First Nations Youth Advisory Group

Aston is a proud descendent of the Wiradjuri/Ngemba people and lives and learns on Ngunnawal Country. He was a member of our 2025 First Nations Youth Advisory.

Aston has represented as an Indigenous Leader at his school and has participated in many programs including the National Indigenous Business Summer School (2022, 2023 and 2024), the Victorian Indigenous Engineering Winter School 2023, the Telstra Foundation Youth Advisory Council and the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leaders Program. In 2025 Aston moved to Canberra to pursue a career in government through the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program.

By participating in these programs, Aston is working towards his goal improving the lives of others through learning what is to be a leader, how to lead, building connections to make change and the will to be the start of that change. As a member of the Advisory Group, Aston hopes to achieve new connections with his peers and work together towards solutions to problems, no matter what they are, to uplift both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities of Australia.

Aurielle is a proud descendant of the Kamilaroi people of Northwest New South Wales and lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She was a member of the 2023 Youth Advisory Board for the Australian Theatre for Young People, a member of the Aboriginal Affairs committee of the 2023 Y NSW Youth Parliament a member of the Northern Beaches Council Live and Local working group to improve outcomes for live music and also sits on the Y NSW First Nations reference group. She was the 2024 recipient of the Nangai Mai awards for outstanding commitment to Performing Arts for NSW.

Aurielle has been an active member in the community as a surf lifesaver volunteer at Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club and she is the school Prefect leader for Inclusion and Diversity. Having consulted on several projects already Aurielle has a clear vision for improving the career pathways for young performing artists, especially First Nations artists and artists with Disability.

Bianca is a proud Palawa woman who lives on Palawa Country in Lutruwita/Tasmania. Bianca is currently studying to be an Aboriginal Health Worker and is passionate about advocating for young Mob across our beautiful nation.

Bianca strives to uplift quieter voices, ensuring that ideas and perspectives that may otherwise go unheard are valued and respected. She is deeply committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the strongest possible start to life, with their health, wellbeing and cultural needs supported. Bianca believes that meeting these needs early creates strong foundations for lifelong success.

Charlize is a proud Arrernte woman who lives, works and studies on Kaurna and Peramangk country in Adelaide. She recently started studying a Bachelor of Social Work at Adelaide University, to learn more about advocacy as a professional career. Her lived experience motivates her to advocate not only for herself, but for her community as well.

Charlize is eager to meet other passionate youth who can truly create change that matters. She sees the First Nations Advisory Group is an opportunity to promote cultural safety through projects and policies with peers. She is extremely passionate about First Nations rights, supports and opportunities, which has led her to engage with and use every opportunity to advocate.

Through the First Nations Youth Advisory Group, Charlize hopes to gain new skills, adequately represent other First Nations youth who have experienced similar things to her, and use this platform to make a real impact.

Jaharn is a proud Ngunnawal/Yuin/Ngarigo/Gunaikurnai man born and raised in Canberra with family connection reaching Wreck Bay. He is particularly passionate about Suicide Prevention and helping ALL youth within the out-of-home Care System.   
He currently works with Indigenous Allied Health Australia, having recently completed a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance and is currently working towards a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Community Service.

In 2025, Jaharn was named ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year. Through his work with the First Nations Youth Advisory Group, he aims to ensure young people are able to find the right connections, and, more importantly, finding support when it comes to Culture, Education, Physical/Emotional/Social/Mental Health and to most importantly Have A Voice.

Jindara is a proud Gunditjmara Aboriginal woman from Warrnambool, Victoria, on Eastern Maar Country. Jindara is passionate about learning more about her culture and supporting young people to feel strong in who they are.

Through her role on the advisory group, she hopes to create a space where young people feel safe and confident to step up and share their voices, no matter who they are speaking to. Jindara wants to make sure that Aboriginal voices are heard, while also making space for non-Indigenous young people so everyone feels included and respected.

Kelsee is a proud Whadjuk Ballardong Noongar yorga (woman) with connections to Wilman and Yued Country through her Father and a Barkandjii Ngiyampaa woman through her Mother. She lives in beautiful Boorloo (Perth) and works within the City of Melville as a First Nations Community Development Officer.

Kelsee’s journey exemplifies a dedication to personal growth and community impact. Through her completion of the Emerging Leaders program through Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership institute (WAALI), her role as Miss NAIDOC Perth 2024, and her recent graduation from the Yorga Djenna Bidi program (also through WAALI), Kelsee has cultivated a strong sense of identity and purpose.

These transformative experiences have fuelled her passion for uplifting First Nations communities, with a focus on ensuring that youth voices are heard and valued. Her commitment reflects a vision to create meaningful opportunities that celebrate and empower First Nations perspectives, fostering a future of inclusivity and representation.

Matilda is a proud Muruwari and Ngemba woman, who has grown up on Kaurna Country. She is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Arts at Flinders University with a focus on Critical Indigenous Studies and Politics, while also balancing working as a Student Ambassador. She also has aspirations of a PhD in Critical Indigenous Studies. She is passionate about fostering meaningful change through education, advocacy, and youth engagement, and is driven by a deep commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices and advancing equitable solutions.

Beyond her studies, she actively contributes to Indigenous youth advisory and advocacy efforts, collaborating with both government and private organisations to drive impactful initiatives. 

Zak was born in Newcastle and raised in Sydney. A proud descendant of Aboriginal Gamilaroi peoples, he was appointed to the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of New South Wales at 17, with focuses on Out of Home Care (OOHC), public education, youth crime and the rights of Indigenous youth. In 2024 he fronted the NSW Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to make the case for lowering the voting age.

He has since been elected the Social Officer of the ANU’s Indigenous Department and is in his second year of studying International Relations and Economics.

Zara is a Kungarakan and Gurindji woman from the Northern Territory, who currently attends boarding school in Canberra. As part of the First Nations Youth Advisory Group, she aims to represent the nuances of issues faced by Indigenous peoples across Australia, as well as grow and learn from others in the group.