Community Connectors
What is Community Connectors?
The Aboriginal Community Connector program is a NSW CAPO-led initiative funded by the NSW Department of Education and now delivered through NSW AECG Training.
Community Connectors work alongside Aboriginal students to support engagement in school while helping them plan for life beyond school.
Supporting young people now and into the future
Community Connectors work with Aboriginal students in Years 7 to 12, supporting them to stay engaged in education and identify clear post-school pathways.
This includes supporting them to find pathways into:
employment
apprenticeships and traineeships
TAFE and further education
university
The focus is on helping young people build confidence, set goals, and take practical steps toward their future.
How it works
The program is referral-based, with referrals coming from schools, families, AECGs, and community.
Community Connectors:
work directly with students and families
identify barriers impacting education and wellbeing
connect students to the right supports and services
help develop realistic and achievable post-school pathway plans
Support is flexible and happens where students feel comfortable — at school, at home, or in community.
” They want the best for me and always can help, and if they can’t help me, they get me someone who can”
Student participant
Why it matters
This program ensures young people are not just supported to stay in school, but are prepared for what comes next.
By listening to students and working alongside them, Community Connectors help create pathways that reflect their goals, strengths, and aspirations.
Our impact
Students involved in the program report:
increased confidence and engagement in school
stronger connections to community
improved wellbeing
clearer understanding of their future pathways
Most importantly, students report feeling supported, heard, and confident about
where to go for help.
A connected approach
Community Connectors work closely with schools, Local and Regional AECGs, training providers, and community services.
This creates a wrap-around approach that supports both education outcomes and successful transitions into post-school pathways.
