Indigenous Youth Leaders Program (Youth Leaders)
Leadership skills for year 10 and 11 students
What is Youth Leaders?
The Indigenous Youth Leaders Program is a week-long聽program held at UNSW's Kensington campus for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in聽year 10 or 11.
It offers them a聽unique opportunity to gain cultural leadership skills and experience life as a UNSW student!
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This program is for Indigenous students across Australia who鈥檒l be in years 10 or 11 in 2026.
If they鈥檙e looking for an experience that鈥檒l give them a taste of university life, want to explore the career paths they鈥檙e excited by, or want to build general leadership and life skills, this is the program for them!
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Program agenda
The following agenda is subject to change, but offers an idea of the activities students will participate in:
- Day one:聽Leadership workshop conducted on campus
- Day two: Engineering and Business workshops
- Day three: Arts, Design & Architecture and Science workshops
- Day four: Law & Justice and Medicine & Health workshops
- Day five:聽Day out on country, Indigenous languages workshop, Sydney Harbour cruise, and graduation dinner
Where will students be housed?
Students will stay on campus at UNSW Kensington for the entirety聽of this week-long program.
They will be housed in co-ed accommodation at聽, and be聽provided full meals for every day of their stay (we cater for all dietary requirements).
Will students be supervised?
Nura Gili and UNSW staff and student ambassadors will be supervising students during the program.
Expected behaviour
Students participating in this program are expected to treat their peers and Nura Gili/UNSW staff with respect, and participate in the program with curiosity.
Should a student not follow the rules of the program, act in a disrespectful, rude or violent manner, not participate in the program, or fail to listen to instructions or warnings, they will be removed from the program and sent home.
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Cultural leadership skills
Students will be instructed by community leaders and organisations, being taught skills and strategies to develop their own style of leadership and confidence.
Life as a UNSW student
Students will connect with UNSW's schools of Arts Design & Architecture, Business, Engineering, Law & Justice, Medicine & Health, and Science to complete engaging workshops.
These workshops will give them a taste of what it's like to study at UNSW, and provide a glimpse into the careers they may want to pursue.
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The program runs for one week聽and is held at .
Travel to Sydney to attend the program, and travel home after the program are not considered as being part of the program's duration.
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There are no costs聽associated with applying for or participating in this program.
Nura Gili and UNSW cover all costs for travel, accommodation and meals during the program.
Apply for Youth Leaders
Spaces for Youth Leaders are limited, and applications are considered on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please read the following information carefully, and follow all the instructions to ensure your application is valid.
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Complete a Youth Leaders application with the student, and attach all supporting documentation.
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We will review your application and get in touch if any further information is needed.
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If we accept your application, the student will be offered a place in our upcoming Youth Leaders program!
Accept the offer, and we'll yarn about getting the details sorted (e.g. travel arrangements, dietary requirements, etc.)
Got a question?
If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please get in touch.
Our friendly staff are here to help!
Frequently asked questions
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Any聽Indigenous students across Australia who鈥檒l be in years 10 or 11 in 2026 can apply.
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There are no costs聽associated with applying for or participating in this program.
Nura Gili and UNSW cover all costs for travel, accommodation and meals during the program.
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Due to the limited number of spaces, entry into this program cannot be guaranteed.
If your application is unsuccessful, we'll do our best to place the student into the next session or another similar program.
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If the student won't be in year 10 or 11 in 2026 they won't be able to attend this program. Please in the program, we'll yarn about what your options are.
If they will be in year 12 in 2026, we reccommend signing them up to our Indigenous Blak Hack program.
Get in touch with us your preferred way
If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, please聽contact us聽or subscribe to Nura Gili to stay up to date with the latest news, updates, engagements and events.
Acknowledgement of Country
UNSW is located on the unceded territory of the Bidjigal/Bedegal (Kensington campus), Gadigal (City and Paddington campuses) and Ngunnawal peoples (Canberra) who are the Traditional Custodians of the lands where each campus of UNSW is situated.
