Inside GO’s Careers’ Experience and Culture Connect Day
29 July 2026
At GO, we love connecting with those who make up our community. Our Founders who started it all. The partners who walk alongside us. The families, schools and communities supporting the young people in our Program. But most importantly, the Scholars and Alumni who are creating their own paths with ambition and determination.
And with close to 300 Scholars from 35 schools, 10 Alumni and 17 partner organisations coming together for the Careers’ Experience and Culture Connect Day in Sydney, we were lucky to experience just that!
As guests made their way into Carriageworks, they were welcomed by Marrawarra and Barkindji Elder, Uncle Brendan Kerin, with a Smoking Ceremony and a Welcome Song on the Yidaki. The day then moved into a Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to have a yarn with our Co-Founders Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin.
“If you could go back to your younger self, what advice would you give?” asked one Scholar.
“I would say to believe in my ability, my resilience, and to have a go at everything. We've got to put our best foot forward and have a crack at things,” replied Michael.
“My message to myself would be to put my arm around myself and just say that everything’s going to be OK. As you’re growing up and navigating the world, having that support and knowing people care about you is really important. I hope you feel that through the GO Foundation and what we’re creating for you, because you aren’t alone – you’re not an island,” added Adam.
GO’s cultural delivery partner, Mirri Mirri, then led Scholars through a hip-hop workshop that saw students write raps about connecting to who they are and where they come from through concepts of culture and identity. The performances that followed had everyone cheering as groups competed for the title of best rap – which Ashcroft High School took the cake for!
At the same time, Toyota’s film crew was working on a very exciting project – capturing footage for a broadcast piece that aired on Channel 7 during Sir Doug Nicholls Round! It was hosted by Warumungu and Yawuru woman Megan Waters, and showcased what GO’s Careers’ Experience and Culture Connect Days are all about.
During lunch, everyone was treated to performances from proud Samu and Suy singer, Zipporah Anu and Gumbaynggirr singer and rapper, Tasman Keith.
Special Guest Performances
Zipporah Anu
Samu and Suy singer
Tasman Keith
Gumbaynggirr singer and rapper
With the energy high, we moved into the Careers Experience in the afternoon. Led by our corporate and university partners, Scholars moved through interactive workshops exploring different post-school pathways. Wherever you looked, something was happening. One group was designing running shoes, another was getting hands-on insight into physiotherapy, while others explored university pathways or sat in the chill-out zone weaving bracelets and chatting with the GO team and Alumni about their experiences.
We’re incredibly grateful to our partners for bringing these opportunities to life, and to Toyota for supporting and shining a light on our Program to national audiences during Sir Doug Nicholls Round. It was the perfect day that reminded us of the importance of community, showing up and walking alongside Scholars as they explore who they are and what comes next.