Barry 'Rainman' Boland may only be in the first year of his Bachelor of Business degree but he has earned a respected role over 20 years, facilitating leadership and cultural understanding for Indigenous people and also the wider community...

The CQUniversity student is celebrating his latest milestone - being named as winner in the university painting category for the Heart Foundation's Indigenous Student Art Awards 2010, thanks to his entry entitled 'The Native Lovebirds of Australia'. LINK for the story behind The Native Love Birds of Australia

Business student Barry Rainman Boland already renowned as a mentor and artist

Barry says he is keen to use his degree studies to develop his Rainman Enterprises venture, which offers artworks and artistic training alongside (and often mixing with) community leadership, personal development and cultural training.

Born in St George as the youngest child of seven, Barry is a descendant of the Kamilaroi clan from the south-west of New South Wales on his mother's side and of the Bigambul clan from south-west Queensland on his father's side.

"I forgot about my childhood interest in artwork as a teenager but after my mum and dad died I decided to take up painting again ... it was therapeutic for me and it was a way for me to remember the stories mum and dad told me and the traditional lifestyle and hunting techniques that were passed down. The more I did my art it became a dominant interest as it gave me peace, and healing from my grief," he said.

Barry spent his 20s working in the construction industry around Hervey Bay before moving to Rockhampton about 20 years ago.

He gained experience as a Dreamtime Cultural Centre guide before branching out to mentor participants in cultural and leadership workshops and to facilitate community art projects.

The award winning painting 'The Native Love Birds of Australia'

Right from the start, Barry found that youth workshop participants could gain from involvement in art and artists could gain from cultural training. He says artistic mentoring can help young Indigenous people discover their cultural identity and to reach their full potential.

Barry has also project managed numerous community and government education, employment and training projects.

He's now branched out as a consultant trading as 'Rainman Enterprises' (www.wwwrainmanenterprises.com) to maximise the experience that he has to offer as a facilitator, project manager and trainer to assist families, business, communities and individuals to reach their full potential.

"The aim of Rainman Enterprises is to create a business that will thrive ... to support upcoming artists and to assist young Indigenous people to develop their own personal vision, dream and goal whether it is through business, art, sport or education, training and employment."