This month, as part of the National Indigenous Australians Agency's (NIAA) Work Exposure in Government (WEX) Program, fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth have embarked on a weeklong excursion on Ngunnawal Country, in the Australian Capital Territory.

The students, who are in years 10, 11 & 12 all have an interest in careers in Government having been selected to represent communities across the whole of Australia and Torres Strait Islands.

All have been immersed in a range of experiences including cultural activities to attending a question time session at Australian Parliament House, to tackling an obstacle course with the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Federal Minister for Inidgenous Affairs, Linda Burney, and National Indigenous Australians Agency CEO, Jody Broun, spent time meeting with the students over breakfast.

"We have so much to hope for with the next generation of First Nations leaders. So it was an inspiration to meet with over 50 Indigenous secondary school students from around Australia who are interested in contributing to our country through public service," Minister Burney said, via LinkedIn.

The program provides mentorship and opportunity to network with leaders in government, whilst providing an opportunity to connect with peers and develop friendships that last a lifetime, one student refers to her cohort as her new brothers and sisters.

Jexil Banu from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait spoke with National Indigenous Times about her experience, saying she has been truly astonished by the action and activity in Parliament House.

"What matters to me in the community is the predominant means of having the full support towards our local people, where I'm from," Ms Banu told NIT.

"They have major struggles with money, financial stability, emotional stability and they need that process to be brought forward to them.

"I feel like a lot of case workers and a lot of governmental procedures must be done in order to help them, to get them benefits and advantages towards them.

"I see myself in the parliamentary house, I reckon I can make a big change towards my future, people and my community."

Trinity Hutt has travelled from Darumbal Country in Rockhampton to learn more about her culture through the WEX Program, to experience job exposure in Government and to bring more recognition to Aboriginal culture.

"My highlight of today has definitely been question time," Ms Hutt said.

"We didn't realise the Prime Minister was going to come. That was a really cool experience to be able to see him in action and behind the scenes of everything discussing topics that are important to our mob and our community as well."

Hear their voices. (Video: Jess Whaler/National Indigenous Times)

Kyla-Jade Stuart also known as KJ, a proud Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Bundjalung woman, signed up to the WEX Program to expand her knowledge on how to be a good leader and how to grow in her knowledge of culture.

"I've been to WEX before, and WEX regionals and that's where I've met many of my brothers and sisters and we've just had amazing, um, amazing experiences together and you know I wanted to have that experience again with a new mob and you know just learn as much as I can," she told NIT.

"One of the things I'd like to see change in our community, is just for us to be heard. You know to have us included into um conversations about um what' going to happen to our people.

"I think that's really important for our community, just to be heard."

Ms Stuart shared that her highlight of the day was being able to see politicians at work and expressed how exciting question time was.

"Politicians working hard to make a great future for us and the rest of society," she said.

She also told NIT that she is very keen on science and the environment and can picture herself working in politics one day.

More information about the WEX Program is available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website.