NIYLG 2005/2006 Participant Summaries

Western Australia

Ismahl Croft - 25yrs old, Fitzroy Crossing
Ismahl works as a Project Officer with the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture and the Kimberley Land Council. Ismahl's interests include land management, cultural identity and youth leadership. He is particularly interested in developing leadership skills in young people in remote communities and rural towns, so that they can access better education and employment. He is actively involved with the local youth group in Fitzroy Crossing. He strongly believes by taking young people back into country with their elders is the first step in improving a healthier lifestyle, gaining traditional knowledge and respect. Ismahl won a citizenship award in 2006 for outstanding community contribution for the Fitzroy Crossing region.

Jo-Anne D'Cress - 24yrs old, Cannington
Jo-Anne was named NAIDOC Youth of the Year in 2006. A participant in many youth leadership forums, Jo-Anne is particularly interested in Indigenous health. In 2006, as part of her health promotion scholarship, Jo-Anne wrote and developed a booklet to encourage and support Indigenous people and communities to control the supply of alcohol called "Your Right to Object". Joanne is currently on leave from work as she is a new mum to her daughter, Challestina.

Central Australia

	Ngaree Ah Kit - 25yrs old, Karama Ngaree works as a Public Servant with the Northern Territory Government. She is a current Management Committee member of the Danila Dilba Health Service, the Youth Activities Co-ordinator for the 2007 Top End NAIDOC Committee and a former committee member of the Darwin Football Club. Ngaree has participated in and presented at youth-focused forums, including the Indigenous Leadership Forum 2006 in Brisbane. Ngaree encourages young people to become involved in decision-making processes and she promotes leadership and developmental opportunities where possible.
	Jason King - 22yrs old, Santa Teresa Community, via Alice Springs Jason comes from a remote community in Central Australia. He moved away from family to gain work experience and is currently employed as an Aboriginal Health Worker with the Santa Teresa Community Council, where he has assisted to organise activities for young men that aim to promote a healthy lifestyle. Jason has also sought training in youth suicide prevention as a result of living in a community where suicide has been a major problem. Jason is interested in health issues such as suicide and substance abuse.
	Camille Lew Fatt - 23yrs old, Moil Camille works in international marketing at Charles Darwin University and is studying part-time, for a Bachelor of Business degree. Camille was the Northern Territory Trainee of the Year in 2003 as well as the Group Training Northern Territory Indigenous Apprentice of the Year. She has been involved in many government and community activities for young people over the years, including the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations Program (AITAP) and the Northern Territory Indigenous Youth Summit. Camille would like to explore issues around Indigenous education, health and crime.
	Chris Wilson - 23yrs old, Christie Downs Chris is an Academic Advisor/Associate Lecturer at the Yunggorendi First Nations Centre, Flinders University. He holds a Bachelor of Archaeology with first class honours and is preparing to undertake a PhD. Chris has been involved in career markets, encouraging Indigenous students to undertake university studies. He has delivered recruitment and motivational sessions for secondary schools, community events and youth forums within rural and metropolitan South Australia including, Yarnin It Up, Student Voice Expo and the Future Leaders Forum. Chris has also presented conference papers on Indigenous Archaeology in Washington DC, Auckland, Canada, Sydney and Adelaide. He aims to continue assisting young Indigenous people to actively engage in their community and purse their future goals.

Eastern Australia

	Steven Brown - 24yrs old, Weston ACT Steven works as a Public Servant at the Attorney General's Department working in the Indigenous Law and Justice Branch. Previously, he worked at the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination. Steven has been actively involved in the Canberra community as an Indigenous mentor with the Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, helping with community events and working cohesively with stakeholders such as Foundation for Young Australians. He is interested in drug prevention, education, cultural knowledge, and support programs for young people in the community to help build their opportunities.
	Jahna Cedar - 22yrs old, Coffs Harbour NSW Jahna has recently completed work with BHP Billiton Iron Ore as a Human Resource Advisor. Jahna has been invited to be a member of the Commonwealth Bank Foundation Advisory Council. She was selected as the under 18's representative on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) delegation to attend the United Nations third preparatory committee for the special session on children, held in New York in 2001. Jahna is interested in representations of cultural equality, protection of youth from exploitation, abuse and human child rights.
	Brendan Church - 25yrs old, Gordon ACT Brendan is the Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the ACT Health Alcohol and Drug Program. He is currently studying for a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) degree at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. Brendan is also a volunteer ambassador for the DEST National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (NIELNS). Brendan was a finalist in the 2005 Young Canberran of the Year Awards. He is interested in education, health, participation and youth detention and incarceration.
	Michael Galluzzo - 20yrs old, Narrandera NSW Michael is studying at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra for a degree in Arts/Law. Michael is the Indigenous Convener of ReconciliACTion and the Indigenous Officer of the ANU. He is involved at a local level with the Narrandera Shire Council, and has also participated on an international scale with his attendance to the International Youth Parliament in Sydney. Michael is interested in the restoration and promotion of traditional language and culture.
	Brad Welsh - 25yrs old, Redfern NSW Brad is currently working as a Community Program Officer with the NSW Department of Community Services and is studying Graduate Law at the University of NSW. Brad has also completed a degree in Bachelor of Community Welfare (Aboriginal Studies). He has been awarded a scholarship to study law in Beijing China in early 2007. Brad is active in the Redfern community and has been involved with the local Land Council since he was 18 years of age. He has completed a Certificate II in Leadership and is involved in the Redfern All Blacks Football Club. Brad would like to see Indigenous young people take a more proactive role in addressing issues that affect them.
	Brendan Bishop - 25yrs old, Mackay QLD Brendan works as Project Officer (Indigenous and South Sea Islander Programs) for Central Queensland Institute of TAFE in Mackay. Brendan was the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Apprentice of the Year in 2004 and the Mackay City Council Young Citizen of the Year in 2006. He is actively involved in his community through football and the Mackay 2006 NAIDOC Committee. He also plays the didgeridoo at schools, community events and NAIDOC celebrations. Brendan is interested in Indigenous education, employment and development of strategies to address alcohol mis-use.
	Tonya Booth - 24yrs old, Townsville QLD Tonya is currently working as an Aboriginal Land Management Facilitator with the Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management. Tonya was the North Queensland Trainee of the Year in 2003, participated in the National Youth Roundtable 2003 and the 'Which Way You Mob' Youth Forum in 2003. Tonya would like to see more young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders involved in natural and cultural resource management. She is also interested in Indigenous literacy and numeracy levels, employment, suicide and violence.
	Jayde Fuller - 22yrs old, Alexandra Hills QLD Jayde works as a Juvenile Justice Conferencing Convenor for the Queensland Government Department of Communities. Jayde has been involved in many Government and community activities and has been a guest speaker for several community events. Her interests concerning the welfare of Indigenous people include politics, education, native title, and juvenile justice.
	Emma Jeffrey - 20yrs old, Rockhampton QLD Emma is a trainee youth worker at the Queensland Government Department of Communities. She is involved in Youth Justice Services, working with young offenders. She is a founding member of the Capricornia Indigenous Youth Reference Panel. Emma is also an Executive Committee Member and youth representative of Careers Link. She is a member of the Youth Murri Court and she participated in the Queensland Government Young Indigenous Leaders Forum. Emma is interested in issues involving youth justice, substance abuse, youth development, lack of opportunities for young indigenous people in regional and rural areas, and family violence, particularly in young offenders.