WA launches program to address incarceration rates among Aboriginal young women
Against the backdrop of a national crisis in the incarceration of Aboriginal young women, the Spear Foundation in Western Australia has launched Djeelya — a two-year, community-led intervention program providing a learn-to-earn pathway for Aboriginal young women aged 15 to 18 referred through predominately from the Department of Justice.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are the fastest-growing incarcerated population in Australia.
In Western Australia, young Aboriginal women face disproportionate rates of justice system contact, often driven by compounding factors including trauma, family disruption, education disengagement, and a lack of culturally safe support.
Djeelya directly addresses these drivers through a holistic, Elder-guided model designed to redirect young women away from incarceration and toward sustainable futures.
The launch, at the Phoenix Academy in West Perth was attended by senior government representatives, community leaders, Elders, corporate and philanthropic partners who have supported the Spear Foundation and the development of the Djeelya program.
Djeelya is delivering a Certificate 1 in Workplace skills as part of the program.
“Djeelya is our commitment to not leaving a single one of our girls behind.”
Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator for Western Australia, who launched the event said the over-representation of Aboriginal young women in the justice system was not inevitable — it was the consequence of decades of under-investment in culturally grounded, community-led solutions.
“Djeelya is exactly the kind of early intervention that evidence and community wisdom tells us works,” she said.
“By addressing the root causes of justice system contact and providing young women with real pathways forward, Djeelya has the potential to change the trajectories of lives of some of the most vulnerable young women in our society and working to close the gap.”
Liza Fraser-Gooda, Co-Chair of the Spear Foundation said it takes a village to raise a child, and Djeelya “is our village in action”.
“This program brings together Elders, mentors, educators, employers, and community to wrap around our girls and walk alongside them for two full years,” she said.
“The learn-to-earn model is central to that — because we know that when a young woman has cultural grounding, a sense of belonging, and a genuine pathway to work and independence, everything changes.
“Djeelya is our commitment to not leaving a single one of our girls behind.”
About the Djeelya Program
Djeelya is a two-year, culturally-led learn-to-earn pathway delivered by the Spear Foundation.
Participants receive Elder-guided cultural identity and wellbeing support, wraparound mentoring through dedicated Youth Empowerment Workers, and direct connections into education, vocational training, and employment.
The supported model ensures continuity of care across the full two years of the program — recognising that meaningful change for young women at risk requires sustained, trusted relationships rather than short-term interventions.
The program aligns with State Government priorities across justice, training and employment, Aboriginal affairs, and health, with a specific focus on early intervention and Closing the Gap targets.
About the Spear Foundation
The Spear Foundation is a West Australian, Aboriginal-led not-for-profit established in 2013.
Co-chaired by Barry McGuire OAM and Liza Fraser-Gooda, the Foundation delivers community-led, culturally grounded programs across the youth, justice, education, and wellbeing sectors, collaborating with Elders and local services to achieve sustainable, long-term social impact.
