Kalumburu Youth Programs: Keeping Kids Connected to Land

0:00It's April 1st. Welcome in. This is Sydney News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. In the remote Aboriginal community of Colomboro, way up north and western Australia, local youth programs are keeping kids connected to their land and out of trouble. The Colomboro Aboriginal Corporation runs boys groups on Thursday afternoons for crabbing and spearfishing trips, while girls meet on Wednesdays for any year. Swims and chats that spot like turtle gallery. These outings happen just minutes from their home of about 300 residents cut off by road in the wet season. These activities pull the young ones away from boredom back in town, where trouble often brews. Youth workers like Karen Mangolamara let the kids pick what they want, from hunting mud crabs and mangroves to kicking back with a movie. It's all about getting them on country, learning traditional ways with older teens like 16-year-old Gordon, passing down skills to the younger. Crew. The kids light up out

1:00there, saying it makes them feel good and happy, full of jokes and songs on the bumpy rides out. Workers notice the energy shift, boys rough and rowdy, girls more chill, but everyone bonds over nature. Meanwhile, coordinators like Kimberly Rose French point out how screens and daily stresses steal that connection these days. These programs tackle real issues head on from juvenile justice list to late-night break-ins born out of nothing better to do. By listening to the girl's stories and giving space from trauma, they're easing mental loads and cutting crime rates in the community. It's a simple fix, a few hours out, but it builds trust and keeps everyone safer. Word from the youth workers is clear, seeing that joy spread is contagious and makes them feel alive too. Programs like these prove small steps on country can change everything for isolated spots like Colomboo.