b'KOORI KIDS FUTURES Koori Kids Futures is a work experience program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths who attend high schools within the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) and are in years 10 to 12.NBMLHD covers the Penrith, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Lithgow Local Government Areas (LGAs) and has a higher than average population of Aboriginal people (2.7%), of which 57%are under the age of 25.The targeted program has been running since 2015 and grewout of an identified need to expose Aboriginal high school students to local careers in health.Closely modelled on the Health Inspirations program, Koori Kids Futures encourages a new generation of young people to pursue a rewarding career by visiting numerous clinical sites and services.Over 80 local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander High School students have participated in the program with some students having gone onto health related studies that has seen them become employed by the Local Health District.The program was a finalist in the 2019 NSW Health Awards, nominated for its work supporting the career aspirations oflocal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION 43'