myself. The Talent Pathways builds on the years-long work between Communities and the ILF and has been tailored to meet Community needs.
"After several online sessions since January, we have just met each other for the first time in Sydney where we spent four fruitful days in practical sessions with a number of ILF staff. From this, we will build on what we have set in motion in the coming months.
"We are all looking forward to what we can achieve over the course of the 'Talent Pathways Program'."
Vanessa Orth, Managing Director of Lendlease Investment Management said:
"We're proud to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Talent Pathways program,providing meaningful learning opportunities for career growth.
"Supporting initiatives like Talent Pathways lies at the heart of our Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan and we look forward to seeing the participants achieve great outcomes."
END.
About us:
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia. They are Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.
In 2024 the ILF won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children's or young adult literature.
