Bandu Organisation
Bandu Organisation is a grassroots non-profit established in 2022 to empower First Nations youth through education, employment, and community support.
Bandu is a registered charity and social enterprise drastically improving outcomes for First Nations students as they navigate the difficult transition into life after high school. They address systemic inequality, educational disadvantage, and employment barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
2025 Pitch
Funds Raised: $123,456
Pitched at Thriving Young People 2025 event for support to establish new Bandu Houses in NSW, providing culturally safe housing for First Nations apprentices relocating from rural and remote areas to undertake trades. Unlike university students, who often access supported college accommodation, apprentices face a significant gap in housing support. These Bandu Houses will fill this critical void, offering stability and support to help young people focus on their careers and growth.
6 Month Impact
12 Month Impact
The funding provided direct participant support including accommodation, tertiary education costs, and employment readiness, as well as a First Nations Engagement Officer role—supporting 150 young people.
Impact Story: A young First Nations man moved to Sydney from regional NSW to pursue a trade qualification, becoming the first in his family to take this pathway. The transition was challenging. He was balancing long apprenticeship hours with the cost of living in a major city, far from family and community.
Through the support made possible by The Funding Network, he was connected with a First Nations Engagement Officer who provided consistent mentoring and practical guidance as he navigated both work and independent living. He secured accommodation in a Bandu House, where he has since grown into a leadership role and now serves as House Leader, supporting other young men making the same transition.
During his apprenticeship, he faced significant financial setbacks, including his car breaking down, which directly threatened his ability to get to work. Without immediate intervention and structured support, he would not have been able to remain in Sydney and continue his qualification. Now in his third year, he is progressing steadily toward completion of his trade.
The funding did not simply help him manage hardship. It ensured continuity, stability, and leadership development at a time when a setback could have ended his pathway entirely.
