On a warm afternoon in Darwin, two Indigenous apprentice carpenters, Cedric and Manu, are finishing another day of work in the sweltering heat.
In a city where the humidity can make simply breathing a challenge, it’s tough work.
Yet you won’t hear Cedric and Manu complain.
Their lives were once following an all-too-familiar path into a cycle of incarceration and reoffending. But today, they’re both carving out a brighter future for themselves.
These young men are part of GAP, Grassroots Action Palmerston, a program dedicated to transforming lives by fostering skills and creating employment opportunities for First Nations youth, and today they’re meeting Sydney Bishop Daniel Meagher to share their inspiring story.
Bishop Meagher’s visit is at the invitation of Caritas Australia, which supports GAP, to meet Cedric and Manu and witness first-hand the profound impact of the program on its participants and the wider community.
As Cedric and Manu gather around a table at GAP’s headquarters, known as “Aunty’s Place,” they share a meal and their stories with Bishop Meagher.
“GAP has changed my life. I’m not just sitting at home anymore, waiting to get into trouble because I’m bored,” Manu tells the bishop.
“I’m out there doing something productive, earning money and supporting myself and my family. GAP has significantly improved my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their help,” Cedric adds.
“It was very inspiring to see Cedric and Manu at Aunty’s Place. It felt warm and friendly, like a true motherly home. I got the sense the people there knew each young man personally and cared for them as individuals,” Bishop Meagher shared.
Accompanying Bishop Meagher is Dan Skehan, the Programs Director at Caritas.
“It’s a great opportunity for Bishop Danny to visit our first Australians project, GAP. They work with young, disadvantaged Aboriginal children to help them connect with their cultural identity and secure pathways to full-time employment. It’s truly inspirational,” Skehan remarks.
Also present to explain GAP’s operations is founder, Serena Dalton, along with her dedicated team.
“We provide structure and a second chance for these young men. It takes a community effort—everyone has a role to play,” she explains.
Dalton founded GAP in 2017 with the goal of making the community safer for her 10 children. Her efforts have contributed to a steady decline in crime rates in Palmerston, which have dropped by 30 per cent.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without Caritas. They believed in me and introduced me to key supporters and funders. Without that support, I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing now,” Dalton asserts.
During his visit, Bishop Meagher joins Dalton on trips to the local Bunnings, where they meet Bella, and a toy library where they connect with Erica.
Both women have found employment through GAP and, along with Cedric and Manu, represent a new wave of hope for the area.
A key component of GAP’s success is a focus on reconnecting local men and women with their cultural roots.
Bishop Meagher experiences first-hand the workshops led by GAP cultural educator Trent Lee, who is showing young men how to throw spears and make fires.
“A lot of these kids are just lost. When you’ve lost touch with your culture, it’s crucial to reconnect; it gives them a sense of belonging,” reflects Trent.
“From there, you can rebuild them. Schools may not be for them, but here we teach them discipline, perseverance, patience our way. Spear throwing teaches focus and perseverance, for example. Fire making teaches them patience—life lessons that will serve them well, as they hopefully join the workforce.”
“Caritas aims to embody compassion in action, which we witnessed today,” says Skehan.
“It’s all about building relationships, education, and training, so these young men and women grow into contributing adults and future leaders in their community. That’s the impact we hope to achieve.”
Bishop Meagher encourages everyone in the Archdiocese of Sydney to donate generously to Caritas’s Project Compassion this year, ensuring GAP can continue its vital work.
“We witnessed hope today. When hope seems absent, the resilience of the human spirit shines through when people feel loved and cared for. They need support to grow, to build self-confidence, and to develop positive life habits. That’s what the GAP program provides,” Bishop Meagher emphasises.