Togetherness.
Unity.
Connections.
“Connection to Country and connection to each other is what the Wellbeing Centre is all about. It is important for youth to have the chance to work out where and how they fit in community.”
- Norman Tipiloura, Founder of Yirrawiyanga Wellbeing Centre
Recently, Community First Development were invited to support a wellbeing centre project in Milikapiti, which is a close-knit community of 400 to 500 people on Wulirankuwu Country, on the northern coastline of Melville Island in the Tiwi Islands.
Milikapiti has strong cultural foundations and a deep sense of identity. But Traditional Owner and father-of-five Norman Tipiloura explains that there are few opportunities for teenagers and young adults to access the health, wellbeing and youth services they need close to home.
As a result, some families – including Norman’s own – have felt they have no choice but to send their teens away to find support elsewhere.
It means having to leave family, culture and Country at a stage of life when connection and belonging matter most.
Norman is determined to change this. Since returning to live in Milikapiti, he’s worked alongside fellow community leaders, drawing on local knowledge and lived experience, to lay the groundwork for the Yirrawiyanga Wellbeing Centre.
The proposed gymnasium and drop-in centre will give young people the opportunity to build their physical and mental strength, grow in confidence and stay connected to culture and Country. It will also be a safe place for the whole community to come together, supporting youth development, health and wellbeing, and community connections. "
Norman explains his motivation:
“I believe it’s important to be present, to lead by example, and to invest time and energy back into my community. In returning to my Country, I have seen firsthand how we need to improve health and wellbeing outcomes in my community.”
He recognises that wellbeing goes beyond access to services and is about safe, supportive spaces where young people can make positive lifestyle choices.
Norman’s story reflects something we know to be true: lasting change is always led from within. Communities like his hold the knowledge, strength and vision to create real change. What they need is the backing to bring their ideas to life.
Hearing Norman speak about the plans for Yirrawiyanga, you can’t help but feel his passion. Central to his vision is a welcoming activity space where teenagers and young adults have a place of belonging, learning and growth close to home.
This matters because social and emotional wellbeing for our mob is holistic – connections to family, community, culture, Country and spirituality are essential and are all interconnected.
“The Centre is to be more than just a gymnasium,” Norman explains.
“It will also give members of community a culturally safe place to be, a place to connect with other community members and a place they can go to if they need help.”
Yirrawiyanga will also serve as a hub for programs and services that foster broader wellbeing and cultural and community engagement, including youth-focused sessions, yarning circles, parent workshops, one-on-one mentorship, Elder-led cultural activities and life skills programs.
Norman and his community are making real progress - securing a lease on an existing building in a central location and pouring countless hours into shaping a vision for the space.
Community First Development has been proud to work with Norman on this journey, providing practical support to establish the organisation that will run the Centre, so Yirrawiyanga can become a reality for young people and the wider community sooner.
As we approach the end of 2026, it’s vital we have the funds to keep backing community leaders and projects like this into the new year.
We were able to connect Norman with skilled volunteer Anthony to develop a business case that could secure future funding for the Centre.
But their time together was about much more than planning. Anthony spent time listening to Norman’s vision for his community, yarning, sharing ideas and connecting on Country, including visiting Taracumbi Waterfall on Norman’s homelands.
This is the power of working at the speed of trust. When people take the time to build genuine relationships and learn from one another, we create deeper understanding and stronger support for community-led solutions.
The result was a stronger proposal and another step towards a community-led wellbeing centre where stronger families, stronger youth and stronger community go hand in hand.
It’s a reminder that when solutions are shaped by the community itself, they reflect local knowledge, cultural strength and the aspirations of the people who will benefit most.
Norman’s knowledge and vision, alongside fellow community leaders, are truly driving this project and the right support builds on that. As he shares:
“Knowing that I am able to get guidance and support from Community First Development makes all of the difference. Having people with the skills that I need, who work alongside me, makes achieving my goals so much easier.”
With Community First Development’s support, Norman and the other Wulirankuwu leaders are moving closer to those goals – keeping their eyes on the future and generations to come, where they see:
“Togetherness. Unity. Connections.”
At this time of year, when many of us are thinking about the people and places that bring us together, Norman's words feel especially fitting. Togetherness, unity and connections are exactly what Yirrawiyanga will offer to young people in Milikapiti.
Please donate today so Community First development can back leaders like Norman as they build the kind of futures their communities need.
Thank you for your commitment to backing the aspirations of First Nations peoples through community-led solutions. Together, we can back more young people to thrive where they belong, surrounded by the people, culture and Country that strengthen them.