The session celebrates a four-year partnership between Virgin Australia and AIME, which is focused on supporting Indigenous students through high school and into university, employment or further education at the same rate as their peers.
Virgin Australia and the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) took a group of talented Indigenous high school students, their families and entertainment industry mentors to the skies to host Australia’s first mentoring session at 30,000 feet.
On board the dedicated Virgin Australia flight out of Sydney over the Land of Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the students were mentored by music industry experts, including Nat King Cole’s nephew, Lionel Cole, Busby Marou duo, Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou, Triple J National Indigenous Music Award winner in 2014, Phillip Murray aka Philly, and Channel V Presenter Danny Clayton.
The session celebrates a four-year partnership between Virgin Australia and AIME, which is focused on supporting Indigenous students through high school and into university, employment or further education at the same rate as their peers.
Virgin Australia Group Executive, Danielle Keighery, who was also a mentor on the flight said: “Virgin Australia remains passionate about supporting the next generation of Australians and maintaining our focus on youth-at-risk.”
“Our partnership with AIME has helped them reach more than 3,500 indigenous high school students in all mainland states and the ACT in 2014 alone. It is great to be celebrating our relationship with AIME by giving a group of young Indigenous Australians who have never flown before an experience they’ll never forget.”
AIME is currently the biggest support provider to Indigenous high school students in Australia and is proven to transition students through school and into university and employment at rates approaching the same rate as every Australian child.
AIME Chief Executive Officer, Jack Manning Bancroft said: “Today’s sky high mentoring session is another example of the powerful partnership between Virgin Australia and AIME, getting behind the next generation of Indigenous youth to help realise a brighter vision for Australia.”
“Today is a shining example of how together, Virgin Australia and AIME are helping young Indigenous Australians realise their dreams. Today they learned to literally reach for the sky and that anything is possible. We will use this flight to lift off and continue to expand our reach to 10,000 Indigenous kids a year by 2018.”
The students in Years 9 and 10 participated in the session as winners of AIME’s Got Game, an online talent competition showcasing a generation of talented Indigenous youth who want to send a message to Australia that is filled with hope, positivity and success.
The AIME’s Got Game finalists travelled across Australia to participate, representing communities in Perth, Ipswich, Ballarat, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Yeppoon, Freemantle and Helensvale.
The sky high mentoring session gave the students invaluable guidance and a confidence boost ahead of their upcoming public performance in Martin Place, Sydney at midday on Friday 5 December.
Virgin Australia crew and pilots volunteered their time for the sky high mentoring session. The flight was captained by Indigenous pilot, Kali Bellear. Support was also received from Shell through a generous donation of fuel, Sydney Airport, who waived landing fee surcharges for the event and Gate Gourmet, the on board catering for Virgin Australia.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
