Kokoda – A Journey in Self Discovery
One of the young people who participated in the Kokoda Leadership Development Program was originally from the Northern Goldfields. At a young age they were placed in the care of the Department of Child Protection along with a younger sibling. Over the years, they moved between several homes before being adopted by a family in Kalgoorlie when they were ten.
Growing up, they experienced difficulties at school due to their struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which affected their reading, writing, and ability to engage with opportunities that required them to complete paperwork.
The Turning Point
In 2023, the Y WA launched the Kokoda Leadership Development Program, an exciting opportunity for young people across the state, culminating in the ultimate challenge of trekking the Kokoda Track. Inspired by this unique opportunity, this young person who is now 16 years decided to step out of their comfort zone and apply with support from Y Kalgoorlie staff.
During the first few weeks of the program the Y staff rallied around them and were present to walk them through each step of their journey. By the second camp, this young person’s confidence and engagement with both staff and fellow participants had significantly increased.
Their first international flight to PNG was a mix of nerves and excitement, but as they embarked on the trek, it quickly transformed into the adventure of a lifetime. Reflecting on their journey, they remarked, “the program builds your confidence that you can accomplish something big even if it seems impossible; you just never give up easily.”
Post-Program Impact
Since completing the program and returning to Kalgoorlie, this young person is flourishing in many areas of their life, they are now:
- Captain of the volleyball team
- Youth leader and mentor in their church group
- Dedicated volunteer at the Y Kalgoorlie during school holidays, supporting Youth Outreach Programs for disengaged youth
- Aspiring youth worker, aiming to make a positive impact on local young people
In addition to this, their school attendance and engagement have significantly improved, putting them on track to graduate Year 12. The program has also enhanced their communication skills, enabling them to speak confidently about their Kokoda experience. Ultimately, they credit the program with giving them an invaluable gift: the ability to believe in their own dream, that a kid from Kalgoorlie can do it all.
Looking Forward
In the months following the program, our Kokoda Leadership Development graduate expressed a strong desire for other young people to benefit from this lifechanging opportunity. When the Y WA announced that the program would run again in 2024, they played a crucial role in recruiting participants. They are excited to return as a volunteer youth mentor, continuing their commitment to supporting and guiding the next generation.
Here’ our favourite quote from one of their interviews this year.
“I have come back a better person for myself, my family, and my community”.
Watch the Journey of Self Discovery
Measuring impact of the Kokoda Leadership Development Program
The journey of growth that we shared was just one example from the 2023 Kokoda Leadership cohort. Every young person involved embarked on their own unique path of transformation. To capture the program’s overall impact, we turn to the 5Cs Positive Youth Development (PYD) model, which provides a clear framework for understanding how participants grew.
At the start, during the first camp, participants completed baseline surveys after arriving from across the state to meet each other for the first time. The cohort’s initial 5C score was a modest 65.1, indicating that many perceived limited strengths in themselves and their environment. However, after tackling the Kokoda Trek together, their average score increased by 9 points, reaching 74.1. This growth suggests that the young people not only saw improvements in personal attributes but also found enhanced support systems around them, all facilitated by the Kokoda Leadership Development Program.
The most significant increases were seen in three key areas: Caring, Competence, and Confidence. These improvements tell a powerful story. The Competence subscale measures physical, social, and academic self-efficacy, indicating that participants grew in their belief in their abilities across various domains. The Confidence subscale reflects gains in self-worth and a stronger sense of positive identity. Meanwhile, the Caring subscale showed an increased capacity for empathy and pro-social values, demonstrating that the program fostered not only self-improvement but also a greater care for others.
It’s outcomes like these that empower young people to continue making positive contributions to their own lives and the communities they are part of. The Kokoda Leadership Development Program is truly helping to shape a generation of young leaders who are confident, competent, and compassionate.
Youth Driving Change in Parliament
Now in its 28th year, 59 young people aged between 15-25 represented every electorate in the state, split into eight committees, each representing policy areas based around their interests. The eight committees for 2023 were Environment and Climate Action, Science and Innovation, Multicultural and Aboriginal Interests, Women’s Interests, Health and Mental Health, Child Protection, Electoral Affairs and Police and Justice.
The political leaders of our future gathered in July 2023 in Parliament to present and debate bills on various issues from gaps in women’s health services addressing areas such as sexual assault and sexual health, to the establishment of new waste management systems and calling for improvements to healthcare services for Aboriginal Australians living in rural WA.
The Y Youth Parliament is a six-month leadership program empowering youth to participate in our democratic processes and offering experience in public speaking and writing legislation, based around issues they feel are most important to our state.
Each committee researched their portfolio area and have worked together to draft a bill that tackles important issues within the policy area. 19-year-old Jovan Fidanovski, the Youth Premier and Member for Balcatta, is on The Health and Mental Health Committee, drafted a bill to address issues around WA ambulance services.
The Bill is for an Act to; establish a state-run WA Ambulance Service to provide the people of WA with a free and accessible medical emergency service that ensures consistent standards, practices, and training across all regions of Western Australia, committed to saving lives, promoting health, and enhancing the well-being of the community.
Jovan said, “People often say youth are the leaders of tomorrow, but I disagree, we are leaders now. Youth Parliament allows us to do what real members do and empowers us to stand up and speak our minds, having our voices heard.
“Earlier in the year I had a big health scare and when I needed a ride in an ambulance for lifesaving care, I was hit with a bill for around $1,500. Luckily, I had private health, but WA is the only state in Australia that doesn’t have a state-run ambulance service. That’s why we’re putting this bill forward to provide free and accessible medical emergency care to every West Australian.”
The Youth Parliament debates are overseen by real Members of Parliament including influential West Australian political figures such as the Hon. Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Youth and Hon. Michelle Roberts MLA, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. At the conclusion of the program all bills are presented to the State Government, and Governor.
As in all youth services, an approach to impact measurement underscored by human flourishing outcomes was used to evaluate Youth Parliament. The post-program 5Cs score captured was the highest across all youth services, reflecting that the cohort of young people engaged in Youth Parliament had significant strengths in how they viewed themselves and the support available to them. Young people agreed that participating in Youth Parliament supported them to develop a great sense of belonging, improved their knowledge of West Australian legislative processes, and enhance their leadership and teamwork skills- all outcomes that contribute to young people being able to have a voice.
Inside Our Minds – Celebrating 5 years of Mental Health Awareness
On Monday 9 October 2023, as part of Mental Health Week (7-14 October 2023), the Y WA celebrated the launch of the fifth annual Inside Our Minds award-winning short film series, an instrumental initiative raising awareness about mental health and the struggles of our youth.
Being a milestone year (5 years) the 2023 video series, which is supported by Mineral Resources (MinRes), re-engaged with participants from previous years, sharing their mental health journeys, progress, challenges, and opinions since they last bravely opened up.
This year, six participants, as well as the campaign founder, Martin Johnson a former Y WA employee and Change Agent, returned to share their emotional and raw journeys since having the courage to speak up in the well-received mini-series.
Martin Johnson, who now works for MinRes remains an integral volunteer working on the project. Reflecting on why he started the video series five years ago Martin said, “I wanted to help young people with their mental health issues since in my early 20’s I struggled quite hard to open up about challenges with my own mental health.
“I wanted people to understand that physical health is just like mental health regarding how you manage. I want these inspiring videos to draw attention to the different types of medications and variety of support systems available. Looking out for other people is important.”
MinRes has partnered with the Y WA to support the video series since 2021. In addition to financial support, MinRes provides a media studio and a technician at its headquarters to film the series.
Sarah Braves the Shave for Blood Cancer
An inspiring young person from the Y School in Mirrabooka rocked a bald head having raised over $1,800 as part of this year’s World’s Greatest Shave.
Sarah braved the shave in front of a group of proud classmates, teachers, and family.
Sarah’s bravery goes far beyond just her shaved head. Like our ethos at the Y School, this experience has taught Sarah valuable lessons in empathy, empowerment, and community spirit, contributing to her personal growth and ability to become a flourishing young person.
Moreover, her efforts provide critical support for families affected by blood cancer, ensuring access to care, information, and a supportive environment during treatment.
With her newly shaved head, Sarah served as a poignant reminder that we are all capable of making an impact and building a brighter future for all.
New Collaboration to Amplify Youth Voices
Amplifying youth voices is second nature to our Youth Advocate Maeson Harvey. Recently, Maeson collaborated with Jodie from Project See and B to launch an exciting competition during Youth Week.
The objective was clear: to provide a platform for young creatives aged 16 to 26 in Western Australia to showcase their talents and have their voices heard and celebrated at Propel Youth Arts WA’s 2024 KickstART Festival.
Participants were challenged to submit an original creative work, be it written or visual, which explored themes such as the creative process, industry experiences, the impact of identity on artistry, and the hurdles encountered along their artistic journeys.
After a thorough review by Jodie and WhyNot representatives, twelve standout contributors were selected to have their work presented at a gallery exhibition and live reading event on Thursday, 11 April at the Y HQ Gallery Space.
Their amazing submissions were also published in a print publication and promoted across WhyNot, Propel Arts WA, and Project See & B socials. To top it off, they were also awarded $300 for their fully blown submission.
Newman Keeps the Fire Burning at NAIDOC Youth Ball
Now in its fourth year, the event was founded by Nicole Bonney, a former Y WA staff member, to offer a vibrant and safe space for young people to honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s ball, held in June, was a hit, with 40 local young people attending and embodying the 2024 NAIDOC theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’. The theme was also highlighted through gowns donated by Kirrikin and decorations, including 30 fire-themed table centerpieces created by students from the Stars Foundation.
Lee-Anne Ugle, Coordinator of our Newman-based Education, Engagement and Attainment Initiative, emphasised the event’s focus on inspirational youth speakers.
“This year we heard from Nita who shared her journey from last year’s inaugural Y WA Kokoda Leadership and Development Program and Neveah, who is currently one of the 2023/2024 Department of Education WA Student Council Representatives for Newman,” Ms Ugle said.
Young people also danced to tunes from local Newman DJ Viv, enjoyed a buffet catered by Miss Jane, and captured memories in the photo and video booth.
Thank you to our dedicated Newman team and sponsors for making this memorable event possible and providing opportunities for youth in our remote communities
Paint My Precinct
During Youth Week 2024, The Base @ Belmont teamed up with local artist Jinan Dodd to bring a vibrant mural to life at the Love Street Precinct. This mural was the highlight of “Paint My Precinct,” a series of creative workshops held at The Base during Term One. The workshops aimed to teach young people the technical skills of working with spray paint, leading up to their chance to contribute to a large-scale community artwork and help transform a public space.
Under Jinan’s expert guidance, participants practiced using different blade shapes, sizes, and colours to add depth and dimension to the mural. The experience was more than just an artistic endeavour—it became a therapeutic outlet for many of the young people involved. They shared how painting helped them relax, cope with stress, and positively impacted their mental health. Many expressed a strong desire to participate in more art activities in the future.
The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with locals praising the mural for adding vibrancy to the Love Street Precinct. Many have said that they now look forward to seeing the colourful artwork every day, making it a cherished part of their neighbourhood.
Fab Fair Day – a celebration of Youth and Community Spirit
The Base @ Belmont kicked off Youth Week 2024 with its highly anticipated annual event, Fabulous Fair Day, on Saturday, April 6, at the Belmont Skate Park. The day was a huge success, drawing in around 350-400 young people, families, and community members for an afternoon of fun and connection.
This vibrant community event was planned with the support of our Youth Voice Collective, Project-Y, whose members met regularly in the weeks leading up to ensure it was engaging and enjoyable for everyone. The event featured live performances by up-and-coming local bands and artists, creating an energetic atmosphere while Freestyle Now facilitators provided coaching in the skate park. The popular Games Vault bus also added excitement as young people competed in video game challenges, and the City of Belmont’s Safety Watch team promoted their free bike and scooter lock campaign to keep local riders safe.
In addition to the entertainment, organisations like Youth Focus, Tedx Kings Park, Headspace Cannington, and The Y WA were on hand to provide valuable information about services for young people. They also kept attendees engaged with fun activities, including friendship bracelet making, colouring-in, optical illusions, and a collaborative community mural painting.
Fabulous Fair Day was a true celebration of youth and community spirit, bringing people together for a day of creativity, learning, and fun!
