"Well working with DPM gave me a sense of confidence in myself... It’s taught me to give things a try, because you never know where your secret talent lies... It wasn’t until I started working with DPM that I realised I had a gift. It opened an entire chapter of my life that I never want to close, I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
- Sari Wills, DPM Futures Participant
DPM Futures - Mentoring & Training
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Over the past 20 years, DPM has mentored and trained several Indigenous young people – taking them from High Schools, communities, Missions and Reserves through creative development and leadership processes, skills development, new career paths and even national airwaves.
The DPM Futures Project has emerged as a critical part of DPM’s evolving project model, and is becoming an organisational focus. This change represents long-term and more sustained engagements with community and young people.
"Working with DPM has impacted my life in many ways . It has changed my perspective on what it’s like being a young Indigenous person living in Australia , by expressing my culture through music. It has given me a sense of pride and confidence.
DPM is good for young people to express their stories , struggles and success. I will forever appreciate DPM for not only the work they have done with me but all other Indigenous kids around the nation. DPM is tha Bomb.com”
- Shavinah Mann, DPM Futures Participant
CASE STUDY 1 -
Ciolla Riley (Djabugay, Kuranda QLD)
For three years, DPM Futures Participant Ciolla Riley has been supported through a mentoring process - from DPM community project participant to an employed Co-Facilitator, Songwriter, Artist and Mentor for other young people.
This mentoring process has featured facilitation techniques, communication skills, artistic development, industry training, project planning and a focus on social and emotional wellbeing for her and her family. She has worked with the team co-facilitating a range of projects with North Queensland Primary Health Network and Central Queensland University.
See a short documentary about her journey HERE
Ciolla is one of many young people that DPM has supported through variations of this process including young people from Bourke NSW, Collarenebri NSW, Thursday Island QLD and more. Based on two decades of experience, it is now our objective to produce a generation of confident, supported, skilled and empowered agents of change. To continue the work of DPM in a sustainable way and pursue their own career paths with this new-found direction, confidence, and skill set.
CASE STUDY 2 -
‘Mela D’ (Darumbal, Rockhampton QLD)
Sari Wills-Mann and Shavinah Mann are cousins from the remote NSW community of Bourke, NSW who began their journey with DPM as lead vocalists for the infamous ‘B-Town Warriors’, one of the most successful and popular DPM project outcomes of the past decade.
Through the ‘DPM Futures’ program, they have worked with the DPM Creative team in a creative mentoring capacity. Over the past few years they have evolved as artists and young leaders and embarked on the ‘Mela D’ project - releasing their debut single in October 2020 ‘State of Mind’.
See the music video HERE
The production exceeded all expectations and received huge support, even being played on Triple J around Australia. The project evidenced the capacity for DPM Futures to positively impact the lives of young people.
Sari is now involved in DPM’s facilitator training program and is gearing up as a trainee , working with DPM in 2021/22. We believe that there is plenty more music coming from these amazing young artists in the years to come.