From Hope Vale to boarding life, Nikkysha Bowen has always drawn strength from home When Nikkysha Bowen began Year 7 boarding at Columba Catholic College at Charters Towers through the Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP), she entered something new but not unfamiliar, as her older cousins were already in CYLP and paved her way. “My […]
Family Ties Carry Nikkysha Forward Read More »
When Jenaya Wolmby swapped the sandy tracks of Aurukun for the busy streets of Brisbane, she experienced what every remote-area boarder feels first – homesickness. The Year 10 student joined the Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) in Year 7 after watching her brothers succeed on CYLP scholarships. “I was scared, going from a small community […]
City walks and basketball dreams Read More »
Moving from a small community to boarding school at a big city is no small feat, but Zeikera Wallace is meeting the challenge in her own way and carving her own path. Growing up in Cooktown with ties to Wujal Wujal and Hope Vale, she’s one of many young students stepping on a high
Carving her own path Read More »
A good education can mean many things. For Guomoy Murphy, it means listening, learning and making the most of the opportunities you’ve been given. Coming from Cape York, where Year 12 completion rates can be as low as 5 per cent and opportunities are limited, Guomoy is proving what’s possible when you take hold of
Opportunity Doesn’t Wait and Neither Did Guomoy Read More »
Raised where the rainforest meets the sea, Jaraiah Cannon – a proud Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama from Mossman – left her vibrant homeland in Year 7? to pursue a scholarship with Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) as a boarder at Rockhampton Grammar School. She traded the tropics for drier country but has been flourishing ever since.
From Rainforest Soil to Drier Ground Read More »
Leaving home is never easy, especially when it means stepping into the unknown to chase growth and opportunity. For Clifford Ambrym, a young Guugu Yimithirr man from Hope Vale and Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) student, the journey was a bold step towards building a strong future. Clifford began his journey in Year 7 and
A bold decision for big future Read More »
The 2025 Cape York Leaders Program Annual Camp took students from across Cape York to the vibrant Gold Coast for five days of adventure, leadership and personal growth. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, CYLP brought all students together and set them up for a successful year boarding at the best secondary schools in Queensland. With
Cape York leaders take on the Gold Coast Read More »
Phoenix Nuggins, a proud Hope Vale local from the Guugu Yimithirr and Kuku Yalanji peoples, is carving her path as a Cape York Leader. As a CYLP student, Phoenix is juggling her duties as a strong Cape York leader with her duties as a school leader as she takes on the role of a
Leading with confidence Read More »
For most high school graduates, finishing Year 12 is a moment of celebration and relief. For Mossman-born Zavan Salam, it marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter – one he believes would have been impossible without the guidance of the Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP). CYLP is a scholarship initiative that provides young people
CYLP graduate shifts gears to a brighter future Read More »
From Hope Vale to the bustling streets of Brisbane, Tykeerah Cobus brought a piece of the Cape to the southeast corner and now seeks to bring the fruits of her education back to her home community and create pathways for the next generation. Tykeerah attended St Peter’s Lutheran College as part of Cape York Leaders
Beyond Nursing: Tykeerah’s vision for community leadership Read More »
