It's well known that Indigenous people have significantly poorer education outcomes than other Australians.

Watch online: The Gathering

This is often linked with lower socio-economic standards and employment rates. These, combined with a lack of education, can lead to drug and alcohol abuse and crime.

But the Federal Government's Indigenous Youth Leadership Scholarships are trying to help Indigenous kids fulfill their dreams.

Earlier this year, hundreds of scholarship students met in Brisbane for a summit that's become known as "The Gathering". Allan Clarke was there and caught up with some of the participants at home to see how they're putting their new mentoring skills to work.

TRANSCRIPT

VOICEOVER: In the heart of Wiradjuri country lies the regional town of Dubbo. It is home for 17-year-old martial arts student Angel Towney, who has racked up numerous karate tournaments nationally and overseas. After finish her HSC exams, Angel is now in training for another challenge – to help other youths finish school.

ANGEL TOWNEY, STUDENT: People look down upon the Indigenous youth and don’t expect them to go anywhere, so they don’t have that confidence that’s behind them to build up and go somewhere with their life.

VOICEOVER: Angel is one of hundreds of Indigenous teens selected to finish school under the Federal Government’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Scholarships. Since its inception, three years ago, the program has provided 364 secondary scholarships and almost 80 tertiary education opportunities.

Eric Fernando is still a year away from finishing his HSC at Dubbo Secondary College. The 17-year-old has seen many of his childhood friends drop out at Year 10.

Earlier this year, Angel and Eric met with hundreds of fellow scholarship students in Brisbane for a summit that’s become known as The Gathering. It’s a chance to develop their leadership skills. The Government’s Youth Advisory Council says The Gathering is much more than just a gab-fest.

ADAM SMITH, FOUNDATION FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS: The real challenge for us is to not just make this an event people come to for a couple of days, but really give a sense of inspiration and skill development that can last for many years to come.

VOICEOVER: Eric is hoping his new-found skills will have a positive effect on those around him.

ERIC FERNANDO, STUDENT: Take the skills that, like, I’ve learnt here and from others back to my community. Yep – be a leader back there.

VOICEOVER: Dubbo isn’t lacking young Koori talent, but inspiration can be hard to find.

PAUL TAYLOR, DUBBO SECONDARY COLLEGE: They are our future leaders and we need to invest more time, more money and more resources into giving the kids a better education.

VOICEOVER: Growing up on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, 13-year-old Tyus Arndt is staunchly proud of his culture. He is show casing his native tongue on the current advertising campaign for Qantas. Tyus is also one of the youngest on the scholarship program.

TYUS ARNDT, STUDENT: They asked me, “What would you do to keep your culture going?” And I said I would get - basically all the stories that I could and just pass it on - just keep putting it to other generations.

VOICEOVER: Eric and Angel have taken their ideas to the New South Wales Government, where they met with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Paul Lynch.

ANGEL TOWNEY: School is so boring. Nobody wants to learn about books and stuff like that. Like Shakespeare? He’s so old! If you want to learn about culture...

VOICEOVER: Perhaps Angel has the key that could unlock the education doors for other young people.
Source: Living Black SBS