Our History

Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation (Gugan Gulwan) was established and Incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils Act 1976 on 17 August 1992. It was created to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families in the ACT and surrounding regions to thrive and succeed.

Gugan Gulwan originally ran out of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) building in Griffith ACT.

Gugan Gulwan gained its independence from the (AECG) and moved to a demountable building situated on Boomanulla Oval. The building was extremely old and run down. There was no running water and the three staff employed were required to use the toilets in the dressing sheds at the Oval. There were a few electric wall heaters to heat the whole building.

image

It wasn’t until 1996 that Gugan Gulwan was relocated to it Red Hill premises in Quiros Street. This was a small unused preschool building. However, to the staff it was a mansion! It had running water, heating, it even had carpet and toilets.

In 2001 Gugan Gulwan was again relocated to the Erindale Youth Centre to accommodate the growing staff and increase in funding to provide extra programs. The small team of three staff grew to 9 full time staff overnight.

From small and humble beginnings Gugan Gulwan has continued to expand its services and respond to the current and emerging needs of the ACT community. Gugan Gulwan is currently located in the ACT suburb of Wanniassa.