Koorie Youth Council partnership
Koorie Youth Council (KYC) Deputy CEO Leyla Quartermaine has known the power of the Aboriginal community since she was little. “I was raised by my grandmother, but also very much raised by the Victorian Aboriginal community,” says the proud Noongar woman. “I’m a pretty big example of it taking a village to raise a child.”
So it makes sense that she works for an organisation that has Aboriginal community and advocacy at its core. Gunditjmara woman and CEO Bonnie Dukakis says the Koorie Youth Council is “a policy and advocacy organisation that represents and advocates for the rights, voices and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Victoria.” Twenty years after the organisation began, it now has 10 staff, most of whom are young Aboriginal people.
One of KYC’s largest initiatives is an annual summit that brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from around the state to discuss advocacy issues they care about. Bonnie says it’s important to create spaces for youth voices that are not connected to systems, services or youth justice. “It creates the safety to talk about things openly and freely without repercussion or any consequences,” she says. KYC also supports Aboriginal organisations to deliver strength-based, place-based mentoring programs.
In 2025, KYC is partnering with YSAS to help improve engagement with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “It’s been a really genuine partnership right from the very beginning,” says Leyla. “There’s been a genuine commitment from YSAS to acknowledge our expertise.” Bonnie adds:
“We are keen to work with like-minded organisations that value the input of young people and their participation in spaces.”
The learning in the partnership goes both ways. “For us, it’s about understanding the work that YSAS does, and how we can promote the services through our networks,” Bonnie explains. “For YSAS, it’s about what they can learn from our work with young mob, and how we can provide advice on how that could work better.”
Leyla says it’s important for like-minded organisations to work together, rather than operating in silos. “Sharing resources and learning, at the end of the day, it’s going to benefit the young people who are accessing those services.”
Several KYC staff recently toured YSAS sites in Dandenong, Bunjilwarra and headspace Frankston. “We visited the Dandenong day program, and that was incredible,” Leyla says. “There is a high percentage of young mob in that area, so we can make sure they know about these spaces.”
Leyla is passionate about ensuring non-Aboriginal organisations like YSAS provide culturally safe services. “I think there’s a misconception that Aboriginal people have to stay within Aboriginal organisations, but everyone has a responsibility, including YSAS, to service young people that need support,” she says.
“It’s about making sure young people are safe and empowered, and that their cultural identity and strength is acknowledged and celebrated.”