Youth programs in remote Indigenous communities: Context matters

A diversity of programmes seeks to develop youth’s capacities and connection to the communities in which they live. Some focus on ameliorating a particular issue, or ‘deficit’, whilst others, such as sporting, recreation and youth groups, are more grounded in the community. This article reports findings from 60 qualitative interviews conducted with a range of stakeholders involved in a diversity of youth programmes in three remote Indigenous communities in Central Australia. ‘Youth centred–context specific’ is found to provide a positive frame for programme delivery, encouraging explicit focus on programme logic, content and processes and relational, temporal and spatial aspects of practice context to enhance youth programme planning and delivery in remote communities. Culturally safe service planning and delivery suggest locally determined processes for decision-making and community ownership, at times offering service access for all ages for culturally relevant activity engagement