25 boys from Wellington High School and 13 from Wellington Public School will spend three days attending workshops to help them better understand healthy lifestyle choices, the effects of drug and alcohol use on boys aged 14 – 17 and healthy relationship advise. 

Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) social and emotional well-being team will be hosting the program along with the Orana Local Area Command, Wellington PCYC, Wellington Information and Neighbourhood Services (WINS) and other groups.

WACHS Aboriginal Family Health Worker Loretta Stanley said ‘Matong’ means “strength” and “powerful” and ‘Wundurra’ means “warrior”. 

“We’re hoping to give these boys strength and make powerful warriors out of them so they can be strong in their future choices,” she said.

Ms Stanley believes early invention is imperative to changing behaviours.

“We think it’s important to get into these boys while they’re still young. 

“We don’t want early alcohol and marijuana use to lead to something more," Ms Stanley said. 

Ms Stanley said all of the speakers are male, and include local Elders aiming to help future generations.

 “It’s important for the boys to hear these things coming from strong men in the hopes they become strong men too.”

Brothers 4 Recovery will be among the guest speakers.

Brothers 4 Recovery are young Aboriginal men – two from Wellington – who have been down the path of drug use.

They have now recovered and are sharing their stories to prevent others from walking the same roads they did.

Ms Stanley said it is also important to break down cultural barriers by developing and improving the relationship between police and the Aboriginal community.