16-year-old Isabella Sullivan’s outstanding leadership, First Nations advocacy lands prestigious award

In less than a year a southwest region teenager’s steadfast advocacy for her First Nations community has led her to a number of life-changing opportunities, including one within Queensland’s Youth Parliament.

Isabella Sullivan (far right) never imagined she would spend 2024 attending numerous leadership events representing the Indigenous community or working to deliver future First Nations legislation. Photo: Isabella Sullivan

While navigating the stress of high school, assignments and exams, a Southern Downs Year 11 student has played an integral role as a young Indigenous leader whose advocacy landed her in Queensland parliament.

Curiosity of her First Nations heritage led 16-year-old Isabella Sullivan to explore her Indigenous culture having grown up not knowing her birth parents or their descendants.

Isabella said her eyes were opened to the opportunities when she immersed herself in Indigenous culture, history and advocacy while attending the National Indigenous Business Summer School earlier this year.

Isabella was among three young women from rural Queensland to win a place in the prestigious Country to Canberra annual leadership competition where she will travel to the ACT in November.

For young people in rural and remote communities these types of opportunities are often few and far between, which has only driven Isabella to grasp them in her hands.

Isabella Sullivan at Queensland Parliament speaking on her work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership Committee who delivered a youth bill on repatriation of First Nations remains to the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Photo: Isabella Sullivan

Her role in Queensland’s Youth parliament with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership Committee, saw her contribute to a youth bill focused on the repatriation of First Nations remains, secret and sacred objects held at the Queensland Museum.

“Our youth act is now presented to parliament where the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships will hopefully take some of our work into consideration,” she said.

Isabella said the success of the youth act as legislation would reunite those remains and objects with country and allow First Nations families to begin healing.

Education is only one of a number of issues affecting First Nations communities with access to healthcare and related services also among the list.

Isabella Sullivan at the National Indigenous Business Summer School in Sydney, her first of many leadership events in 2024. Photo: Isabella Sullivan

Isabella said having a First Nations Officer in schools yielded positive results for students and teachers.

“When we’ve had one the First Nations group at school felt more connected and we were more engaged with school and the opportunities were presented to us in a way that was exciting,” she said

“Even if you’re not from a First Nations background (it’s important) to have that sort of guidance on culturally safe and appropriate activities and how to go about them.

“There’s a lot of those questions that need to be answered and not everyone can answer them and that’s where a First Nations Officer comes in.”