Brewarrina Shire Council welcomed the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Chris Minns to the Brewarrina Shire on Thursday July 16 for a firsthand look at their effective and future-focused youth development models.

The visit delivered on the Premier’s commitment last December to see the outcomes of recent State investment and the measurable improvements in youth engagement, employment readiness, cultural connection and community safety across the Shire.

The Premier, alongside the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, met with Council leaders, local organisations and community partners hearing directly about the impact of expanded cultural programs, hands‑on learning opportunities, employment pathways and early‑intervention support.

General Manager David Kirby said the visit was an important opportunity to showcase how targeted investment is transforming outcomes for young people in one of the most remote communities in the State.

“Brewarrina has shown what is possible when youth development is community‑led, culturally grounded and properly supported,” Mr Kirby said.

“The Premier’s visit recognises the strength of our model and the real results being achieved for our young people.”

Over the past six months, Brewarrina Shire Council has continued to expand its youth initiatives — strengthening school holiday programs, delivering trade‑based workshops, bolstering cultural mentoring and creating structured employment opportunities for local youth. Participation has risen, behaviour has improved, and more young people are accessing meaningful pathways into training and work.

The Premier’s visit came just days after a group of Brewarrina children from the Winmarra Foundation, alongside General Manager David Kirby and co‑founders Latrell Mitchell and Sonny Brar, were invited to Kirribilli House to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Winmarra Foundation, built from the ground up in Brewarrina, is a culturally grounded leadership and wellbeing initiative that has been empowering young people through connection to Country, identity, culture and community from the Yetta Dhinnakkal precinct.

This week’s visit provided an opportunity to continue that momentum and showcase the programs, partnerships and outcomes driving positive change in the Brewarrina Shire.

Council showcased several high-impact initiatives during their time with the Premier, including the Driving School, Barber & Hair Workshop, summer pool employment model and the Fresh Start traineeship program — all reflecting Council’s commitment to delivering real-world skills and structured opportunities help young people build confidence, independence and future readiness.

Alongside neighbouring Councils, the Premier also toured the Yetta Dhinnakkal precinct — the fully functional former rural correctional facility — to progress discussions on activating the site as a regional youth, cultural and training hub.

Council emphasised that activating Yetta would allow Brewarrina to expand its proven youth model and deliver even greater outcomes for not just the Brewarrina Shire but across the regional NSW.

“Today was a chance to show the Premier that Brewarrina has a successful youth engagement model that is making a real difference in the lives of young people, and with continued investment and support, we can become a leading example of rural youth engagement across the state.”

Support from the Premier, Bourke, Walgett and Coonamble Council leaders was strong, and all parties agreed that further investigation into how best to activate Yetta Dhinnakkal will now get underway. This shared commitment reflects the regional significance of the precinct and the opportunity it presents to deliver coordinated youth, cultural and training outcomes across Western NSW.