Yuwa Nyinda Dream Academy

On August 28 and 29, 2024 school students from across Dunghutti Country gathered at Chappel Park in Kempsey to take part in the inaugural Yuwa Nyinda Dream Academy.

Yuwa Nyinda translates from Dunghutti to Yes, You and the aim of the Yuwa Nyinda Dream Academy was to expose local young people to a wide range of interactive opportunities, from careers, education and training providers, cultural experiences through to an exciting array of social activities.

With so many young people in the region caught up in a range of personal and social issues, many have lost the ability to dream about their future; with the old saying “You can’t be it, if you can’t see it” being relevant for so many in this community. Dunghutti people travelled back home for the event to speak to local young people about their jobs, their journey and to offer advice to those who may think that they don’t have a way out of their current situation.

Taking place over two days, the event targeted students from across the region, with each school being allocated timeslots to attend to ensure that all young people had the opportunity to fully engage with the wide range of activities and stallholders in attendance. Over the two days of the event, over 2000 students attended.

Cultural activities that were available for the students to engage in included traditional weaving, clap stick making, didgeridoo workshops, making miniature bark canoes, an art installation and an introduction to Dunghutti language. Each day also included students from local schools performing traditional dances as a part of the welcoming ceremony.

A free community event took place on the evening of Wednesday 28 August, with a wide range of local music acts, cultural and social activities and a free meal on offer for the whole community to enjoy. Gumbaynggir local Tasman Keith headlined the event and invited young people from the audience to join him on stage to dance and take in the electric atmosphere.