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"Our program consistently receives high praise from participants, with the majority rating their experience 5/5 stars. Students highlight the Yarning Circle as a transformative space for group bonding and personal reflection. By integrating cultural activities—such as storytelling from Elders and traditional dance—with creative arts, we provide a holistic environment where young women feel empowered to express their identity. Students frequently report that the program helps them identify their strengths, set goals, and build lasting connections with their peers and mentors."

"Watching these students transform has been an incredible privilege. Through our focus on goal setting and life skills, we didn’t just teach them—we empowered them. The highlight for me was seeing the entire group of girls bond as a single unit for the first time.  We’ve given them the tools to thrive both individually and together."

What students love and Why it matters

• The Yarning Circle:Provides a safe space for reflection, listening, and emotional safety.
• Cultural Activities:Connects students with Elders, storytelling, and traditional dance.
• Creative Arts:Offers a powerful outlet for self-expression and building identity.
• Mentorship:Builds strong bonds between students, Aunties, and program leaders.

These are polished versions of the raw feedback that keep the students’ authentic voices.

• On Cultural Connection: "I loved hearing the stories from the Elders and the Aunties. Learning the dances and the whale meditation wasn't just fun—it felt like we were really connecting with our culture and each other."
• On Creative Expression: "The art side was my favorite part, especially making 'The Tree.' It’s a way for me to express myself and talk about what makes me feel proud and happy."
• On the Yarning Circle: "I liked the yarning circle the most. Just sitting together, talking, and listening to everyone’s stories made me feel like I belong. It’s where we learned who we really are."
• On Empowerment: "The leadership mind maps and goal setting helped me think about my future. It was great to talk about what makes us ourselves in a place where we feel comfortable."

• Empowerment: Taught young adolescent females vital life skills and the power of goal setting.
• Unprecedented Bonding: For the first time, the program brought all the girls together as a unified, supportive group.
• Active Engagement: My adapted "Cocoon to Butterfly" activity achieved full participation, sparking leadership and creativity.
• Community Awareness: Students learned to identify local issues while gaining the confidence to reach out for help from available resources.

Our school partners reported a 100% satisfaction rate, noting significant growth in student wellbeing and social cohesion. According to school staff, the most vital outcomes included:

• Confidence Through Expression: Staff observed a visible increase in student confidence, specifically through dance and creative expression.
• Strengthened Community Bonds: The program successfully fostered a safe, cultural environment where students could laugh, bond, and build connections with both peers and community mentors.
• Resource Awareness: Beyond social bonding, staff valued that students left with a clearer understanding of the support services available to them.

"I noticed how well the girls listened, engaged with, and respected the program and cultural mentors. The environment was supportive, cultural, and safe—truly tailored to suit the needs of our students."— Katelyn Nye, School Staff Member

The delivery of the Empowered Tiddas program is underpinned by the established credibility and strong track record of Ripe Mentoring Pty Ltd within Indigenous communities over the past five years.

• Indigenous Leadership: The organisation is proudly Indigenous-led, with governance driven by values of respect, honesty, commitment, and pride.
• Expertise in Cultural Revitalisation: The program is facilitated by Director Ashleigh McGuire, an established Indigenous leader renowned for her role as Co-organiser of significant cultural gatherings, including the Yuin Nation Birriga Bunaan (2024-2025), Black Duck Bunaan (2020), and Yuin Nation Dance (2019). This expertise ensures the mentoring activities are deeply rooted in authentic, traditional Yuin Culture and community protocols.
• Holistic, Strengths-Based Approach: The program draws on years of mentoring experience and latest evidence to deliver a curriculum focused on:
  • Building strong cultural identity and pride ("Proud and Black, Keep the Fire Burning").
  • Developing positive self-esteem and resilience.
  • Providing tangible advocacy and referral support for Mentees and their families.
• Know that your investment has impact by supporting improved education, health and employment outcomes for Indigenous girls and young women.
• Align your organisation with a trusted provider recognised for high-quality program delivery, outstanding outcomes and strong Aboriginal Female leadership and governance.
• Be assured that your investment is being used efficiently and effectively, with more than 85 per cent of funding spent directly on the young women in our programs.
• Be acknowledged for the valuable contribution of our partners through our website, networking presentations, social media platforms and publications.
• Demonstrate social leadership and a genuine commitment to ‘Closing the Gap’.