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 prefect during her final year of school at Rockhampton Girls Grammar.
Phoenix is the first member of her family to receive a scholarship from Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP). She learned about CYLP and the doors it could open after hearing a teacher, CYLP students and alumni talk about the program when they returned to the community in the school holidays. she then told her mother about the program and began her CYLP journey in Year 7.
Upon being accepted into the program, Phoenix was initially apprehensive about moving so far away from her home, but with the support of CYLP and the Student Support Officers (SSOs), she quickly settled in.
“I was excited, then I started getting scared because I’d be making new friends… I didn’t know many people at the school,” she said.
“They (CYLP) supported me a lot, mostly with costs, uniforms, sports and all the expenses.”
The SSOs have been key to making the boarding life for Phoenix and other students as smooth as possible. They assist students academically and personally, becoming key pillars of the student’s support network.
Phoenix at the 2025 CYLP camp at Tallebudgera.
It means a lot because they can help with any costs, extra tutoring… It’s good support if your parents don’t have enough to help you out – they’re grateful that I got onto this CYLP scholarship.
2025 CYLP senior Phoenix Nuggins
Phoenix credits her experiences with CYLP in helping shape her as a leader. She is the only student at Rockhampton Girls Grammar pursuing a Certificate III while also studying six subjects.
“My academics weren’t that good, but tutoring with CYLP helped push up my grades a lot,” she said.
“I went to Shonia (Rockhampton SSO) saying I was going to drop a subject and give up but she encouraged me to have a go – I pushed through and did all six in year 11 and will continue in year 12.”
Phoenix said adjusting to life at boarding school was more than just the location but also the vast resources and technology at her disposal. At her primary school in Hope Vale, she never had access to a computer, so in boarding school, technology was a new aspect of schooling life she had to learn.
“When I got my laptop, I didn’t even know how to turn it on,” she said.
Without the support of CYLP, Phoenix believes she “wouldn’t have made it far” in her schooling journey, and she certainly wouldn’t have become a prefect at Rockhampton Girls Grammar.
“I’d still be at school back home, so getting involved with CYLP was definitely the right choice for me,” she said.
Phoenix now leads her Year 12 cohort and school as a 2025 prefect, a position that means a lot to her.
Becoming a prefect means being a leader, showing younger kids, mostly Indigenous kids, that they can do it.
Phoenix Nuggins
“I know many students who could be a prefect, but they’re not giving it a go.”
Phoenix didn’t initially want to become a prefect, but after hearing stories about prefects from her father, a boarding school student himself, she decided to focus on becoming one.
“It is scary because a lot of people are watching you, and if you make mistakes, they notice, but I have heaps of Indigenous kids come up to me and ask, ‘How did you do it?’ – I encourage them to have a go and try it out,” she said.
Phoenix said the annual CYLP camp at the start of the year and end-of-term events were her favourite memories from the program, as she could socialise and meet other students from different areas.
“You only socialise with kids in your district, but at these camps, you can socialise with kids from Brisbane, Cairns and other places,” she said.
Phoenix enjoyed boarding life and viewed the friends and connections she made as her second family, a home away from home. She had some advice for students who have just started their CYLP journey or are considering getting involved.
“Try new things and have a go – it may look scary but try it out,” she said.
“Your community is not going to run away it is always going to be there. If you go out, you’ll be able to express yourself more and grow.”
MORE INFORMATION
For more information visit the Cape York Leaders Program website
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