Youth, Sport & Recreation

    Empowering youth through the YSR Program

    The Youth, Sport and Recreation program is facilitated in the 9 communities and focuses on helping young people after school hours, providing early intervention, diversion, and engaging activities, especially for those at risk. We run programs 5 days a week at each location, with at least 3 nights per week after 6 pm. Even during school holidays, our programs remain active.


    The YSR program is run by local teams who live and work in the communities they serve. Many team members are from Yolngu or Anindilyakwa backgrounds. In most locations, these teams also manage youth spaces, such as drop-in centers, recreational halls, and various community-based sports facilities, including indoor and outdoor courts, as well as sports ovals.


    Currently, the YSR program is funded by 6 major grants, which support various aspects of our work. These grants cover community engagement and recreation, youth diversion case management, culturally centered camps and bush trips, and targeted early intervention and case management in most locations.

    Services, funding and grants

    The Youth, Sport, and Recreation Program are funded through six active funding agreements that support various activities and initiatives across different communities:

    • Youth Sport & Recreation / Safety & Wellbeing - Niaa (All Communities)

      • Provides structured and safe activities and events that promote community engagement and well-being.
      • Focuses on connecting people to their body, mind, community, and culture.
      • Creates employment opportunities and builds capacity within the community.
      • Offers activities during after-hours and school holidays to keep the community engaged.

    • Remote Sports Program - Ntg (All Communities)

      • Supports community employment and capacity building efforts.
      • Organises regular sports opportunities and community engagement events.
      • Facilitates regional sporting events and opportunities for participants.

    • Youth Diversion - Ntg (All Yolngu Communities)

      • Manages youth diversion for young people aged 12 - 17 referred by NT Police.
      • Focuses on early intervention activities for youth at risk of getting involved in the justice system.

    • Children And Families Intensive Support - Department Of Social Services (Gapuwiyak Based)

      • Provides trauma-informed support to children and families in Gapuwiyak.
      • Offers targeted case management for at-risk children.
      • Implements trauma-informed practices within the broader YSR program.

    • Youth Alcohol And Other Drugs - Ntg (All Communities, Coordinators Based In Galiwin’ku & Milingimbi)

      • Connects at-risk young people to community-based support options.
      • Supports youth experiencing low to moderate vulnerabilities, including VSA (Vulnerable and Susceptible Adolescents).
      • Facilitates targeted early intervention activities to address substance-related issues.

    • Cultural Camps - Aba/Niaa (All Yolngu Communities)

      • Organizes bush trips, camps, and other culturally centered opportunities for young people in collaboration with the community.
      • Aims to strengthen cultural connections and promote meaningful experiences for participants.

    YSR Program objectives


    The YSR service has clear program objectives that guide and shape activities in each community. These objectives are developed from the domains of social and emotional wellbeing, following the national strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from 2017 to 2023. Our program objectives are also closely aligned with our major funding agreements and local authority groups in each service location.


    Connection to body: We offer activities that help participants feel physically strong and healthy, focusing on nutrition, diet, exercise, and overall physical wellbeing.


    Connection to mind and emotions: Our activities support participants in maintaining healthy minds, stimulating thinking and learning, strengthening family and kinship ties, promoting mental health, and facilitating healing through social engagement.


    Connection to family/Kinship and Community: We support participants in developing a sense of belonging and identity within their family and community. Our activities promote collaboration with the community and stakeholders, self-determination, community engagement, and the development of a community identity.


    Connection to culture, country and spirituality: We value and support participants' connection to their heritage and culture. Our activities aim to retain cultural knowledge, promote cultural practices, foster a connection to their country, and encourage caring for the land.


    To ensure the effectiveness of our efforts, we accurately collect and report data on each objective and the corresponding activities. This information is shared with the community, relevant stakeholders, and our funding partners.



    Data Collection


    The Youth, Sport, and Recreation team uses a custom-built online data collection tool to report on our daily service delivery. This tool helps us gather important information about our program objectives, activities, staffing, and community engagement, including data about different groups in the community.


    With this data collection, we can get a clear understanding of what we do, when we do it, and who benefits from our service. It also allows us to identify challenges and strengths in our program effectively.


    We take pride in being leaders in this area, using accurate data to report back to our Local Authorities and program participants. This way, they can stay informed about the services we provide in their communities. It helps us improve and make a positive impact where it matters most.


    YSR Staffing


    The YSR service is built on key strengths-based positions that focus on various important areas. These positions include:


    Youth Vulnerabilities Support: We are dedicated to supporting vulnerable youth in our community.


    Structured Sport & Recreation: We offer organised and engaging sport and recreation activities.


    Youth Diversion and Case Management: We work with young people to divert them from negative paths and provide case management support.


    Trauma Informed Care: Our approach takes into account the impact of trauma on individuals and guides our care and support.


    In addition, YSR is committed to community-based Indigenous employment and capacity building. We prioritize hiring Indigenous individuals for most of our positions. This is part of our ongoing commitment to community-led service delivery and decision-making.


    All our staff undergo continuous training to enhance their skills in community services, brief intervention and support, restorative practice, and cultural competency. We also provide additional training opportunities as needed to ensure we remain responsive to the needs of our community.

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