Joseph Johnson

Joseph has been a volunteer for the Australian Red Cross, as a SHAK advisor for the last 3 years. Through his dedication and passion, Joseph has assisted in developing the Youth Recreation Centre which he regularly contributes to. Joseph is now qualified and runs camps as a peer support helper, assisting young people get through tough times and providing a positive outlook on life. Joseph has taken on the position as the new Create Foundation Coordinator as an ongoing consultant, assisting and advocating young people in care.

Leah Flanagan

Leah has become one of the most talented singer-songwriters in not only the Northern Territory’s music scene but also on a national level, making major contributions and bringing national awareness to the Northern Territory music scene. Leah’s achievements and performances are impressive they include the Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Dreaming Festival and the Adelaide Fringe festival. To top off the long list of performances, Leah was recognised last year as Emerging Artist of the Year, in the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards.

Desmond Abbott

Desmond currently on an Australian Institute of Sport Hockey scholarship in Perth, works full time whilst maintaining an extremely high calibre of achievements for his sport. Desmond’s achievements has seen him apart of the NT National Championships, the Australian Hockey League, and his biggest achievement to-date; selected in the Australian Men’s Hockey team – the Kookaburra’s. Desmond is currently hoping that he will be selected as a player in the Australian Men’s Hockey Team for the this years Olympics in Beijing.

Michelle Walker

Michelle as a Water Conservation Officer in Alice Springs initiated GreenPlumber Training, which provides awareness to plumbers on how to be more environmentally friendly when it comes to their workplaces. A more recent project, Michelle worked with Santa Teresa on water education for remote aboriginal communities. Her passion extends through her many projects to ensure that knowledge and awareness of the environment is captured all around the Territory.

AJ Kulatunga

AJ gave up a secure full time job to pursue his dream of running his own business. Taking a chance, AJ’s IT consulting firm has taken off with flying colours. AJ has secured many high profile contracts, and has been able to maintain those relationships through repeat business with his warmth and ability to provide security and leadership. Not only does he plan to take his business national, he also produces programs for youth businesses and is become a leading source of inspiration for all young entrepreneurs.

Rachel Meldrum

Rachel has been awarded both the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Award in science and the Menzies School of Health Research. Her honours project involved studying aspects of Fusarium wilt disease of bananas, which she was awarded with a traineeship, with the Department Primary Industry, and awarded a grant of $10,000 for further study of the disease. More recent studies are with the Northern Territory Fisheries investigating aggregating behaviour of the Black Jewfish. Rachel hopes to achieve sustainable fishing of the Jewfish to allow custodians and fishers to use stocks without over fishing.

Kelly Casement

Kelly is currently a governess at the Allambi Station in the middle of the Northern Territory, 100km from Alice Springs. Kelly cares for two young boys, who she assists in schooling through an Interactive Distance Learning program. Kelly has appeared on an ABC television show telling her story as a governess in the outback and her experiences. Kelly has also been invited to speak at Women’s days, children’s outback education, isolated parents association and organises the biggest outback tutors muster, to raise money for remote teachers.

Shyne Brenton

Shyne at the age of just 13, became her mother’s carer, taking on a load of responsibility, her school holidays were committed to being a full-time carer. Shyne ensures medication is taken, bills are paid, organises transport, along with cooking, cleaning, bathing, shopping and taking her mum to appointments. On top of all of this, she is committed to her hockey and was named the Young Carers representative for the Australian National Young Carers Action Team, to assist in issues relating to young carers.

Donald Young

Donald for 11 years has been involved with the YMCA Youth Parliament, first as a volunteer and now as a Youth Parliament Coordinator. Donald’s experience also extends as a board member of the YMCA and Department of Legislative Assembly for which he works over 15 hours a week on a volunteer basis. Through the YMCA program Donald ensures that the young people of the Northern Territory are portrayed through the media in a positive light, through educating the media on the fantastic and positive things young people are involved in.

AJ Kulatunga