From the bustling streets of Adelaide, to the serene beauty of the outback, the youth of South Australia will not just inherit the future, they’ll also be the ones who will build it.

Established in late 2019, the Tjindu Foundation uses cultural education and sport to support Aboriginal children across South Australia to grow, develop and shine brightly as future leaders.

The foundation has four main programs.

There is the Aboriginal AFL Academy, which currently has 70 students enrolled undertaking their SA Certificate of Education in Adelaide. They meet every

Wednesday where they take classes, get into some fitness, and play footy. The program has seen eight students recruited to elite clubs since it was established.

Then there is Tjindu STRONG, which operates in very remote communities on the Far West Coast and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, delivering cultural identity programs to young people. STRONG focuses heavily on community and school engagement, with its main priority keeping school attendance high. It also supports post-school employment opportunities.

Tjindu Foundation also offers Cultural Awareness Training Workshops to teach Indigenous culture, language and history. This has taken place at BHP’s Adelaide office, helping non-Indigenous staff connect with Indigenous culture and history, with the aim of bringing meaningful reconciliation.

And last, but not least, their Reconciliation Action Plan consultancy service helps organisations across South Australia advance relationships and opportunities within their business.

Together, these programs give students the foundations to succeed in life. But at the end of the day, the Tjindu Foundation only provides the base support for the students. It’s the student’s creativity, enthusiasm and determination that create the outcomes and make the future brighter.

Tjindu is supported by a range of partners, from federal and state government agencies to corporate sponsors. BHP is proud to support Tjindu Foundation with not only financial assistance, but with human resources, dedicating staff time to assist the students with their studies, or helping with resume development and job interviews.

Perhaps most important of all is the celebration and building of Indigenous heritage and culture, giving the students not only the tools to build the future, but to also connect with the past and present.

see more on
https://www.bhp.com/sustainability/communities/programs/2024/07/tjindu-foundation