Barayamal Relaunches Indigenous Mentoring Platform with Support from ChangeX – Paramount

Barayamal, a leading First Nations organisation dedicated to creating a better world through Indigenous entrepreneurship, has officially relaunched its Indigenous Mentoring platform with the support of ChangeX and funding from the World Mental Health Day Community Fund.

After months of behind-the-scenes work and a few unexpected delays (our favourite developer took some time off to overcome a personnel challenge), Barayamal has delivered a powerful digital space designed to connect Indigenous Australians with culturally aligned mentors who can support their mental health, emotional resilience and personal growth. The project, titled Indigenous Mental Health Mentoring, was made possible thanks to a $3,200 grant from ChangeX, which aimed to fund community-driven initiatives that promote well-being and equity.

Dean Foley, founder of Barayamal and proud Kamilaroi man, said the decision to stick with a skilled developer who experienced personal challenges caused delays but ultimately led to a stronger platform.

“We wanted to build something meaningful and culturally safe – not just rush something out. Working with a developer who understood the heart of the project meant we could build a mentoring platform that speaks to the needs of our people and is sustainable for many years to come.” Foley said.

The platform allows Indigenous mentees to be paired with mentors who have faced similar challenges and can offer guidance in a culturally respectful way… and with built-in tools for scheduling sessions and creating detailed mentor profiles, the platform is user-friendly and entirely free for community members.

In the short term, Barayamal plans to onboard at least 30 Indigenous mentor-mentee pairs and begin regular virtual mentoring sessions, with the focus will be on creating safe spaces to talk about mental health, share stories and build confidence through cultural connection and shared lived experiences.

But the vision for the eMentoring platform stretches far beyond its digital foundations.

“This isn’t just a one-off project” Foley said. “We’re integrating the platform into our events like the First Nations Economic Forum and First Nations Allies Summit to connect hundreds of people. It’s about using technology and culture together to lift up our communities.”

Barayamal’s long-term plan is to weave the platform into its broader programming – from youth leadership and entrepreneurship workshops to community hackathons – ensuring that mentorship becomes a permanent pillar in their strategy for positive community development.

Foley believes the future of Indigenous empowerment lies in combining ancient wisdom with modern tools and mentorship is a powerful bridge between the two.

“We’ve always had knowledge-sharing and mentorship in our culture. This is just a new way of doing what we’ve always done – looking after each other and lifting each other up” he said.

With the eMentoring platform now live and future plans well underway, Barayamal is calling on Indigenous mentors and allies across the country to get involved.

“ChangeX helped us bring this to life but now it’s up to all of us to make it grow. The more people who step up to mentor or share this resource, the stronger our communities will be.”

For more information or to register as a mentor or mentee, visit: https://aboriginal-mentoring.com