EEAI case study: Ngala Community Services working with the Youth Network Group and Youth Advisory Committee
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Ngala’s youth engagement approach is driving positive outcomes and empowering young First Nations voices.
Overview
Remote First Nations communities can face complex challenges with school attendance and engagement, including language barriers, cultural differences, and long-term disengagement. Tailored, place-based approaches are essential to support access to and engagement with schooling.
Ngala Community Services delivers the Carnarvon Education Engagement Program (CEEP) at Carnarvon Community College to respond to these challenges. Funded by NIAA, the program provides targeted support to students and families to increase engagement in education. Ngala has been supporting families for over 130 years and brings strong values and evidence-informed services to enhance wellbeing and development.
Ngala’s CEEP team consists of local First Nation staff with strong community connections, trusted relationships, and cultural knowledge. They collaborate with Carnarvon Community College, families, and other key community stakeholders to design and deliver activities that best meet the needs of their community.
Youth Network Group and the Youth Advisory Committee
Ngala engages with First Nations youth via annual forums, monthly Youth Network Group (YNG) meetings, and Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) sessions. These platforms capture community voices, identify gaps, and co-design solutions for young people ensuring that activities reflect community priorities.
The CEEP team established the Youth Network Group YNG, bringing together local organisations that work with young people. The group now includes representatives from 16 organisations, including schools, WA Police, WA Department of Health, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and not-for-profit services. Meeting every six weeks, the YNG provides a forum to share information, identify emerging issues, strengthen partnerships, and support the delivery of youth activities. CEEP program updates are provided at each meeting, with stakeholder feedback helping to shape program delivery.
To ensure young people have a voice, CEEP also established the YAC for young people aged 12–18 years. The YAC meets monthly and provides updates to the YNG, ensuring youth perspectives inform decision-making. Members discuss issues affecting engagement, education, and attainment, while also leading and supporting local youth initiatives. Notable achievements include organising Youth Week 2025 events and supporting the Deadly Girls Fashion Parade in June 2025.
Participation in the YAC builds leadership, confidence, and a sense of pride and purpose among young people. Together, the YNG and YAC have strengthened collaboration between services, improved information sharing, and supported a more coordinated approach to working with families. Since the implementation of the EEAI, these initiatives have contributed to stronger community engagement and increased participation in education and related activities.
Education and engagement activities
CEEP’s core activities include home visits, playgroup support, program delivery and participation in community and school events.
The YNG and YAC have created a strong, community‑led approach to youth engagement in Carnarvon, uniting 16 organisations and empowering young people to shape decisions affecting their education and wellbeing.
Education and engagement activities include:
- The YNG strengthens collaboration through shared information, early issue identification, and coordinated partnerships that support effective program delivery.
- The YAC builds young people’s confidence and leadership by involving them in event organisation, peer representation, and decisions that influence local youth activities.
- Early Years Activities support families with children aged 0–6 by promoting early school attendance through playgroups, on-Country learning, and pre‑primary readiness programs. Via the early year’s activities, parents and carers are supported to become familiar with school routines and more engaged in their child’s early education. This was demonstrated by the students’ attendance at school and family's attendance at playgroups and activities.
- Mentor Groups engage young people aged 10–15 in weekly boys’ and girls’ sessions that build educational engagement, connection, and attainment for low‑attending or disengaged students.
Photos courtesy of Ngala Community Services. CEEP Team and local stakeholders participating in the Annual Community Forum.
Conclusion
Together, the YNG and YAC have enhanced service coordination, improved family support, and increased youth engagement in education and community life. With the support of Ngala and the CEEP to design and offer these activities and community-centred supports, student attendance, engagement, and wellbeing have improved for the First Nations students they work with.
The YNG has been providing holistic support to students, to help them develop skills and be actively engaged in education and educational activities. The YAC has been providing meaningful activities and developed students’ skills to support them to access more opportunities and career pathways.
Photo courtesy of Ngala Community Services. Young parents participating in the Parenting Support Program.
Boys Mentor Group activity – Johnny Garlett cultural and motivational workshops engage young people and community in Carnarvon with passion and pride encouraging leadership, cultural identity, healing and community connection.
Photos courtesy of Ngala Community Services. Students’ participating in the Johnny Garlett Cultural and Motivational Workshops.