Our Story

2016 - Suicide Prevention Roundtable

A suicide prevention roundtable was held in Broome in October 2016 with Federal Government representatives and Indigenous leaders to address the high suicide rates among young people in the Kimberley. Subsequently, the Kimberley region was included in the National Suicide Prevention Trial, with activities commencing in 2017. Minister Nigel Scullion committed $50,000 to support the facilitation and hosting of the first-ever forum on suicide prevention for Kimberley youth.

2017 - Youth Suicide Prevention Forum

The Kimberley Aboriginal Young Leaders Committee, under Aarnja, organised the Youth Suicide Prevention Forum held in May. This initiative was part of a broader effort to address the high rates of youth suicide among Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley region. Key recommendations from the forum, included:

• Increasing support for peer-to-peer role models

• Providing further support for emerging young leaders in the Kimberley

• Introducing a multi-faceted educational approach to reconnect with culture and build resilience

• Enhancing youth engagement through sports, arts, and cultural activities

2019 - EYL Forums and statement

Two Empowered Young Leaders Forums were held, one in Broome on March 28 and another in Kununurra on May 16. The forums were delivered through the Empowered Young Leaders (EYL) initiative, which evolved from the foundational work of the Kimberley Aboriginal Young Leaders Committee. The most significant outcome of the forums was the creation of the Collective Impact Statement, a powerful and unifying declaration that captured the shared vision, priorities, and commitment of young leaders to drive positive change and prevent youth suicide across the region.

2021 - Commitment with Investment

The Department of Communities responded to the 86 recommendations arising from the Message Stick report of the Inquiry into Aboriginal youth suicide in remote areas, as well as the EYL forums report, by committing $1.3 million over three years to support the development of a youth leadership network in the Kimberley. This commitment aimed to empower young Aboriginal leaders to contribute to decision-making processes affecting their communities. KAMS was funded to implement the Kimberley Empowered Youth Network (KEYN) activity and an EYL Design Committee was established.

2022 - EYL Gathering in Kupartiya

The EYL Design Committee requested that the implementation of the KEYN activity transition from KAMS to EC-West in 2022. Under the guidance of EC-West, EYL held the inaugural Kimberley Young Mob gathering in Kupartiya Community. The gathering was an opportunity for Kimberley Aboriginal young people to come together in their cultural blocs collectively to shape the future of EYL aligned to their priorities.

2023 - Legal incorporation process

The Empowered Young Leaders (EYL) initiative formally transitioned to an independent, Aboriginal-led organisation in September 2023. In early 2023, the EYL Design Committee shaped the legal incorporation process and organisational objectives for EYL. The incorporation was approved as a registered corporation with Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. The first AGM was held at Home Valley Station on Monday 4 September 2023 in collaboration with the Kimberley AGM’s. The Design Committee dissolved with the appointment of the EYL Board of Directors.

2024 - Strengthening Foundations and Expanding Reach

In its first full year as an incorporated organisation, Empowered Young Leaders Aboriginal Corporation (EYL) focused on building strong governance and expanding its regional presence. Key milestones included adopting a Board Charter and Rule Book, growing to 108 members, and hosting the West Kimberley Youth Forum. EYL delivered leadership training, engaged in regional partnerships through the DLG and KARB DG, and continued implementing the KEYN initiative with EC-West support. A Transition Lead was employed, funded through a one-off NIAA grant secured by EC-West, to co-design with EYL members and stakeholders a regional plan for Kimberley youth leadership and capacity building. Becoming a signatory to the Gambanan Statement reinforced EYL’s commitment to youth voice, cultural identity, and regional collaboration.

2025 - Transition and Growth

EYL is currently focused on strategic growth and transition to ensure sustainability and long-term impact. Emphasising self-determination and the principle “Nothing about us without us,” EYL continues to strengthen youth-led influence in regional planning through active participation in cross-sector co-design initiatives. Through collaboration with Jawun and all ten EC regions EYL is  part of developing a National Empowered Communities Youth Summit. EYL has expanded partnerships, diversified funding and formalised new place-based committees.  Key milestones will include establishing a sixth LYAC, launching a revised Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, and hosting an East Kimberley Youth Forum.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the past staff and young leaders who have previously contributed to the Empowered Young Leaders movement. We have come such a long way since the initial gathering in 2017.