Our Youth Deserve Safe and Brave Spaces to Thrive, Not Just Survive. Far too often, the funding and focus directed towards Aboriginal youth are tied to deficit narratives—aimed at reducing risks or ‘rescuing’ our young people from perceived problems. According to national data, Indigenous youth are overrepresented in negative statistics, including incarceration and mental health challenges. For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth make up 50% of the youth detention population, despite being only 6% of the general youth population . But we must ask ourselves: what if we started from a place of strength, not deficit? What if we built solutions from the understanding that our young people are not problems to be solved, but leaders, healers, warriors, and visionaries waiting to rise? At Kiilalaana, we take a different approach. We start from power, culture, and potential. We build from wellbeing, identity, and cultural connection as our foundation, not as a distant goal. We know that when young people are grounded in their cultural identity and have access to safe, brave spaces, they thrive—not just in school or work, but in life. Research shows that cultural connection is key to resilience and mental health for Aboriginal youth. Studies have found that strong cultural identity acts as a protective factor against mental illness, helping reduce rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide . This isn’t about fixing deficits. It’s about creating spaces where our youth can live from their power, where they can dream big, and where they are given the tools to write their own stories. By starting from wellbeing and cultural strength as our base, we shift the narrative from one of survival to one of empowerment, pride, and leadership. Let’s stop focusing solely on statistics of harm, and instead invest in their potential. Let’s create spaces that celebrate their cultural identity and offer opportunities for our young people to lead with pride and strength. Because our young people don’t just need a place to survive—they deserve spaces where they can thrive, rise, and rewrite the narrative. #FromStrengthToStrength | #KiilalaanaFoundation | #BraveSpaces | #YouthEmpowerment | #CulturalIdentity | #PowerAndPotential | #ShiftTheNarrative
Kiilalaana Foundation
Non-profit Organization Management
MILDURA, VIC 703 followers
Empowering, Nurturing & Enabling women/girls to stand in their power, live their truth & follow their heart. Sovereignty
About us
An empowerment program
- Industry
- Non-profit Organization Management
- Company size
- 1 employee
- Headquarters
- MILDURA, VIC
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2014
Locations
-
Primary
MILDURA, VIC 3500, AU
Employees at Kiilalaana Foundation
-
Shantelle Thompson OAM - Warrior Heart
Barkindji Warrior | 3x World Champion & Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt | Speaker, Podcaster & Author | Kiilalaana Founder | Indigipreneur | Empowerment…
-
April Goldring
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Provisional Psychologist | Doctoral Student (Forensic and Clinical Psychology)
-
Nikita Hart
Leadership Advisor
Updates
-
🌟 Collaborating for a Stronger Mob 🌟 Kiilalaana recently partnered with Mildura Headspace to connect with our young mob and have open conversations about mental health and the resources available in our community. It was powerful to hear their truths, insights, and feedback about why some may not feel comfortable accessing spaces or organizations like Headspace, and how we can make these services more inclusive and accessible. Together, we shared cultural contexts, practices, and wellbeing teachings from our First Nations cultures, blending them with Western approaches to create a holistic pathway to health. By weaving these practices, we're empowering our young mob to be well, strong, deadly, and resilient. ✊🏾💛 This is just the beginning! We're committed to continuing this journey together, ensuring that every young person feels seen, heard, and supported. Let's keep building and walking this path of healing and strength together. #Kiilalaana #Headspace #MentalHealth #FirstNations #Wellbeing #Empowerment #StrongerTogether #YouthVoices #nowmorethanever #keepthefireburning #hereforgenerations #blakloudandproud
-
Shantelle Thompson OAM - Warrior Heart Aunty Shan on Country with our baby Tidda’s. Culture is the heartbeat that keeps us moving forward, guiding us with every beat. It's the foundation of our wellbeing, strength, and connection. At Kiilalaana Foundation, we're reclaiming, reconnecting, and remembering who we are by weaving culture into every step. Today, our young Tiddas were on Country with Aunty Shan, learning to pick the sacred quandong fruit. They discovered its uses, nutritional benefits, and sustainable picking practices. This isn't just about harvesting fruit; it's about harvesting knowledge, honouring traditions, and keeping the fire of our culture burning bright. Every step we take is a step toward reclamation, remembrance, and resilience. This is how we rise, together. #kiilalaanafoundation #kiilalaanakoakii #nowmorethanever #keepthefireburning #warriorheart #KiilalaanaTiddas #blakloudandproud #CulturalReclamation #OurStoriesOurStrength"
-
Grateful for opportunities to connect our young to deadly leaders, cross cultural learning and connection. Deadly visit with our Māori Uncle Jeremy sharing is cultural reclamation journey. Kiilalaana young mob learning some Māori song, language and journey... Thanks uncle for coming to visit and sharing your story with us. #kiilalaanafoundation #keepthefireburning #hereforgenerations #warriorheart #blakloudandproud #nowmorethanever #maori #indigenous
-
Kiilalaana mob practising their Pukana faces, learning from Uncle Jeremy and building connections... #warrior #maori #indigenous #kiilalaanafoundation ##blakloudandproud ##hereforgenerations #nowmorethanever
-
Kiilalaana Foundation young mob coming together to Dreak up our ways of fundraising to keep our doors open... Funding our path, celebrating Our young mob and creating choices. Shifting narratives, remembering who we are is more than the colonial pain and impacts of colonisation. We are our Ancestors wildest dreams, we are what they fought for. Now it's our turn to fight for ourselves, our futures and future generations now. #nowmorethanever #keepthefireburning #kiilalaanafoundation #blakloudandproud
-
Kiilalaana Brothers program, guiding and supporting our young men in their journey, culture and stories. Deadly preparation going on for #Mutawintji2024... Share our pages and connect. Help us share our story and journey. #nowmorethanever #blakloudandproud #hereforgenerations #keepthefireburning #kiilalaanafoundation
-
Sneak peek in our Kiilalaana Dancers on Country day yesterday in Robinvale. Preparing for Mutawintji2024. Under the deadly guidance of Uncle Dizzle and Billie. #nowmorethanever #keepthefireburning #kiilalaanafoundation #blakloudandproud #hereforgenerations #getupstandupshowup
-
Our Tidda’s.. Warrior Women... Biggest gratitude and shout out to Aunty Billie for guiding, loving on and supporting our Tidda’s and Brothers to get ready for Mutawintji Cultural festival 2024. #cultureislife #keepthefireburning #nowmorethanever #blakloudandproud #hereforgenerations #kiilalaanafoundation
-
Kiilalaana Brothers Culture camp 2024... On Country... Creating connections, sharing story and journey ✨️. CONTINUING the OLDEST living Culture in the world. On their own time, for themselves and finding their way... THANK YOU to Uncle Dizzle for making this possible for our young men to practise men's business... Tidda’s came out for a visit.... Preparing for the Mutawinji 2024 Cultural festival. #kiilalaanafoundation #kiilalaanakoakii #nowmorethanever #keepthefireburning #hereforgenerations #blakloudandproud