Our Story
Harbrow Mentoring is an Indigenous led organisation owned and operated by Cairns local brothers Marc and Jarrod Harbrow.
Established in 2010, Harbrow Mentoring began with a strong focus on delivering school holiday sporting programs in communities across Cape York. These early programs were grounded in connection, culture, and the power of sport as a tool for engagement, leadership, and wellbeing.
Over time, the organisation has grown in both scope and purpose. Harbrow Mentoring has evolved into a multi service organisation delivering culturally grounded initiatives across Far North Queensland and beyond. While mentoring, leadership, and sport remain part of the organisation’s foundation, its work now extends to Indigenous business innovation, cultural education, corporate engagement, advisory services, workshops, and public speaking.
This evolution reflects a deeper understanding that sustainable impact is achieved through strong relationships, leadership development, cultural integrity, and systems level engagement across community, business, and organisations.
Evolution and Growth
As Harbrow Mentoring expanded its reach and partnerships, the need to clearly separate charitable youth focused delivery from broader social enterprise and service offerings became evident.
In response, the organisation established Our Future Mentors Indigenous Corporation, a registered not for profit charity that now leads youth development and mentoring projects. This structure ensures targeted support for young people while allowing Harbrow Mentoring to continue delivering innovation, advisory, cultural education, and leadership services across sectors.
Together, both entities work in alignment, each with a clear purpose and governance structure, while remaining connected by shared values, lived experience, and community accountability.
Today, Harbrow Mentoring works across community, business, government, and corporate sectors to deliver culturally informed services that strengthen leadership, capability, and connection. Through its evolved structure and partnerships, the organisation continues to honour where it began while responding to the needs and opportunities of today.
MARC HARBROW
Co-Founder
Marc Harbrow brings lived experience, resilience, and leadership to the foundation of Harbrow Mentoring. His work has been shaped by time spent living and working in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands, including experience with the Australian Football League.
At the age of 15, Marc was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and spent nine months in hospital undergoing intensive treatment. A successful bone marrow transplant, with his younger brother Jarrod as the matching donor, marked a pivotal moment in Marc’s life. This experience continues to inform his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to creating opportunities for others.
Marc’s story is one of perseverance, connection, and purpose, values that continue to guide the organisation’s direction.
JARROD HARBROW
Co-Founder
Jarrod Harbrow is a proud Yirrganydji and Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal man, born and raised in Cairns. From a young age, he was taught the importance of respect, accountability, and humility, values that remain central to his leadership today.
Sport has played a significant role in Jarrod’s life. Leaving Cairns at 16 to pursue a professional AFL career, Jarrod’s journey was shaped by discipline, resilience, and commitment. He went on to play over 200 AFL games and became the first player in history to achieve life membership at the Gold Coast Suns Football Club.
Jarrod is a multiple recipient of AFL community awards and a finalist for the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award. His experience at elite level sport, combined with strong cultural foundations, provides a platform for meaningful engagement, leadership development, and advocacy through Harbrow Mentoring.