This project partners with HorsePower and facilitator Steve Burke to run an 18‑month on‑Country cattle and leadership program for Gascoyne young people. It builds on Steve’s past work in Carnarvon, which has already had a strong impact on emerging young leaders and, through them, on young people who are struggling and in contact with the justice system. The new funding allows for deeper impact over time and a focus on training local young people in Steve’s approach so the program can continue beyond his direct involvement.
Why this project is needed
Many young people in Carnarvon are carrying a heavy load – family stress, school disengagement, justice contact, grief and loss, and limited local job pathways. Classroom‑style programs or short, one‑off interventions often don’t reach them in a way that feels real or respectful. They need space, challenge, culture and trust.
On‑Country programs that involve land, animals and culture have shown they can shift things in a different way. National and program‑level evidence shows that land‑based and animal‑assisted programs can significantly improve emotional regulation, confidence, cultural identity and pathways into education and employment for First Nations youth. Steve’s previous camps and sessions in Carnarvon have reflected this – young leaders talk about feeling calmer, more confident and clearer about who they are and where they’re heading, and those shifts have flowed on to younger kids watching them.
Until now, however, most of this work has been short‑term and dependent on when funding can be found. The 18‑month program gives us a chance to build something steadier, work with young people over time, and grow local capability so that on‑Country learning becomes a regular part of how we support youth in Carnarvon.
What this project is about
The On‑Country Cattle and Leadership Program brings small groups of Gascoyne young people onto a working cattle property with Steve Burke (HorsePower) for intensive learning blocks, followed by ongoing mentoring and local follow‑through.
The program is designed to:
- Develop leadership and emotional regulation, using cattle handling and behavioural learning as the teaching tools.
- Strengthen cultural connection to land and Country, with Elders and local cultural knowledge woven into the work.
- Build practical skills and work readiness, including recognised stock handling skills and exposure to pastoral and land management pathways.
- Support young people who are already showing leadership, as well as those who are struggling and intersecting with the justice system, by using peer leadership and group work.
- Train local young people in Steve’s approach, so that over time we have our own Carnarvon‑based leaders who can co‑facilitate and eventually run parts of the program themselves.
The underpinning framework combines behavioural science (building self‑awareness and emotional regulation), regenerative systems thinking (seeing self, land, family and community as connected), and “flow” learning (matching challenge and skill so young people are engaged and stretched, not overwhelmed).
What has been done so far
Steve Burke and HorsePower have already delivered several on‑Country programs with Carnarvon young people. These have included intensive cattle camps and shorter leadership sessions, with strong informal feedback from youth, families and local services about:
- increased confidence and self‑belief
- better ability to manage anger and stress
- stronger connection to culture, land and peers
- clearer ideas about work and training possibilities linked to pastoral and land management.
Based on these results, local partners have worked with HorsePower to secure funding for an 18‑month program, rather than single camps. The current funding covers:
- multiple intensive on‑Country blocks over the 18 months
- structured follow‑up and mentoring between blocks
- a deliberate focus on identifying and training a small group of local young people as co‑facilitators / apprentices in Steve’s methods.
Where the project is up to now
With funding in place, the next steps are to:
- confirm the schedule and structure of the 18‑month program (camp blocks, follow‑up sessions and local activities)
- finalise referral pathways with schools, Justice, youth services and community so the right mix of young leaders and at‑risk youth can participate
- identify the first group of local young people to train as co‑facilitators, working alongside Steve on Country
- lock in the evaluation and feedback approach so we can track changes in confidence, behaviour, education/work engagement and justice contact over the 18‑month period.
What this project is hoping to deliver
Over the 18‑month funding period, the On‑Country Cattle and Leadership Program aims to:
- Support a core group of Gascoyne young people through repeated on‑Country experiences that build leadership, self‑knowledge and emotional regulation, rather than a single “one‑off” camp.
- Provide a positive pathway for young people intersecting with the justice system, giving them a chance to build confidence, relationships and skills in a non‑judgemental, practical environment.
- Strengthen cultural connection and pride, by grounding the program in land, story and local cultural authority, and by recognising young people’s identity and potential rather than their problems.
- Open up real work and training pathways, including stock handling certificates, exposure to pastoral and land management work, and connections to employers and training providers.
Just as importantly, the project is aiming to build local capacity, so that:
- a small group of local young adults and emerging leaders are trained in the HorsePower approach and have real experience as co‑facilitators
- knowledge, methods and practice sit in Carnarvon, not only with visiting providers
- future on‑Country programs can be led more and more by local people, with external specialists stepping back over time.
Over the longer term, we hope this work will grow a visible group of local young leaders who model different ways of being – calm, confident, connected to Country and community – and who influence their peers in positive ways. With this leadership we are hoping to reduce the number of young people cycling in and out of crisis and justice responses and increase the number of Gascoyne youth who are engaged in school, training or work
