NIYLG 2004/2005 Participant Summaries

Australian Capital Territory

Euroka Gilbert - age 24, Ainslie
Euroka is a proud young Wiradjuri man. He is a Youth Worker with ACT Youth Justice and has been actively involved with his local community through the ACT Minister’s Youth Council, Community Housing, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Ngunnawal Land Council and Landcare. He is interested in Sovereignty, the disproportional incarceration rates of Indigenous youth, their housing, health and well-being. He believes strongly that community development and empowerment will find solutions to issues facing Indigenous youth and remains committed to contributing his time, energy and voice to further that process. As a father of four, he is conscious of how decision and actions that are taken or not taken today will impact on the future of his children.

New South Wales

Kylie Cassidy - age 21, Umina
Kylie is of the Wiradjuri people and has been prominent in the Indigenous community on the Central Coast for many years. She balances caring for her 3-year old daughter on her own with study and employment in the local primary school as an Aboriginal Support Worker. Kylie would like to establish a culturally appropriate literacy program targeting years 7-9 students. This program would asses the literacy levels of each individual, and build their skills to meet the levels of all students.

Bindi Stewart-Fitzpatrick - age 18, Cambelltown
Bindie works as an Indigenous liaison with a Group Training Company. He recently completed Year 12 at Sydney Secondary College Black Wattle Campus (formerly Glebe High School), where he was Vice Captain of the School Council. Bindie founded a cross-campus forum for Indigenous students at the three campuses of the Sydney Secondary College, and in 2003 gave a presentation to 900 delegates of the NSW State Equity Conference. Bindie is involved in the DOCS Families First Strategy reference group. He is passionate about developing strategies to keep Indigenous youth in school.

Northern Territory

Wyomie Robertson - age 23, The Narrows
Wyomie first became active in youth issues through the Youth and Community Combined Action Program in Brisbane, which inspired young people to engage in their community. Later as part of her degree in Applied Health Science (Indigenous Primary Health Care), she conducted a community research project with Indigenous youth in north Brisbane. Wyomie is currently working in the government sector to assist in improving the wellbeing of her people. She has a particular interest in improving the social and emotional wellbeing of young people.

Queensland

	Toby Adams - age 23, Alexandra Headlands Toby completed his Certificate III in Education at Cooloola Sunshine Institute of TAFE, and was a finalist for Queensland Indigenous Student of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards. Toby is currently employed by Acclaim Apprentices & Trainees as an Employment & Training Coordinator, focusing on traineeships and apprenticeships for school students. Through his involvement in NIYLG Toby would like to share the issues that effect Aboriginal youth in communities throughout Australia and as a group of young, strong and determined Indigenous people, be able to implement programs and strategies to begin solving these problems.
	Purdey Cox - age 24, Redland Bay Purdey has been a young leader is her community for many years. She has participated in the Soroptimist International Leadership Conference, the Yarn Up 2 Indigenous Youth Conference, was a Young Endeavour sailor, and has won numerous achievement awards. She now works DIMIA. Purdey wants to focus on leadership, role models, employment and health issues.
	Briana Enoch - age 21, Kuranda Briana is studying for a Diploma in Indigenous Ministry and works as a Teacher Technical Assistant. She has been active in the Goondiwindi community, organising its 2003 NAIDOC Week activities including a dinner and concert with Anthony Mundine and Lionel Quartermaine as guests.She is seeking to develop best practice models for Indigenous youth participation and development.
	Dora Nona - age 22, Injinoo Dora is a Tores Strait Islander and works as a Purchasing Officer for the Bamaga Island Council. She is a member of the Injinoo Youth Council and attended the Which Way You Mob youth forum in Cairns, organised by the Aboriginal Coordinating Council of Queensland. She is especially interested in employment and training for Indigenous young people.

South Australia

Cody Morris - age 21, Findon
Cody is studying Medicine at Adelaide University. Though advised at school not to think about a career in medicine, he achieved his goal with excellent results including a Caltex Best All-rounder Award. Cody would like to focus on recruitment and retention of Indigenous students in tertiary education, especially through access programs, which provide bridging opportunities for Indigenous people who have been out of the education system for some time. Cody would like to develop a resource that lists the bridging courses, access programs and scholarships that are available to Indigenous people.

Tasmania

Nala Mansell - age 21, Launceston
Nala has been a full-time Youth Worker for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for three years, and has been an organiser for many community activities. These include the Yula Tali dance group for primary age indigenous girls, high school and young mothers support groups, and an annual Mutton Birding cultural camp. Nala balances this with being the sole parent of a 3-year old daughter. She is keen to discuss homelessness, alternatives to imprisonment, land rights, self-determination, Aboriginal sovereignty, and education and training.

Victoria

Jirra Lulla - age 21, Northcote
Jirra believes that the Australian media has a long history of creating and reinstating stereotypes of Aboriginal people. Jirra’s ultimate goal is to harness the power of the media in order to promote positive images of Aboriginality. She believes that Indigenous media can provide a counterbalance to the negativity of news reports. Through self-representation, Aboriginal people can truly educate the rest of Australia about their history, strength and cultural pride.

Simon Flagg - age 24, Lara
Simon is employed as a Project Officer with the Bring Them Home project for the National Archives of Australia. Simon successfully participated in the Victorian Aboriginal Leadership Program, which resulted in his learning much about his identity and culture and enhanced his standing among his peers as being a leader in the making. Simon became a father in his teens, to which caused him to “grow up very quickly”.

Western Australia

	Jacinta Mack - age 24, Balcatta Jacinta is of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal heritage and currently works for the Kuyk Kirim Torres Strait Islander Centre in Perth. Last year she was awarded a place on the Dean’s Honour Roll at Edith Cowan University, and as a high school student won an exchange scholarship to the USA. She is active in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and is working on a number of ATSIS funded projects.
	Shulyn Hunter - age 21, Broome Shulyn has been an active young leader in her home town of Broome for many years. She works as an Administrator with the Kimberley Development Commission, has been active with her local CDEP as a broadcaster for Indigenous local radio, and volunteers on local sporting committees. Shulyn is particularly interested in improving young peoples access to housing and crisis accommodation in the Kimberley region. She would also like to improve out-reach services to youth in remote communities.
	Tessima Taylor - age 23, Wyndham Tessima , 23, has lived in the Kimberley region all her life and works for the Shire of Wyndham.She has been active in many Youth groups and is currently Co-ordinating the Wyndham Young Women’s Group as well as acting as the Co-ordinator of the Wyndham Youth Advisory Council.The Wyndham Young Women’s Group was established to encourage Young women between the ages of 12 to 18 years to come together and experience things that aren’t possible at home. It also gives young women the chance to start newfound friendships and broaden their views on a variety of issues such as career and learning opportunities. As a NIYLG member Tessima is keen to discuss a range of issues affecting remote communities, including opportunities for youth and women, the importance of the family structure, and education and health issues.