Dhangatti · Warrior · To Lead · Maitland, Hunter Valley
Listen Today, Lead Tomorrow
Aboriginal Mentoring & Wellbeing · Hunter Valley NSW
Gurru is an Aboriginal-led mentoring and wellbeing organisation. We walk alongside young people, families, and communities in the Hunter Valley grounded in culture, powered by community.
Gurru acknowledges the Wonnarua, Awabakal, Darkinjung, and Worimi peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
WALK
Walk Proud
A brand grounded in culture, healing, and community
PROUD
Who we are
Community-led. Culturally grounded. Built on trust.
Gurru was built from within community by Aboriginal people who understand what it means to grow up in the Hunter Valley, and what it takes to walk strong.
We work alongside young people aged 10 to 25, their families, schools, and services to provide mentoring, cultural connection, and wraparound wellbeing support. We don't just deliver programs. We build relationships that last.
Every young person we work with carries strength, identity, and purpose. Our job is to help them find it.
A name that carries strength, action, and responsibility. The footprint in our mark represents the journey honouring those who came before, empowering those who walk forward.
What we offer
How we support community
Flexible, culturally safe services for young people, families, schools, and the organisations that work alongside them.
Youth Mentoring
One-on-one and group mentoring for Aboriginal young people. Matched mentors, real relationships, lasting change.
We are Aboriginal people, working for Aboriginal people. Everything we do is rooted in culture, community, and care.
Where we come from
Born from community. Built on Country.
Gurru is a community-led mentoring and wellbeing organisation based in the Hunter Valley, built to create safe, culturally grounded spaces where young people, families, and community can come together, grow, and feel supported.
The name Gurru comes from Dhangatti language and means "Warrior" or "To Lead." It's a name that carries strength, action, and responsibility and shapes everything we do.
The footprint in our mark represents the journey honouring the guiding footsteps of mentors with lived experience, while empowering the next generation to walk strong and lead the way forward.
G
Dhangatti Language · Hunter Valley
"Warrior" or "To Lead." A name that carries strength, action, and responsibility.
What guides us
Our values
These aren't words on a wall. They're how we show up every day, for every person we work with.
Culture First
Cultural identity is the foundation of everything. We embed culture into all we do not as an add-on, but as the centre.
Healing
We acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Our work actively supports healing for individuals, families, and community.
Empowerment
We see capability and potential in every person. Our work builds on what's already there strengthening voice, choice, and self-determination.
Community
We are accountable to community first. Everything we do is shaped by the people we serve not by funders or bureaucracy.
Leadership
We grow the next generation of Aboriginal leaders. Young people leave Gurru knowing who they are and where they're going.
Relationships Over Paperwork
Real change happens through trust and consistency. We invest in long-term relationships not quick fixes.
Our founder
Meet Jayden
Jayden Wright
Founder · Proud Dhangatti Man
7 years in Youth Justice, schools and community work
I'm Jayden Wright, a proud Dhangatti man and the founder of Gurru.
With over 7 years experience in Youth Justice, schools, and community work, I've seen that what many young people really need isn't more services. It's connection, culture, and someone in their corner.
With 3 years experience working in the Youth Justice space across custody and community, I understand the gaps our people fall through and I built Gurru to help close them.
Like a lot of people, I've had my own struggles with mental health and finding direction. Those experiences shaped how I show up today with understanding, patience, and a focus on real connection.
Gurru was built to create safe, culturally grounded spaces where young people, families, and community can come together, grow, and feel supported.
"Listen today, lead tomorrow."
Jayden Wright, Founder
Want to know more?
Come have a yarn with us. We're always happy to talk about our work, our community, and how we might work together.
Flexible, culturally grounded support for young people, families, schools, and community organisations across the Hunter Valley.
Core services
How we can help
All our services are designed with community, delivered by community. We work within your existing structures to provide support that fits around real life.
01
Ages 10 to 25 · Individual
1 on 1 Youth Mentoring
Matched one-on-one mentoring for young Aboriginal people. Our mentors are Aboriginal people with lived experience and a genuine commitment to the young people they walk with. Sessions can be at school, in community, or on Country.
Structured group mentoring programs that bring young Aboriginal people together to build identity, skills, and peer connection. Programs are run in schools and community settings by trained Gurru mentors.
Suitable for: Schools · Community organisations · Youth services
03
School-based
School Workshops
Interactive sessions focused on cultural identity, leadership, wellbeing, and connection for young people in school settings. We work with your wellbeing team to get it right.
Programs focused on building identity, confidence, and leadership through culture and connection. Young people explore who they are and where they're heading alongside mentors, peers, and community.
Suitable for: Young people · Schools · OOHC providers · Community orgs
05
On Country · Hands-on
Hands-on, On Country Experiences
Culturally grounded experiences on Country, focused on connection, wellbeing, and identity. Delivered through yarning circles, cultural activities, and time spent on Country, with opportunities to learn through community, Elders, and shared experience.
Suitable for: All young people · OOHC · Schools · Families
06
Family · Wraparound
Family Support & Advocacy
We work alongside families navigating OOHC, NDIS, housing, child protection, and complex systems. We help families understand their rights, navigate services, and stay strong through difficult times. Always culturally safe. Always family-led.
We support young people involved in the Youth Justice system both in custody and in the community. With lived experience across both settings, Gurru understands the gaps young people fall through and walks alongside them through every stage, including the often challenging transition back into community life.
Whether it's maintaining connection to culture and family while in custody, or building stability, routine, and support networks on the way out we're in their corner every step of the way.
Suitable for: Youth Justice workers · Case managers · Young people in custody or transitioning to community
Not sure which service fits?
That's okay. Get in touch and we'll have a yarn about what the young person or family needs. We'll work it out together.
Structured programs that go beyond support building identity, skills, and futures for Aboriginal young people across the Hunter.
What we run
Current programs
All programs are designed with community, delivered by our team, and built around what young people have told us they actually need.
Community · Weekly
Step & Connect
A weekly space for community to come together, walk, yarn, and connect. No pressure, no labels just a safe space to show up.
📍 Maitland Park · Every Sunday 8am
Launching Soon
Gym & Routine Program
Supporting young people to build structure, routine, and confidence through fitness, with pathways into employment and training.
📍 In development · Coming soon
On Country · Culture & Wellbeing
Hands-on, On Country Experiences
Culturally grounded experiences on Country, focused on connection, wellbeing, and identity. Delivered through yarning circles, cultural activities, and time spent on Country, with opportunities to learn through community, Elders, and shared experience.
📍 On Country · Rolling intake
Schools
School Workshops
Interactive sessions focused on identity, leadership, wellbeing, and connection for young people in school settings.
📍 School-based · Ongoing
Programs in action
Out on Country. In the community.
Real moments from Gurru programs walking alongside young people where it matters most.
On Country · Cultural programs
Crafting a traditional yidaki connecting to culture, language, and land.
Mentoring · On Country
Mentor and young person on Country real relationships, real time together.
Partner with us
Bring a program to your school or service
We can co-design and deliver programs within your setting. If you're a school, youth service, or OOHC provider looking to embed culturally safe support let's talk.
Wear your culture with pride. Gurru merch is coming soon.
Coming Soon
Something good is on its way
We're working on a range of Gurru merch proudly designed, culturally grounded, and built to represent.
Drop your email below and we'll let you know when it drops.
Make a referral
Refer someone to Gurru
Referrals can come from any source schools, services, families, or self-referral. We review all referrals within 3 business days.
Before you refer
What to expect
We make referrals simple. Fill in what you know you don't need to have all the answers before reaching out.
Once we receive your referral, our team will reach out to the young person or family (or through you, if that's preferred) to have an initial yarn and work out the best way to help.
All referrals are handled with respect for privacy, cultural safety, and self-determination. We will not engage with anyone who doesn't want our support.
Who can refer?
✓ Schools and teachers
✓ Youth workers and services
✓ OOHC and case workers
✓ Families and community members
✓ Young people (self-referral)
✓ GPs, health workers and NDIS planners
Prefer to call? You're welcome to. 0423 018 115 Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm.
Referral form
Fields marked * are required. All others are helpful but optional.
About the young person or family
Your details (referrer)
Say hello
Let's have a yarn
Whether you're a family, a school, a service provider, or someone curious about what we do we'd love to hear from you.
Find us
Get in touch
No question is too big or too small. We'll always get back to you.
Phone
0423 018 115
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Email
jayden@gurru.online
We aim to respond within 1 business day
Location
Maitland, Hunter Valley NSW
Serving Maitland, Cessnock, Newcastle, Singleton and surrounding communities
For urgent referrals
If you have an urgent referral or a young person in immediate need, please call directly. Don't wait on the form.
