Each year special guests and role models attend the Mungo Youth Project.
2016 Mentors & Celebrities:
Dean Kelly
Dean is an community services award winner for his work conducting cultural camps and passing down his intergenerational knowledge to indigenous youth Dean was a huge ‘hit’ at the 2014 conference and his integrity provides a powerful voice that celebrates indigenous culture and heritage
Corey ‘Nooky’ Webster
Corey is an inspiring and motivational indigenous hip hop artist.
Find more about Corey here…
http://www.moveitmobstyle.com.au/music/yung-nooky/
or check him out on Facebook…
https://www.facebook.com/NookyMusic
AIME – Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience
AIME provides mentoring and educational services for Indigenous students. They are sending out 3 of their staff to MYP to interact with kids, provide motivating activities and create a positive vibe.
Check out their website…
and on Facebook…
https://www.facebook.com/aimementoring?fref=ts
AIME: Jake Thomson – National Presenter
Hi, my name is Jake Thomson and I am a proud Wiradjuri Man. My family come from Cowra NSW but I was born and bred in Mt Druitt, Western Sydney.
Growing up I was fortunate enough to represent my state, country and people by travelling to the other side of the world to visit countries like Taiwan and the USA playing baseball and dancing.
Aside from sport, I love working with my people & putting my hand back into the community to work with young Indigenous kids. I have done work with Vibe Australia and was able to work with kids from the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek communities.
I truly believe that Indigenous equals success and I am looking forward to being a part of the movement that is going to change this nation for generations to come.
AIME: Amy Priestly – Research Director
I first participated in the AIME Program as a Mentor and found immense enjoyment in the experience. At the time I was completing my Honours in Education and based my research on the impact the AIME Program has on its volunteer Mentors. During my research and participation, I was able to experience firsthand just how powerful this Program is. I saw the passion, enthusiasm and drive of the AIME staff as well as the observable difference in the Mentees’ confidence and attitudes towards education. I also saw a flow-on effect to other university students as they developed cross-cultural understanding, something I believe to be crucially important for this generation.
Being an educator, I highly value the power of education and the importance of equality in educational opportunities. I want to see Indigenous kids aspire to whatever they want to be and am excited to be part of a team that helps lead and inspire Indigenous kids to become Australia’s future leaders.
AIME: Ash Paxton – National Presenter
The name is Ash. I am a Casual National Presenter and Program Managers Assistant from AIME. I am from an Aboriginal background with my family descending from the Waywurru tribe in Wangaratta, Victoria. I am currently in my third year of an Arts/Business degree at Monash University with majors in Psychology and Management. Watch out guys, something interesting about me is that I practice martial arts (Karate, to be precise).
While I didn’t grow up in community, I am very connected and passionate about my Aboriginal heritage. I love engaging with youth, like yourself, as you all have so much to offer and are constantly inspiring me to be a better me. I am so excited for this opportunity as it allows me to spend time with you all, to listen to your stories, to learn from you (and with you) and to connect to Indigenous culture together. Hope you guys are ready to step and travel on this incredible adventure with me.
Jimmy Little Foundation
JLF is all about creating and nurturing positive health outcomes and will be working with the students to write and produce a song, which will be performed at the MYP finale.
Check out their website…http://www.jlf.org.au
Dean Kelly: Cultural Officer NSW National Parks
Dean is coming to MYP to share his knowledge and skills of traditional spear making and work with the students to learn this traditional Aboriginal skill. Dean also has a great range of Indigenous games to share
SPECIAL GUESTS
- Willandra Lake Region World Heritage Area: Traditional Tribal Group Elders and Owners.
- Patrons: Auntie Lottie Williams, Prof. Jim Bowler AOM
- AWHIN representatives – Uncle Roy Kennedy and Marie Mitchell
- Hank Horton – Chair of AWHIN
- Angela Bates & Malarndirri McCarthy NiTV*
- Rudolph Kirby – Barrister
- Mark Dugay Grist – Archaeologist
- NSW Distance Education (will broadcast live and interactive into Australian & International Schools)
- ABC Open Mildura and Broken Hill
- Victorian Department of Justice
*To be confirmed
PREVIOUS CONFERENCES:
Ian Thorpe (former Olympic Swimming Champion)
Little G (Hip-Hop Performer)
Stephen ‘Baamba’ Albert (star of Australian film Bran Nue Dae)
Rudolph Kirby (originally from Dareton, Solicitor and now CEO of Mallee District Aboriginal Services)
Angela Bates (originally from Broken Hill, now the Executive Producer, NITV News at National Indigenous Television)
Patrick Johnson (Olympic Sprinter)
Hon. Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW
Adam James (singer, with Jimmy Little Foundation)