Young First Nations’ Queenslanders are urged to put their hand up for this year’s Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP) with applications now open.
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Youth Affairs Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the QIYLP is a great opportunity for young First Nations people to learn new leadership skills that could be used to effect change in their communities.
“The program will see many young people in one place working together to strengthen their skills as our community leaders of the future,” Minister Scanlon said.
“This is an opportunity to gain leadership, professional and self-development skills that will not only help them in their career pathways but also within themselves.
“I highly recommend all young First Nations Queenslanders aged 18 to 25, who haven’t attended this program already, to apply this year — it will be life changing.”
QIYLP is the flagship component of the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Strategy (QIYLS). The program provides an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, 18–25 years of age, to come together to strengthen their leadership skills and build their capacity to drive change in local communities.
This highly impactful program is now entering its 17th year. More than 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have participated in this flagship leadership program since it began in 2004 and many past participants have returned in subsequent years as mentors, lead mentors, and program facilitators.
Download the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program Fact Sheet for 2021 (PDF) | _ (DOCX) for more information.
QIYLP provides participants with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills along with self-development skills, ensuring they have the essential tools to develop and lead their own community projects and help drive improved outcomes in their communities. As a leadership and skills development program, the program provides:
- Intensive leadership workshops — facilitated by Indigenous community leaders and content experts.
- Mentoring and networking opportunities — participants can network with high-profile politicians, respected elders and community leaders from Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and representatives of the Queensland Government.
- Guidance on how to write a Community Project Proposal.
- Career development opportunities — providing participants with links to employment opportunities, alumni development program, and access to ongoing mentoring and training.
The residential leadership program is delivered in partnership with Queensland Parliamentary Services and with sponsorship from mining company Glencore Coal Assets Australia.
“The program brings together up to 40 young people from rural, remote and metro areas across the state to participate in a six-day residential program in Brisbane,” she said.
“Since 2004, more than 600 young people have participated in QIYLP, with many of them returning each year as mentors, lead mentors and facilitators.
“There’s a range of experiences available to participants including leadership and professional development workshops as well as parliamentary workshops.
“Importantly, everyone involved gets a chance to learn or refresh their knowledge across a range of topics from how to write a resume through to building new public speaking skills.”
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said leadership development is critical to ensuring a voice for First Nations Peoples.
“Only this week, we had students from the Murri School here in Brisbane visit Parliament House, who I had the pleasure of meeting,” Mr Crawford said.
“Some of those students come from a long and strong legacy of Indigenous leadership – the likes of the late Eddie Koiki Mabo, Lionel Fogarty, and Mayor Philemon Mosby,” he said.
“It is programs like this that support emerging leaders to develop their skills and provide pathways into leadership roles in the future.”
Glencore Coal Asset Australia’s Community Relations Manager, Craig Strudwick, said the company was proud to invest in such a powerful program for young people.
“We’ve sponsored QIYLP for well over a decade now and every year we are impressed by the talented young people participating in the program,” he said.
The program will take place in Brisbane from June 26 to July 1, 2021.
Applications are now open and will close on April 25, 2021.
For more information visit http://www.qld.gov.au/qiylp
