Empowering Communities
The Brimbank Empowering Communities (BEC) project, funded by the Department of Justice and Community Safety, is an early intervention crime prevention initiative aimed at supporting and empowering young people in Brimbank. The project focused on delivering community-led initiatives that engaged vulnerable young people, particularly those from African, Pasifika, and First Nations communities. The overarching goal was to maximise the life potential of Brimbank youth by strengthening connections to culture, community, family, school, and peers.
Our Tautai Lead Program engaged 124 students from three Brimbank schools, with strong retention across the 10-week program. Pre/post-program data showed significant increases in students’ cultural knowledge and awareness, connection to culture, and empowering voice and agency.