2016
Brianne Yarran was announced as the recipient of the 2016 Commissioner for Children and Young People Participate Award.
Brianne is a Year 12 Aboriginal student at Hampton Senior High School, and is a part of the Follow The Dream: Partnerships for Success program. She has demonstrated incredible passion, strength and influence as an outstanding role model for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and continues to smash negative stereotypes surrounding Aboriginal young people.
In this – her Year 12 year alone – Brianne has delivered the keynote speech at Perth’s National Apology Anniversary Event, presented to 2000 school students, teachers, Elders and community members at Perth’s National Sorry Day Event, received a scholarship to attend WA United Nations Youth Summit 2016 and was selected to attend Murrup Barak Experience and Leadership Camp at Melbourne University in July 2016.
She has also been invited to be involved in a documentary produced by Screenwest and NITV, focused on her family, courage and achievements. Two words can be used to sum Brianne up, the English word Fearless and the Noongar word Koort, which means ‘Heart, or two Hearts together’.
You can read more about Brianne in this Echo News article.
Finalists
Anneka Bodt
At only 15 years old, Anneka is already an active participant in her community. She is an advocate for the Melville Wheelchair Basketball Program, which caters for teenagers with and without disabilities from 10 to 18 years of age. Anneka acts as a stand-in-coach for this program, organised and coached a Wheelchair Basketball Day at Melville Senior High School in 2015, and is involved in fundraising for Wheelchair Sports WA.
Anneka also represents Western Australia in the sport, playing with the WA Junior Black Ducks for two years, and recently winning gold with the WA Women’s Western Stars.
She is also a cadet, a talented musician and a school council leader.
You can read more about Anneka in this Melville Times article.
Joanna-Louise Alexandre
Joanna can best be described as an all-star. In her final year of high school, she is a dedicated poet, debater, performer, mentor and volunteer. As a member of the student council, she works with younger year groups to address issues within the school, including ensuring equality for LGBTI members of the school community.
Outside of school, Joanna plays, umpires, coaches and volunteers at her netball club, has taken part in charity events supporting children’s cancer research, and also participates in the Perth Poetry Club.
Joanna strives for a balance between achievement and giving something back, and always keeps a firm focus on improving her community.
Dodi Tuando
At just 13, Dodi is committed to building an inclusive Port Hedland community by supporting children and young people with a disability to participate in Taekwondo.
He volunteers up to six hours per week to support and facilitate training at the Hedland Taekwondo Club, enthusiastically teaching up to 100 members of all ages, and providing vital support for members with a disability, often providing one-on-one training on a volunteer basis.
In 2016, Dodi qualified as a black belt, and participated at the Western Australia State Championships, winning the gold medal for poomsae (technical skills) and a silver medal in sparring.
