An Aboriginal high school student who has overcome multiple challenges to speak out at a national level against prejudice has been named WA Young Person of the Year.
At the 2014 WA Youth Awards last night, Youth Minister Tony Simpson said 17-year-old James Clarke was an inspirational young man who had shown outstanding courage.
A Lockridge Senior High School student, James faced huge challenges when coming out as homosexual in year 10. Since then, he has made a stand to educate his classmates, teachers and the wider community about the need to eliminate prejudice in schools.
He has participated in several public speaking engagements and has been influential in developing a set of WA school guidelines for supporting sexual and gender diversity.
James has now taken his campaign interstate, travelling with the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy as part of a youth-led campaign for equality.
"James is a young man who has refused to accept bullying and shame, and has used his outstanding leadership qualities to gain the respect of his peers," Mr Simpson said.
"His resilience and self-determination have made him a leader for social justice at a very early age and his actions have had a profound and lasting effect on his school and beyond."
James was also named winner of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Participate Award.
The other winners are:
Matthew Bartlett - Minister for Youth's Outstanding Youth Worker Award
Binu Jayawardena - ECU Community Leadership Award
Rikeisha Voss - Active Participation Award
Golda Signal - Cultural Endeavours Award
Wirraka Maya Health Service - Organisational Achievement Award.
Fact File
The awards are presented by the Youth Affairs Council of WA in partnership with the Department of Local Government and Communities, and supported by Lotterywest
For more information, visit http://www.yacwa.org.au/wayouthawards/
Minister's office - 6552 6600
WA Youth Awards 2014 Winners
2014 WA Young Person of the Year
Commissioner for Children and Young People Participate Award
James Clarke, 17, Beechboro
A year 12 student at Lockridge Senior High School, James has displayed outstanding leadership and valour in making a positive change to the community. As a homosexual Aboriginal youth, James has overcome challenges and now speaks out against prejudice to create a stronger, more informed society. He was elected as vice-captain of his school and has been an active contributor and high achiever in the Follow the Dream: Partnerships for Success program. He participated in reconciliation events and public speaking about climate and equality issues across Australia. He is a young man on a mission to change the world by using his voice to empower others to use theirs.
Minister for Youth's Outstanding Youth Worker Award
Matthew Bartlett, 42, Currambine
Matthew's community contribution started in his teens when he became a volunteer youth worker at his local church in Mullaloo. Since then, he has been a youth worker in Halls Creek, chaplain at Belridge Senior High School, Connolly Primary School and Ocean Reef High School, and completed a degree in social work at Edith Cowan University (ECU), where he topped the class and received the Chancellor's Award. Matt continues to work for Ocean Reef High School as chaplain and is a lecturer in youth work at ECU. He is an activist for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex youth, and their families, and works hard to combat issues surrounding suicide.
Active Participation Award
Rikeisha Voss, 21, Leederville
Just three years ago, Rikeisha was unable to complete year 12 studies, as a result of exposure to domestic violence at home and falling pregnant. Struggling with her circumstances, she accessed transitional housing through Anglicare WA, and has not looked back since. Now resident at Foyer Oxford, Rikeisha has become a role model for positive parenting and a voice of reason for young residents. She is studying a Diploma in Beauty and is a member of Foyer Oxford's Youth Forum. She has a humorous, vibrant personality.
ECU Community Leadership Award
Binu Jayawardena, 24, Woodlands
A fifth-year medical student, Binu has put a biomedical engineering degree at Harvard University on hold so he can actively participate in community initiatives in WA. He is co-founder of WA Student Television - a community organisation that engages young people to develop skills and techniques in film production. WA Student Television partners with other community groups by producing promotional and sponsorship videos free of charge. It has worked with a diverse range of organisations including Zonta House Refuge Association, Fair Game and Uniting Care West. As the 2008 Beazley medalist, Binu also mentors other young people to achieve academic success.
Cultural Endeavours Award
Golda Signal, 21, Balga
Golda has made significant contributions to the WA community through drama, visual arts and literary pursuits since arriving from South Sudan. Having developed a love for the arts at high school, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts and Communication. In 2013, Golda took her passion a step further when she began mentoring a culturally diverse group of girls in performing arts and developing confidence. The group was invited to perform its play, Let's Talk, at a World AIDS Day event. Golda also performed a monologue addressing the isolation and stigmatisation faced by refugees and HIV sufferers at the 2014 AIDS Conference in Melbourne. She will be performing at the 2015 FringeWorld Festival in WA.
Organisational Achievement Award
Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Cooperation, South Hedland
The health service's Transition to Adulthood program is designed to respond to the needs and issues of Aboriginal young people in the community with programs that help build positive self-esteem and decision-making. Almost 300 young people have completed the program, participating in activities such as swimming, building positive body image, self-esteem and peer relationships, and weight loss. The program helps build confidence and resilience, and puts an emphasis on community and personal safety.
