Mineral Resources Limited has proudly committed its support as Principal Partner of the ground-breaking research project Yawardani Jan-ga – an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program adapted to provide trauma-informed, culturally secure, strengths-based support to Aboriginal children and young people.
Based in Broome, with hubs in Derby and Halls Creek, the program is led by prominent Aboriginal researcher Professor Juli Coffin – Ellison Fellow of Aboriginal Health at The Kids Research Institute Australia – and is run by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal young people aged 6-25 years.
Yawardani Jan-ga (meaning ‘horses helping’ in Yawuru language) harnesses the healing power of horses through innovative experiential learning to help young people develop new skills and cope with life’s challenges.
Professor Coffin runs the program with her amazing team as a research project to evaluate its impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of young people and has long aspired to make Yawardani Jan-ga available to Aboriginal communities across the whole Kimberley.
This will now be possible thanks to the acquisition of a custom-built, four-horse truck – made possible thanks to Mineral Resources’ support.
The truck will enable the Yawardani Jan-ga team to not only spread the word about the program, but transport the horses to young people who otherwise may not have had access and train new Aboriginal EAL practitioners.
I can never say enough about how grateful we are for MRL’s incredible support of this program
“To get us to this point of being mobile in addition to our existing physical sites will value add. Perhaps one day we will see Yawardani Jan-ga reach its potential and see our young people, no matter where they are, also reach their potential.”
Professor Coffin said having a mobile service option meant the team could improve accessibility to the program – particularly for communities on the Dampier Peninsula and others like Bidyadanga and Pandanus Park.
“But it also means we can really showcase the program across the whole Kimberley, holding community demonstrations, information sessions and so on,” Professor Coffin said.
“It’s about sharing and developing knowledge of the program, supporting the sites that are already running and those that are getting up and running, and providing accessibility to communities that don’t currently have the program physically set up.”
Mineral Resources Managing Director, Chris Ellison, said the Yawardani Jan-ga program demonstrates a clear commitment to supporting local people and communities, which is a priority shared by the WA mining company.
“We are tremendously proud to support Professor Coffin and Yawardani Jan-ga in helping ensure as many young people as possible can access and benefit from this life-changing program,” Ellison said.
“We’re big supporters of Professor Coffin and what she and The Kids Research Institute Australia have achieved through this program is outstanding. Expanding the program by offering a mobile service, taking help to where help is needed, will make a huge difference in the lives of young Aboriginal people and communities in WA. Mineral Resources has a rich history supporting organisations and initiatives that build healthier, happier communities – which is why we’re committed to this program.”
While promoting emotional healing and building leadership skills in children and young people, Yawardani Jan-ga is also helping to grow the Aboriginal workforce by training EAL practitioners.
The truck will create many more opportunities to develop and support the local workforce
“Building our own localised response to the issues experienced by our communities – young people in particular – will destigmatise the ask and responses around social emotional wellbeing.”
Now the team has wheels, Professor Coffin plans to eventually expand the program into the Pilbara.
“We’ve already had lots of enquiries from the Pilbara but just couldn’t physically get there,” she said.
“This will allow us to try and go wherever the need is – being responsive in communities where the need arises.”
* Yawardani Jan-ga is also funded by a research grant from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and research funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Healthway and Mary MacKillop Today.