NIYLG 2001/2002 Participant Summaries

Tim Goodwin - Hughes ACT

Tim, 17, has achieved many academic and community awards including NAIDOC Person of Year 1999 and being nominated as Young Canberran of the Year 2000.

He has been involved in numerous consultative groups including International Youth Parliament, National Student Leadership Forum and ACT and South East Regional Youth Conference.

Tim was a member of the National Youth Roundtable in 2000 and has spoken at many agencies and forums advocating for young Indigenous People, including the World Indigenous Youth Conference.

Tim is interested in the continuation of Indigenous youth leadership in communities.

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Joel Wenitong - Raymond Terrace NSW

Joel, 23, completed a Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Social Science degree at Newcastle University and is currently employed as a teacher and youth worker. Working as an itinerant teacher at several schools, Joel provides one-on-one assistance to Indigenous students with special educational and behavioural needs.

Recently Joel was awarded a scholarship to attend International Year of the Volunteer forums in Amsterdam and Japan. His interests and abilities also include music and he has been involved in a number of musical events in his community, such as Youth Alive.

Joel's community interests include assisting young people at risk of homelessness, family breakdown, and programmes to help Indigenous young people and families with substance abuse problems and helping Indigenous students achieve in the education system.

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Kylie Morgan - Tolland NSW

Kylie, 19, won the ATSIC NSW Trainee of the Year award in 2000 and the Young Citizen of the Year award for her local community (Leeton NSW) in 2001. She is currently employed as a Customer Service Officer.

Kylie demonstrates a commitment to helping young Indigenous people in her community by her voluntary involvement in various consultative groups and councils.

These include the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations programme, Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and Leeton Homework Centre. Kylie is interested in the issues of housing, drugs and alcohol, education and employment.

Naomi Anstess - Anula NT

Naomi, 19, is in her third year of Bachelor of Education at the Northern Territory University. Since 1997, she has been involved in the Northern Territory Youth Parliament as a participant and organiser.

In 2000, she participated in the Commonwealth Youth Parliament held in Manchester, UK.

Naomi is currently involved in the Indigenous Sports Role Model Program on harassment-free sport and cultural awareness. Naomi is often invited to speak at Darwin high schools as a mentor and role model.

At the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group, Naomi would like to discuss a range of issues including the implementation of education programmes in remote and urban communities and health issues including substance abuse and youth suicide.

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Kym Brahim - Tennant Creek NT

Kym, 22, is a youth worker with the local Job Placement, Employment and Training provider and is involved in many community and sporting groups.

He represented the Yaparlungku region on the National Indigenous Youth Treaty Conference in February 2001 and is a member of the National Youth Roundtable 2001, where he is investigating how mainstream education can be refined to better suit Indigenous students.

Kym is interested in furthering this issue through the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group.

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Brenton Toy - Katherine NT

Brenton, 22, is employed as the Indigenous Sport Program Officer with the Northern Territory Department of Sport and Recreation.

He has experience in assisting students at risk to acquire and develop the necessary skills to continue in the mainstream education system.

Brenton is involved in the Katherine Youth Group, which is dedicated to the needs and aspirations of young people in the region.

He has received numerous awards for his sporting achievements and he also coaches an Under 14 sports team.

Brenton is interested in the integration of youth services, training and education and diversionary programmes.

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Cristilee Louttit - Salisbury QLD

Cristilee, 21, is employed with Education QLD and is involved in a range of community activities including the Murri Arts Network, Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations Programme and various volunteer projects. Cristilee has also been involved in the Qld Indigenous Youth Leadership Forum: a State representational group.

Cristilee has supported herself since the age of 16, completing high school and successfully completing traineeships in Arts Marketing and Management and Business Administration. Cristilee's interests include the factors affecting attendance and retention of Indigenous students in school. Cristilee is currently completing a Certificate 4 in Workplace Management.

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Geoff Lui - Thursday Island Far North QLD

Geoff, 19, is involved in many community activities including the Community Development Employment Programme and sporting and recreational groups.

He holds several positions within his local church, including Assistant Executive Secretary, groundsman and teacher.

Geoff has been involved in the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations Programme (AITAP), which provides opportunities for young Indigenous people to further develop a range of skills.

Geoff is interested in discussing issues including employment opportunities, homelessness and education at the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group.

Rachelle Christian - Whitfield QLD

Rachelle, 17, is employed with the Cairns and District Regional Indigenous Men's Group.

Rachelle is actively involved in her community and has received a number of awards and recognition for her efforts including the Janis Parker Memorial Award 2000 for Indigenous youth leadership and study.

Rachelle has experienced living in a number of different locations including Aboriginal communities, urban regions, the Torres Strait Islands and boarding school.

Issues of particular interest to Rachelle are education, employment and participation in the community.

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Alana Smith - Ceduna SA

Alana, 20 lives in the Ceduna community of the far west coast of South Australia. Alana completed a traineeship through CDEP and is currently employed at the Ceduna Regional Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and works in the policy and advocacy support unit.

As part of her job, Alana deals with a range of issues that confront Indigenous people within the region such as primary health care, education, employment, access to income, justice and crime, identify and culture.

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Tacca Simon - Longley, Tasmania

Tacca is a 17 year old student at Hobart College where she is actively involved in college activities.

She has talents in visual and performing arts and would like eventually to work in the music industry. Tacca was a member of the production team for the documentary ‘Searching for the Brown’s Boys’ and assisted in painting a mural for NAIDOC Week.

Tacca is a member of the National Youth Roundtable 2001, where she is examining the lack of entertainment options for young people and the consequences of youth boredom.

Tacca aims to conduct a ‘festival’, which will promote youth crime awareness and raise funds for a youth venue. Her project also aims to focus on the history and culture of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

Joleen Ryan - Manifold Heights VIC

Joleen, 18, is undertaking the Certificate IV Biological/Chemical Sciences at the Gordon Institute of TAFE.

While at school, Joleen was involved in several leadership forums including the Student Council, Peer Mediation, VCE Supportive Friends Association and Young Leaders Program.

The issues of interest to Joleen are reconciliation, drugs and alcohol, unemployment, education and health.

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Rowena Hamlet - Kalgoorlie WA

Rowena, 21, is a Third Year Bachelor of Arts Student at the University of Western Australia. Rowena participates in a number of groups and forums including the Burrna Yurral Aboriginal Corporation and the Western Australia Student Aboriginal Corporation. Her sporting involvement includes basketball, netball and touch football and she has represented the Kalgoorlie and Goldfield regions in various sports competitions.

For the past 18 months, Rowena has been the guardian of her 17-year-old sister and 15-year-old cousin and has proved to be an effective role model by encouraging both to continue their education and to pursue their dreams.

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Daniel Morrison - Riverdale WA

Daniel, 22, is employed as a Family Welfare Officer by the Western Australian Department of Family and Children Services.

He is presently working to establish an Aboriginal men's group in the Midland Region of Perth with the main focus on reducing family violence through anger management and conflict resolution skills.

Daniel participates in a number of groups and forums in his community and State. At 21 years of age, Daniel was the youngest person to be elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission as the Alternate Deputy Chairperson on the Perth Noongar Regional Council.

The issues Daniel has identified for discussion at the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group include youth health, youth suicide, accommodation, sex education and parenting skills for young parents.

Layla Yu - Broome WA

Layla, 20, is a Bachelor of Arts Business student at Notre Dame University and is also employed with the Garnduwa Kimberley Youth Sport and Recreation as a Youth, Sport and Recreation Worker. Layla has participated in a number of groups and forums including the Burdekin Youth In Action Management Committee, the Youth Indigenous Forum in 1999 and the Edmund Rice Camps in Broome and Perth.

Layla was nominated for the Young Citizen of the Year award in Broome. In 1998/9, Layla was an exchange student to Denmark. Layla is interested in discussing a range of issues including homelessness, family and domestic violence, education and health education for young mothers.

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