Empowering Futures: GOFoundation’s Cultural Connect Day in Canberra

MSS Security and Habitat Security are both proud Partners of The GO (Goodes O’Loughlin) Foundation, supporting First Nations students with education scholarships from year 1 through to University.

GO Foundation awards scholarships that encompass a financial reward to students, but most importantly help children and young people with the support to learn more and reconnect with their culture. GO Foundation does this through a series of Culture Connect Days, where students come together to experience, discover, and be inspired by proud strong First Nations mentors and leaders, such as GO’s founders, Adam Goodes, and Michael O’Loughlin.

On Tuesday, 19 March 2024 GO held their first Cultural Connect Day this year for students who live in the ACT at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra. This event was open to all active GO Scholars in the ACT, additionally acknowledging 15 years of the GO Foundation, families and kin were invited to come along and celebrate. To help celebrate this special occasion MSS and Habitat staff attended this momentous event.

Culture Connect Days allow the GO Foundation to connect with students as a group and to immerse them in culture and support. It also gives them the opportunity to build their network in Canberra, outside of their school, and foster those relationships throughout their time in the program.

Students loved hearing from one of GO’s founders, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri and Man Michael O’Loughlin. Michael shared some of his and Adams ‘why’; why they started the foundation, why the focus is education and why it is not about sport. Michael shared that the GO Foundation has now awarded 1600 scholarships since the start and the impact it has made on communities.

As part of this day, the GO Foundation Scholars participated in a cultural activity designing their own cultural stick. They used Aboriginal symbols to tell a story and create their own design. Students also participated in a scavenger hunt through the zoo.

On behalf of MSS Security and Habitat Security we would like to thank the GO Foundation for the invaluable opportunity to be part of their recent Cultural Connect Day in Canberra. We are privileged to collaborate with a foundation that is deeply committed to supporting education, cultural empowerment, and the holistic development of First Nations Students. As we continue our journey together, we are inspired by the impact of the GO Foundation and remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting its mission.