About DreamTrack

DreamTrack is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentorship program.  We work with Murri youth in the South-East Queensland area.  We were established in 2010, and have been working in the community ever since.  Our program caters to kids from the ages of 7 to 17.  Older than this? Do not worry, we always need more volunteers!  Currently we meet on a monthly basis, having a deadly time, engaging in social, cultural and spiritual activities in a fun, safe space, and a friendly setting.

Our Vision

Our vision is to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with purpose and a positive identity.

Our Aim

Through our programs we aim to equip young people with the life skills and resources that will help them embrace life, culture and their community.

Purpose of DreamTrack

DreamTrack aims to facilitate the growth of strong, resilient young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids. A concerted effort is made to include in each program, opportunities for youth to develop culturally, personally and socially. This ideology is taken from the Circle of Courage (Brendtro, Bockern and Brokenleg) model of empowering youth through shared values of belonging, generosity, independence, and achievement, which focused on the development of children from indigenous cultures around the world.  The work from Dr B. Perry’s Six Core Strengths for Healthy Child Development, further shows the need for holistic respectful role-modelling.  These values, entwined with DreamTrack’s mentoring program, creates a safe, nurturing environment where A&TSI children can develop into strong, resilient young people who know how to deal with whatever life throws them.  Once this happens, the following outcomes occur.

Outcomes

  • Self-confidence
  • Strong reliable relationships
  • Personal skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Responsibility

Executive Team

Along with this successful, purposeful program is well-trained, informed and consistent staff who interact with the children on a variety of levels. Having stable staff cultivates organic, meaningful mentoring relationships, where children feel significant and secure.

All our staff receive cultural awareness training, this is facilitated by our partner BlackCard. Our kids safety is of the utmost importance to us, and as such all our staff have Blue Cards (if any new volunteers do not have one we can help to facilitate them in obtaining one).

Pr David Garrard

Pr David Garrard

ATSIM SQ/ DreamTrack Director, Chair of the Executive Team.

Pr David Garrard is the pastor of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander church in Brisbane, and Director of A&TSIM SQC. David has 15 years of experience working directly with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Brisbane.

Jared Poland

Jared Poland

DreamTrack Administrator and Events Coordinator

An Indigenous man, Jared holds a BA specialising in Communication and majoring in International Poverty and Development Studies.

Mundanara Bayles

Mundanara Bayles

Executive Member

Mandanara is an Indigenous leader in the community; she is the Managing Director of The Black Card and Co-founder of Black Card. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), and Board member at The Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School.

James Southwood

James Southwood

Executive Member

James is an Indigenous man; he holds a B.A. Political of Economy and Graduate Degree in Education. He is the Pathways and Community Connectivity Officer and a teacher at Kelvin Grove State College.

Dita Southwood

Dita Southwood

Executive Member

Dita is an Indigenous leader in the community; she is the Indigenous Youth and Family Support Worker at Carinity Education Southside.

Wade Kruegar

Wade Kruegar

Executive Member

Wade is an Indigenous man; he is the Property and Project Officer at Leasing Solutions at Indigenous Business Australia.

LaVonne Bobongie

LaVonne Bobongie

Executive Member

An Indigenous woman herself, LaVonne is one our founding member/a long-time volunteer mentor in the DreamTrack Program. She is also the Owner/Photographer at LaVonne Bobongie Photography.

Partners

The South Queensland Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
A&TSIM

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries

ADRA

ADRA Australia is part of the global ADRA network, and is the official humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA has a presence in 126 countries, and impacts more than 30 million lives each year.

The Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School
South Queensland Conference Youth Department
BlackCard

South Queensland Conference Youth Department

Sanitarium
Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon
Devocean Dive

Supported By

Carinity Care
Gooriemooka
Triathlon Queensland

Proudly Supported

Facilitating

Deadly Futures

Proudly Supported

The DreamTrack Youth Organisation would not be a possible without the support of our partners and supporters. On behalf of the DreamTrack Staff and Youth we would like to thank all of our supporters for helping to make DreamTrack a success.