The recognition showcases the — now award-winning — program from Ganbina’s flagship Shepparton site, which supports 450 young people, offering structured guidance, education support, and career pathways from primary school through to early adulthood.
With that proven framework now established in Echuca, local young people have access to support from Aboriginal leaders who create real opportunities and break down barriers to education and employment.
Ganbina executive general manager Paulleen Markwort said bringing the program to Echuca — opening in July 2026 — was a response to years of community interest and clear regional need.
“Echuca had been in the pipeline for about 15 years,” Ms Markwort said.
“Families were accessing the program in Shepparton and moved, or had family members in Echuca, asking, ‘Why don’t we have a Ganbina here?’
“Looking at the data and how kids are faring in and around Echuca, the CEO and board decided on when would be a good time to reach into the community and provide our service.”
In Echuca, the program is being rolled out carefully and in stages — building long-term stability and genuine roots within the community.
Led by site manager Keith Hearn and education officer Narissa Leach, the program initially focused on years four, five, and six across three local primary schools. This year, registrations have opened to all students from prep through to year six.
Ms Markwort said the accolade reaffirms the power of Aboriginal-led initiatives and opens doors for future regional partnerships.
“To be selected as the winner was just an incredible feeling — from the CEO all the way through to our young people and our community, it showed we are on the right track,” she said.
“It gives people we work with — whether schools or local industry partners — the chance to see that we have a model that is tested, recognised, and that we deliver: say what we do and do what we say.”
By 2027, Ganbina plans to expand into secondary education, partnering with St Joseph's College and Echuca College to support students in years seven to nine — following the same young people it has guided through primary school.
“We’re trying to create a really strong foundation because that’s really important with our kids, particularly our kids who are vulnerable in the education system,” Markwort said.
“The plan is to transition our year six kids into those two high schools—we don’t want to drop them off because they’re just too important.”
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