Elise Djerrkura had no idea what to do next when she finished school.
The Yolngu woman from Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory had spent four years in Sydney at boarding school and knew she wanted to stay in the city, so she reached out to an organisation called Bandu.
"I knew I wanted to work but I had no idea how I could find a job so just reaching out to Bandu had helped a lot," she said.
"They go out of their way to help each of us to get a job and into uni.
"They just want to see us succeed."
A registered charity and social enterprise, Bandu helps young Indigenous people transition from school into higher education and work.
Ms Djerrkura said the team at Bandu helped her find work in Sydney and supported her through the challenges of a first job.
They also helped her apply to universities where she hopes to study for a Bachelor of Law in 2025.
"You've got that Indigenous support at school and then Bandu is that same support for students leaving school," she said.
"Because it was my first job I struggled a bit but they were always there to support me and help me."
Co-founders Aidan Porter and Edward Morgan started Bandu after identifying a need among Indigenous students leaving school and coming up against hurdles that made attending higher education and traineeships more difficult.
Not knowing where to go for support, Mr Morgan said many of the students stopped pursuing their dreams.
As a teacher, it was something he watched play out first-hand.
He said Bandu aimed to provide "wraparound care" for Indigenous kids struggling with the transition.
"It's absolutely crucial that there's someone there that families can just bounce ideas off," he said.
"Without this support, students stop pursuing tertiary education - they stop pursuing employment because they just don't know what to do.
"It's not a lack of motivation, it's not a lack of ambition - it's just an uncertainty around what they're supposed to be doing and how to do it."
Mr Morgan and Mr Porter will pitch their organisation to 10x10 Philanthropy at an event in Sydney on Thursday.
Mr Morgan said Bandu was grateful for the opportunity to not just secure more funding for its program, but to share its message and purpose.
"The support is essential," he said.
"We need more financial support, but what it does more than anything is it gives us an opportunity to share the stories of our students who are paving the way in their families and communities."
