Culture • Creativity • Connection
A First Nations–led creative hub for youth, community, and cultural connection.
Who We Are
The Goodways Project is a First Nations–led creative hub in Sydney offering workshops, youth mentoring, and cultural enterprise programs.
We create spaces for art, storytelling, and community connection, centring First Nations voices while welcoming all into culturally grounded learning and collaboration.
Developed through the practice of Soul Reign, Goodways provides a consistent place where young people and community can return, create, strengthen identity, and build pathways forward through cultural and creative practice.
What We Do
The Goodways Project offers consistent, culturally grounded opportunities for individuals, groups, and community. Through workshops, mentoring, gatherings, and creative enterprise, we bring art, storytelling, and cultural practice into shared experience.
Our programs support identity, strengthen intergenerational connection, and build pathways forward through cultural and creative practice.
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Weekly cultural workshops in art, artefact-making, yidaki, screen printing, storytelling, and creative enterprise, grounded in practice and shared learning.
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Ongoing mentoring and guidance for First Nations youth and emerging artists, supporting identity, leadership, and pathways forward.
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Men’s circles, family gatherings, and Elders’ yarns that foster belonging, connection, and community wellbeing.
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Skill-building in design, branding, and small business, supporting First Nations creatives to develop and share their work.
Who We Work With
The Goodways Project supports identity, cultural continuity, and pathways forward through cultural and creative practice for:
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We provide ongoing mentoring, creative development, and leadership opportunities, supporting young people to strengthen identity, develop skills, and step into pathways forward shaped through cultural and creative practice.
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Storytelling circles, cultural gatherings, and shared creative practice support the passing on of knowledge, strengthening connection across generations.
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Our cultural education programs bring art, story, and music into learning environments, offering hands-on experiences that build understanding, respect, and meaningful connection from an early age.
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Through exhibitions, markets, and collaborative projects, we make First Nations creativity visible, strengthening belonging, connection, and shared community experience.
FIRST NATIONS WRITERS GROUP
12-14 yrs
New
A creative space for First Nations young people to write, experiment, create, laugh and tell stories our way.
Created by young people, for young people.
The First Nations Writers Group began from a young writer wanting a place where First Nations kids could meet, make things, share ideas and explore storytelling together.
Led as a youth-created initiative through The Goodways Project, the First Nations Writers Group is a relaxed weekly space for young writers to explore stories in all their forms.
Young people can play with character, poetry, fiction, comics, spoken storytelling, collaborative games, illustration and whatever else their ideas become.
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Ages: 12–14
When: Wednesdays, 4:00–5:30pm
Term 4: 14 October – 16 December 2026
Where: Banga Shed, 3C Joynton Ave, Zetland
Cost: Free
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LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
Join the Writers Group — sign up below:
Our Experience and Team
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Lead Facilitator
Lyle is a proud Mitakoodi and Wakka Wakka man, artist, and cultural educator with 17+ years of experience. As Founder of Soul Reign, he leads programs that centre cultural connection, healing, and creative leadership. His work spans schools, community programs, and mentoring—bringing people together through art, Yidaki, and storytelling. In The Goodways Project, Lyle guides the vision and delivery of workshops, creating a home for intergenerational learning and cultural practice.
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Program Collaborator
Will is a proud Kabi Kabi and Goreng Goreng man with over 20 years in community services. He has led the Indigenous Learning Program at 3Bridges Community, founded the Burbangana Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Program, and organised Georges River NAIDOC Celebrations (2022–2025). Deeply embedded in Redfern, Will is also a father, coach, and community leader. In The Goodways Project, he contributes cultural insight, mentoring expertise, and program collaboration—ensuring delivery remains community-driven.
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Lead Cultural Facilitator
Johnny is a proud Garrawa Waanyi Buranggamm Wakka Wakka man, renowned artist, and Yidaki musician. Touring nationally in the 1990s, his deep resonant soundscapes and artistry reflect cultural knowledge passed down from Elders. At Soul Reign, he leads Yidaki and art workshops that inspire healing and cultural pride. In The Goodways Project, Johnny delivers Yidaki and visual arts sessions, mentoring young people and fostering intergenerational cultural sharing
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Program & Operations Coordinator
Whitney supports the structural and operational foundations of The Goodways Project. She works across program development, governance, risk management, and organisational systems to ensure community-led initiatives are delivered safely, sustainably, and with integrity.
With a background in creative practice, community work, and systems design, Whitney focuses on translating community vision into clear frameworks that meet funding, compliance, and partnership requirements without losing cultural grounding or relational care.
In The Goodways Project, she coordinates planning, documentation, and operational processes that support facilitators and cultural leaders to focus on delivery, connection, and impact.
Our team brings over 60 years of combined experience across cultural practice, creative work, and community engagement.
Visual arts, yidaki, storytelling, and cultural practice
Youth mentoring, community development, and trauma-informed approaches
Program design, documentation, and partnership building
Creative enterprise, including screen printing, product design, and small business development
This experience is carried into every program, shaping how we work alongside young people and community.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!