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Meet the Indigenous winners of ABC Heywire 2023

10 May 2023
Culture and Capability
A young Aboriginal man in a patterned, long sleeve polo shirt stands in front of a park or sports oval.

The ABC Heywire competition is a platform for young people from rural and remote Australia to tell their stories.

Harry, a proud Gangalidda and Waanyi man tells a story about being out on Gangalidda Country – land that has been healing his family for many generations.

‘When I'm out bush, I like to climb into the tray of the car and sit, feeling the fresh air and seeing all the beautiful animals.

'My great grandfather helped build this giant timber cattle fence and it reminds me of how this beautiful country has been a part of my family for many generations. It's always provided for us.’

Every year the ABC Heywire competition provides a powerful platform for young people from rural and remote Australia to tell their stories.

Winners will attend the Heywire Summit in Canberra on 27-30 March to develop ideas that will make positive changes in their communities.

This year, hundreds of people entered from across Australia. The 39 winners were chosen for providing a real window into the lives of young people living in regional Australia.

Among the winners are 11 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

They shared stories of strength, perseverance and optimism, of catching lizards for dinner, learning how to play the drums, bush medicine expeditions, and learning how to listen to Country.

Heywire winner, Jo, is a sistagirl from a remote Indngeous community called Ngukurr. Jo wants to learn culture and be an advocate for LGBTQIA+ people.

‘I want sistagirls and brotherboys everywhere to feel strong and proud of who they are.’

This year’s Indigenous winners are:

Tyreece

Alice Springs, NT

Do you know the difference between a yellow and a black goanna? No? 

Here's Heywire winner Tyreece to tell you why you should.

Jo

Ngukurr, NT

Heywire winner Jo doesn't want other younger LGBTQIA+ people to go through what she did to live proud in her identity as a sistagirl.

Jo wants to advocate for LGBTQIA+ mob and stand in solidarity with her community.

Harry

Doomadgee, QLD

Heywire winner Harry is a proud Gangaliddaand Waanyi man out on Gangalidda country; land that has been healing his family for many generations.

Ceobahn

Renmark, SA

Heywire winner Ceobahn thought she wanted to be a scientist.

Now she's spending her time learning  how to listen to the land.

Mia

Nowra, NSW

For Heywire winner Mia, her single mum is her hero.

Because she shows Mia what unconditional love looks like in real time.

Miranda

Hobart, Tas

Heywire winner Miranda is a proud palawa woman and wants you

to know that culture is not a colour.

Scarlett

Yalata, SA

For Heywire winner Scarlett, pursing her dream to become an Aboriginal

Education worker is her way of honouring her nan's memory. 

Kadee

Barcaldine, QLD

Road trips are great, but Heywire winner Kadee is here to tell you why

coming home is even better.

Asharnta

Meekatharra, QLD

Heywire winner Asharnta works at Meeka Youth entre to support young people.

Help begins with listening.

Adrianna

Morawa, WA

The bush is home to Heywire winner Adrianna, and home is where healing begins.

Haylen

Wyndham, WA

Heywire winner Haylen is a drummer from Wyndham, WA.

As his rhythm improved, so did other things he wasn't expecting.

Congratulations and best of luck to all the Heywire winners.

 

Find out more

ABC Heywire is supported by: the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts; Department of Health and Aged Care; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and AgriFutures Australia.