Tell us a about you, your mob and your position here at KYC.

My name\’s Dylan Murphy-Pettit. I\’m a proud Wakka Wakka on my mum’s side, so Cherbourg in Queensland, and I\’m a Wemba Wemba man from Victoria on my father\’s side. I’m originally from Gippsland, on Gunai/Kurnai Country. Predominately country-raised, moving across the state living on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Bendigo, Latje Latje Country in Mildura, and now living on Wurundjeri Country here in Naarm.

I’m now currently working as the Marram Nganyin Youth Mentoring Program Officer at the Koorie Youth Council. I\’ve been in the role since July of 2022. Formally, before that, I was an Executive Member for a number of years dating all the way back to 2015. I came through with Indi and a lot of other deadly mob at that stage and took part in things like the Koorie Youth Summit. I was a delegate at the start and then from there became more involved running workshops and facilitating panels.

Is there someone that has inspired you to be the leader that you are today?

Definitely my mother. She\’s a prominent community member down in Gippsland for a long time and she\’s always pushed and motivated me to do my part. Coming up in the rank, so to speak, and helping out and working with community. She helped me do my application for the executive. She’s always motivating me and being an inspiration. She’s such a giving and caring person. A role model. Definitely someone to have in your corner.

What motivated you want go for Marram Nganyin role in particular? What makes you passionate about it?

I was actually ageing out as an Executive member and when you\’re at that stage, you\’re sort of like, oh my gosh this deadly organisation and the mob I’ve been a part of for so long is coming to an end. Fortunately, there was a position opening in the Marram Nganyin program.

I\’ve been previously involved as a mentor for a youth organisation and went to the last Marram Nganyin camp back in 2018. The deadly experience and opportunities that Marram Nganyin provides in bringing young mob from across the state together to connect and share and grow and learn with each other. That’s definitely one of the big things that drew me to the role, is just seeing that sort of magic that can happen when you do bring young people together. The beauty of the program, and what relates to me as well, is you don\’t have to be in the out-of-home care system or at risk or in the justice system to be a part of Marram Nganyin as a youth participant. As long as you\’re an Aboriginal young person in the state you\’re able to be a part of it.

What are you looking forward to doing in this role into the future? Is anything that you\’re particularly looking forward to?

Definitely the Marram Nganyin camp that\’s coming up. This is the first one we\’ve had since 2018. Obviously, a lot of time has passed and a lot of things have happened, not only just in general society, but community as well. It has different organisations involved in the program now and to bring them into the fold as well is definitely something I\’m looking forward to the most. Seeing how I can support them as much as possible in the space because when they go back out to their rural communities it\’s so easy to feel isolated.