Narrandera Shire Council is proud to acknowledge the recent participation of Cr Braden Lyons and local young leader Malek Lyons in the inaugural Young Aboriginal Leaders Program (YALP), held last week at NSW Parliament in Sydney.
This ground-breaking initiative, created and championed by the Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, President of the NSW Legislative Council, provided young Aboriginal leaders aged 18–25 from across New South Wales with a unique opportunity to engage in leadership workshops, explore the workings of government, and grow their confidence to advocate for their people and communities.
As part of the program, participants were invited to visit the La Perouse Aboriginal Community to hear firsthand their powerful stories of resilience and self-determination. Cr Lyons and Malek were also honoured to meet the Premier, the Hon. Chris Minns MP, and raise key issues impacting regional Aboriginal communities directly with him.
"The program gave us a platform to learn, connect, and be inspired by other young mob who are leading change across the state," said Cr Lyons. “On the final day, we were asked to present a speech in the Legislative Council Chamber outlining a project we would like to see realised in our communities. Malek and I stood side by side to share our vision of establishing an Aboriginal Medical Service in Narrandera, a service our community needs and deserves.”
Both Cr Lyons and Malek Lyons expressed deep gratitude to the NSW Parliament and, in particular, Ben Franklin for his leadership and genuine commitment to empowering Aboriginal youth.
“This was a life-changing experience,” Cr Lyons added. “We’ve come away with new skills, strong connections, and a renewed passion to make a lasting impact back home. We’re proud to now call many of these young leaders our brothers and sisters and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
Narrandera Shire Council congratulates Cr Lyons and Malek on their outstanding representation and looks forward to supporting their continued efforts to create positive change in the Narrandera community.
