ILNV recognises empowering and enriching the skills in Victorian Aboriginal communities to build their own future is the most effective approach to building Aboriginal social and economic wellbeing. One of our new initiatives is a statewide mentoring bank entitled Yapaneyepuk, which means ''together'' in the Yorta Yorta language. Run in partnership with the state government, Yapaneyepuk trains mentors to support Aboriginals to achieve their goals. Skilled mentors are then placed in mentoring programs around the state.

Mentoring is an important element of Aboriginal culture. It provides a context for mutual learning and the passing down of skills and knowledge.

This project is about initiating positive practices among mentoring organisations because mentoring can be all the more effective and meaningful if an individual is matched with someone with whom they share a cultural connection.

Yapaneyepuk recently trained more than 50 mentors and is now placing those people into programs.

For more information about ILNV or the Yapaneyepuk program, visit ilnv.com.au