Sam Alderton-Johnson's work experience at Laramba in the Northern Territory
- Author: Sam Alderton-Johnson
- Posted: 12th August 2009
In July 2008 UNSW criminology student Sam Alderton-Johnson accepted a voluntary team leader role with an organisation called Linkz that included just recently a three week placement in the remote Aboriginal community of Laramba in the Northern Territory.
"My involvement in the program involved implementing an engaging out of school program over the mid year holiday period. A time when service provision is at a low and petty crime is at a high. The program ran 5 days a week and involved working with young Aboriginal children between the ages of 4-22 years old."
"What I took from this experience was an amazing insight into the beauty of Aboriginal culture’. I feel rather privledged to have had the opportunity to develop such strong friendships and ties with people from community. The most important things I learnt were achieved under the most informal of settings, outside of program hours. A memorable experience included a late night fire where we cooked kangaroo and ‘talked stories."
"I am often engaging with Aboriginal young people through my work and I hope that what I have learnt and experienced over thisplacement furthers my capacity to do this effectively. My involvement with Linkz will take me back to the Northern Territory over the coming summer break with a team of volunteers working on a similar community specific program."
