CUNNAMULLA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION FOR HEALTH

Developing young and future Elders

Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health (CACH) aims to promote, maintain and improve the health and wellbeing of people in South Western Queensland.

The CACH Murri Network has developed a Young Elders and Future Elders program as a forum that allows the future leadership and skill development of the younger generation. The Elders of the community see this as a very important strategy to engage the younger people of their community and to ensure the transfer of knowledge from Elders onto the younger generation.

Young Elders are identified in the community as being proactive and possessing the same qualities and leadership abilities of community Elders. Future Elders are two senior students identified by their peers and school staff as being future leaders in their community. Their role is to work closely with Young Elders as members of the CACH Murri Network as well as act as advocates and a voice for the youth. By developing this strategy, the CACH Murri Network is able to encourage, develop and nurture the younger generation through mentoring and support in order strengthen their skills and aspirations to become the future leaders of Cunnamulla.