When Gary Mitchell flicks through fashion catalogues he rarely sees an Indigenous person.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 17-year-old wants to change that.
Earlier this week, the Aboriginal student travelled from his home town of Mildura to Melbourne for his first modelling shoot.
"This is the start. I hope it goes further," he said.
The experience was made possible through a new YMCA website that helps young, disadvantaged Victorians achieve their goals. It operates a bit like a crowd-funding site, but instead of asking people to donate money to a project, it encourages them to provide work experience, mentoring, networking opportunities and other support.
"I want to be a role model to other kids in my town," Gary said. "It's a small community and there are not many options."
The Kidstarter website connected Gary to a free studio, photographer, hair and make-up artist and clothing. It also lined up a meeting with Vivien's modelling agency and put him in touch with a mentor, model Julian Haig.
Haig said the teenager had lots of potential. "I've been overseas modelling and there are no Aboriginal men overseas," he said. "You can be in Italy and Vivienne Westwood says, 'Hey, I want that guy.' You just don't know."
The photographs will be used to start Gary's portfolio, which he hopes will secure him modelling work.
While Aboriginal woman Samantha Harris has strutted down catwalks across the world, there are few Indigenous male models who have made it big.
Gary's mother, Summer, said the fashion world was not as diverse as it should be.
"We all shop there like everyone else," she said. "We want to see our mob in the catalogues as well."
The site was launched this week and initially will focus on a group of six young people.
Aspiring human rights lawyer Maree is also involved with the project. The 18-year-old is the first person in her family to complete high school and has just started a law degree at Monash University.
"I'm passionate about social justice, human rights and giving a voice to the most vulnerable in our society, and that's what led me to study law," she posted on the website.
She has already scored a free pass to the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival and is set to meet barrister and human rights advocate Julian Burnside.
Jess thinks more young people should be engaged in politics. The 18-year-old wants to work with researchers to build a case "to advocate for a greater presence of politics in secondary school". She hopes to present the case to Victoria's Education Minister, James Merlino.
Minjarrah, 20, meanwhile, wants to become a biotech scientist and needs experience in a laboratory or with a research team.
YMCA youth services manager Ian Boorman said everyone on the website had faced significant challenges but each was "brave enough to have a dream".
"What we ask is for everyone out there have a look at the profiles on the website and consider whether they have any way to support these young people to take the next step," he said.
For more information, visit ymcakidstarter.org.au
