Karina Menkhorst

Karina is Senior Program Officer with IAP. She is responsible for development and implementation of program initiatives in areas of indigenous health, youth and self determination and the development of cross-agency thematic priorities. She has worked for many years with Indigenous youth and women. Karina was a founding employee of an innovative alternative Aboriginal education centre in Alice Springs, Irrkerlantye Learning Centre, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds that exposed them to high levels of substance abuse, violence and dysfunctional and antisocial behaviour. She established an art training program to encourage family members attend the centre which developed into a successful aboriginal owned and operated art centre and outreach program. Karina expects that the training will provide her with a greater understanding of human rights in an Australian context, while also improving her lobbying and advocacy skills. She hopes the program will provide her with an opportunity to meet and network with a variety of indigenous advocates from around the region.