YIPP | AU | Lendlease and the community

Our YIPP students were proudly supported by 120 special guests including families and friends, school staff, and representatives from GWS Giants, National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy (NASCA) and Lendlease.

Uncle Greg Simms opened the evening’s celebration with a Welcome to Country, and a cultural dance and musical performance was presented by the students.

“Of any single region in Australia, Greater Western Sydney has the highest concentration of Aboriginal people,” said Sharon Stevenson, Lendlease National Program Manager, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).  “We are proud to partner with the GWS Giants and NASCA in supporting Western Sydney’s Aboriginal young people to achieve their potential and determine their own successful future.”

The YIPP program continues to evolve and expand across a growing number of Western Sydney schools, providing mentoring, in-class support, and educational and life-skills programs. In 2016, the YIPP program was re-launched with NASCA (whose Board is 100% Aboriginal) delivering day-to-day operations.

This year, 90 students in years 7 -11 from Kingswood High School, Glenmore Park High School, Windsor High School and Richmond High School have engaged in the program and participated in a range of activities designed to encourage school attendance, school completion, and develop career aspirations.

 

 

Cath Brokenborough, Lendlease Executive Lead for Indigenous Engagement & RAP, presented the student awards. “Tonight is a celebration of how far our YIPP students have come, and what they’ll go on to achieve. It takes a community to raise a child so tonight is also about celebrating the community – the schools, corporates, parents and friends.”

YIPP Female Student of the Year, Jaylee from Kingswood High School said: "Thank you for all that you have done to make me come this far. Without the YIPP program I wouldn't have been able to speak in front of people, meet such great people and learn more about my culture. You have made my high school life a billion times better."

YIPP aligns with our vision for reconciliation: to acknowledge and celebrate the proud heritage of Australia’s First People, and promote opportunities for career development, sustainable business growth and economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

To see the impact YIPP is having, check out this video.