Almost 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Queensland are being celebrated this year through the Young, Black and Proud Scholarship program — a growing initiative that has become a beacon of opportunity, recognition, and pride.

Now in its seventh year, the program is delivered by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) in partnership with the Queensland Family and Child Commission. It offers young Indigenous people the chance to apply for up to $10,000 in funding to support their dreams in education, sport, or the arts.

Since it began, ATSICHS has awarded more than 440 scholarships, helping hundreds of young people pursue their passions, skills and overall brilliance.

This year's round saw 298 applications, with 69 scholarships awarded to recipients as young as five years old. Of these, 18 were in the arts, 12 in academics, and 39 in sport, stretching from Hope Vale in the north to Mt Isa in the west.

"Amongst the winners are a group of young ballerinas, musicians, dancers, aspiring gymnasts, artists, teachers and so much more," ATSICHS CEO Renee Blackman says.

"These young people showcase the incredible diversity and talents and aspirations within our community."

For Ms Blackman, a proud Gubbi Gubbi woman, the program is about nurturing excellence and creating a platform for future leaders.

"It's so exciting to see people and how dedicated they are at such a young age. To being successful, and to their community and families," she said.

"It's such a proud moment to stand up in front of family and award to their children and young people, awards that are going to help them continue to be the leaders that we need for tomorrow."

Among this year's scholarship recipients is proud Dja Dja Wurrung boy and gifted young artist Alan Kildea, whose passion for storytelling shines just as brightly through music as it does through art.

Combining creativity with his growing talent for the saxophone, Alan has already wowed audiences with his first solo at a school assembly and earned a place at the prestigious Northside Honours Music Workshop.

His dedication is evident in every note — from his involvement in the Music Excellence program at Kelvin Grove State College to his participation in the Bright Minds Extension Program at the Queensland Academy of Creative Industries. Alan's journey is one of promise, talent, and the kind of determination that sets future leaders apart.

Another scholarship recipient, Monique Ah-Sam, a proud South Luritja, Mamu and Pitjantjatjara woman from the Northern Territory, is already making her mark as both a scholar and a community leader.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University, Monique balances her academic journey with a full-time role as an Indigenous employment coach, guiding young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the challenges of education and employment.

Her passion for creating change doesn't stop there — she also partners with the Youth Advocacy Center to deliver cultural workshops that inspire connection, pride, and confidence among young people.

With her drive to empower youth and her vision for systemic change, Monique is helping shape a brighter future for First Nations communities.

Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Commissioner Natalie Lewis said the program offers a powerful counter-narrative to the stereotypes too often imposed on First Nations people.

"I see injustice daily, witness the cruelty of discrimination, and the bigotry of low expectations. But I refuse to give in to that; that is not who we are. Our kids deserve dignity, they deserve justice, and they deserve to live the futures that their ancestors dreamed for them," the Gamilaraay woman said.

She describes the awards ceremony as a space of hope, noting, "there are moments...where I get the gift of being in spaces to recharge and to be reminded of why we show up for kids every day".

"Because there is nothing more magical or powerful than the celebration of the achievements of our young people."

At the ceremony, Commissioner Lewis says she saw young people who "refuse to be anyone's stereotype".

"I see limitless potential. I see pride, belonging and enough self-belief to change the world that we live in and make it worthy of the promise of our future generations," she said.

"I see people showing up for one another and the strength that comes from being connected to each other in culture, and I feel a renewed sense of hope."

Reflecting on the program, she added: "I feel the transformative power of education, arts and sport. Young, Black and Proud is the truest representation of who we are."

The scholarship program continues to open doors, shining a light on the next generation of leaders while reaffirming the strength, resilience, and brilliance of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Queensland.

A full list of the winners for the 2025 Young, Black and Proud Scholarship can be found online.