Ganbina

Ganbina empowers Indigenous communities in Australia to achieve true social and economic equality.

Each year, thousands of young indigenous people do not complete their schooling, undertake training or find jobs. This leads to a continuous cycle of social and economic disadvantage. In the greater Shepparton area, more than 80 per cent of Indigenous people are currently unemployed and only 23 per cent of Indigenous children successfully complete their schooling.

Ganbina’s goal is for Indigenous people to reach social and economic equality with non-Indigenous Australian within two generations. Ganbina has helped over 500 young Indigenous Australians to finish school, undertake further education or training and secure real jobs. Ganbina participants earn meaningful employment, financial independence, personal fulfilment and a desire to help others in their communities to change the status quo.

Founded in 1997, Ganbina undertakes a place-based approach focusing on helping young people in Shepparton, Victoria. The highly practical approach emphasises partnerships with the local community, including teachers, families and local employers. Ganbina’s suite of intensive programs helps individuals to reach their full potential in education, training and employment.

Ganbina’s Jobs4U2 program is the most successful school to work transition program in Australia, with a minimum of 80 per cent of all young people who enrol each year completing their full course activities. The program enables young people to unlock their career and life opportunities, with the focus on being the very best they can be. The elements of the program are Jobs Education, Jobs Training, Jobs Employment, Scholarships, Leadership Training, Driver Skills Program and the Youth Achievement Awards.

In 2015, Ganbina launched their expansion model, exploring replication of the Ganbina model in New South Wales and Queensland.

Ganbina’s participants go on to act as ‘agents of change’ within their communities, inspiring and leading others to carve out a brighter future for themselves, their children and their children’s children.

Did you know?

  • 60% is the percentage of Indigenous young people aged 17 – 24 who are not in education or employment.
  • Only 59% of Indigenous Australians have completed Year 12, compared to 88% of non-Indigenous Australians.
  • The number of young Indigenous Australians who are unemployed is nearly double that of non-Indigenous youth of the same age.

After 13 years in the SVA Venture Philanthropy portfolio, Ganbina transitioned to an Alumni venture in 2016.

Success

  • In 2015, 347 young people registered to participate in Ganbina’s Jobs4U2 program of which 97% completed their relevent year of education training or employment
  • Ganbina has helped over 500 students finish school
  • In 2015, a 97% particpants completed their relevant year of education training or employment

SVA support for Ganbina

SVA partnered with Ganbina to improve the futures of disadvantaged Indigenous students, creating long-lasting change in Indigenous communities.

SVA partnered with Ganbina from 2003-2016, providing fundraising and relationship development, leadership development, conducted evaluative Social Return on Investment analyses in 2010 and 2013 and assisted in documenting Ganbina’s operational model in order to share with other Indigenous communities in Australia.

Over the 13 years of partnership with Ganbina, SVA:

  • Directed $2.5 million in funding.
  • Provided Ganbina with mentoring and leadership development support for Adrian Appo and Anthony Cavanagh by SVA CEO and Executive team with significant support during the CEO leadership transition.
  • A 2013 Social Return on Investment (SROI) showed that an investment of $1.1 million in the 2012 calendar year created $7.5 million of social and economic value for stakeholders.
  • Contributed to Ganbina’s annual growth rate of beneficiaries of 16% and an average annual growth rate of turnover of 5%.