The Fullaship Program by Hakon Dyrting

Hakon is one of the fellow from the 2023 Fullaship Program and is an Indigenous Enterprise Consultant for the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network. He also sits on the U.S. Consulate General Melbournes Youth Council Melbourne and has been recently appointed as a Director on Danila Dilba Health Services Board.

Hakon is passionate about Entrepreneurship for mob. He believes through economic independence, we can create intergenerational wealth which will lead to a surge of positive change and empowerment.

Over the course of the last year, I have been honoured with a spot as a part of Culture is Life’s 2023 Fullaship Program.

Since commencing, the Fullaship Program has played an integral part into my own personal and professional development. I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to young & staunch Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals doing amazing things across the country who I now consider my family. The CisL team have managed to select a mix of different people, with different experiences, with different qualities that share similar core values which is not an easy task to do. In just under a year, we have had a handful of in person intensive experiences with the group and as I reflect on each of those instances, all have been special in their own right.

Since commencing the program, I have experienced many development activities and opportunities which has directly led into self-reflection and stronger determination for who I’d like to be as I continue to walk down my path. My path is set in the Aboriginal economic development space and strongly support the notion that economic empowerment will play a crucial factor in creating generational wealth and values for our mob. CisL and the fullas have wholeheartedly supported my goals and aspirations through facilitating ideation and incubation discussions and offering development and networking opportunities and I always welcome more experiences to develop further.

Meeting people you have never met and never had any interaction with is always be clouded with uncertainty and fear but the first-time meeting everyone in person was filled of laughter and acceptance. The impactful relationships that I have formed with each of the fullas in such a short time has been due to Culture is Life creating a culturally safe, inclusive and collaborative environment so that we could all invest into each other’s personalities, values, goals, and aspirations and whilst also having fun and building relationships with each other, Culture is Life has always had a strong emphasis on the four pillars that the Fullaship program operates with: Mentoring, Leadership and Development, Pathways, Advocacy.

I’m a firm believer that the bonds that we have established over the course of this term will continue to be carried on post program and that I’m excited to see every one of the fullas excel in their own respective industries. Since starting this program my life has been changed in many ways and I’ve built relationships with many inspirational young mob.

As 2023 comes to an end and I reflect on the year that was, so many different things happened but to say that I am grateful for the experiencing the Fullaship program, is an understatement. This program has cemented my path to facilitating and empowering economic development to create real sustainable wealth for generations to follow so that our people can stand tall and celebrate our history and achievements.

Thank you to the amazing Culture is Life family for being so welcoming, creating these tailored opportunities and for your never wavering support and love.

Thank you to my Fullaship family for strength, determination, love, and vulnerability on this journey. Each one of you I consider family and I cannot wait to see you all to go on become leaders and role models and inspire others just like you have inspired me.

– Hakon Dyrting (Garrawa,NT and Djugun/ Yawuru, WA)