Red Dust Role Models First Nations

Who we are

Red Dust believes that lasting change begins with culture. Research supports what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have long known: connection to Country, family, kinship, community, and culture is central to social and emotional wellbeing. For Red Dust, culture is not added to its programs but is where they begin.

The organisation recognises that remote Aboriginal communities hold deep cultural strength and knowledge. It also acknowledges that these communities face barriers to health, education, and jobs because of historical, social, economic, and political factors, not a lack of ability. Red Dust aims to support young people to be strong in their identity, so they can pursue their goals and move confidently between Aboriginal and Western worlds.

Its approach is called Community as Family. This means building long-lasting relationships, respecting cultural knowledge and local leadership, and shaping programs together with communities. Red Dust employs and mentors local workers, follows the guidance of family and cultural leaders, and lets communities define what success looks like.

What we do

Red Dust co-designs its programs with Elders, families, schools, and young people. Co-design means creating programs together, so they reflect each community’s priorities. It uses activities young people enjoy, such as sport, art, music, and dance, to teach about health and connect them with positive role models.

• Healthy Living Program promotes social, cultural, and emotional health and wellbeing. It turns community goals into practical actions.
• Strong Young Women’s Program helps young women strengthen their identity, cultural connections, and leadership on-Country, meaning on their traditional lands. It uses a trauma-informed approach, which recognises the effects of past trauma and supports healing.
• Strong Young Men and Boys Program brings young men together to learn from each other, often through yarning circles. A yarning circle is a culturally safe group conversation where everyone can share and listen.
• Storytelling Program gives First Nations people opportunities to share their own stories. This helps protect and celebrate culture.
• Reconciliation programs offer cultural awareness training, education, and on-Country immersion experiences for organisations and individuals. Reconciliation means building respect and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.

People can also support Red Dust through its online shop, raffles, workplace giving, and the Container Deposit Scheme, where drink containers are returned for a refund that is donated to Red Dust.