Indigenous Youth Leaders Program

This program is for Indigenous students across Australia who’ll be in years 10 or 11 in 2026.

If they’re looking for an experience that’ll give them a taste of university life, want to explore the career paths they’re excited by, or want to build general leadership and life skills, this is the program for them!

Program agenda

The following agenda is subject to change, but offers an idea of the activities students will participate in:

• Day one: Leadership workshop conducted on campus
• Day two: Engineering and Business workshops
• Day three: Arts, Design & Architecture and Science workshops
• Day four: Law & Justice and Medicine & Health workshops
• Day five: Day out on country, Indigenous languages workshop, Sydney Harbour cruise, and graduation dinner

Where will students be housed?

Students will stay on campus at UNSW Kensington for the entirety of this week-long program.

They will be housed in co-ed accommodation at New College, opens in a new window, and be provided full meals for every day of their stay (we cater for all dietary requirements).

Will students be supervised?

Nura Gili and UNSW staff and student ambassadors will be supervising students during the program.

Expected behaviour

Students participating in this program are expected to treat their peers and Nura Gili/UNSW staff with respect, and participate in the program with curiosity.

Should a student not follow the rules of the program, act in a disrespectful, rude or violent manner, not participate in the program, or fail to listen to instructions or warnings, they will be removed from the program and sent home.

Cultural leadership skills

Students will be instructed by community leaders and organisations, being taught skills and strategies to develop their own style of leadership and confidence.

Life as a UNSW student

Students will connect with UNSW's schools of Arts Design & Architecture, opens in a new window, Business, opens in a new window, Engineering, opens in a new window, Law & Justice, opens in a new window, Medicine & Health, opens in a new window, and Science, opens in a new window to complete engaging workshops.

These workshops will give them a taste of what it's like to study at UNSW, and provide a glimpse into the careers they may want to pursue.

The program runs for one week and is held at UNSW's Kensington campus, opens in a new window.

Travel to Sydney to attend the program, and travel home after the program are not considered as being part of the program's duration.

There are no costs associated with applying for or participating in this program.

Nura Gili and UNSW cover all costs for travel, accommodation and meals during the program.

Any Indigenous students across Australia who’ll be in years 10 or 11 in 2026 can apply.

There are no costs associated with applying for or participating in this program.

Nura Gili and UNSW cover all costs for travel, accommodation and meals during the program.

Due to the limited number of spaces, entry into this program cannot be guaranteed.

If your application is unsuccessful, we'll do our best to place the student into the next session or another similar program.

If the student won't be in year 10 or 11 in 2026 they won't be able to attend this program. Please express your interest, opens in a new window in the program, we'll yarn about what your options are.

If they will be in year 12 in 2026, we reccommend signing them up to our Indigenous Blak Hack program, opens in a new window.