An education-focused Northern Territory organisation has big ambitions for their music program run in the remote community of Yuendumu.

Backed by federal funding for youth school holiday activities in central Australia, via the National Indigenous Australian Agency, Wanta Aboriginal Corporation is taking a broad approach.

300 kilometres north-west of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, Wanta social enterprise manager Neil Mackenzie says the program is shaping as a major success.

"It isn't just about learning to play guitar or bang away on some drums…we get down the space of potential production, recording, a whole range of things that go beyond just playing music," he told National Indigenous Times.

The long-term goal is putting on a community concert. On the way, kids are learning about all that goes into it in addition to the music side of things - even printing t-shirts and posters for the event could be on the cards, Mr MacKenzie said.

Wanta operate across the Territory with a footprint in Arlparra, Kalkaringi, Lajamanu, Ngukurr, Ntaria, Papunya, Wugularr in addition to Yuendumu

Prior to funding announcements, Wanta were already in discussions with local company PAW (Pintubi, Anmatjere and Warlpiri) Media, tasking themselves with starting up a similar initiative.

Mr MacKenzie said the current program could lead to employment opportunities down the line.

"We want to give them exposure to a whole range of things. Music is the vehicle for that. That doesn't mean there's not a whole lot of other things that come and come along that path," he said.

Aside from youth, older generations in town have gotten involved to lend their knowledge, Mr MacKenzie added.

On Tuesday, the federal government announced a $3.2 million commitment to supporting school holiday activities in Central Australia for the next two years.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy and member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour said in a joint statement that over 24,000 people engaged with the close to 1,500 activities run as a result of the investment into the most recent summer break.

Within that, there were almost 16,000 attendances in remote communities.

The Y (YMCA) Northern Territory ran remote splash parties at pools in Ltyentye Apurte, Utju and Yuendumu across 21 events bringing in 780 people.

"It's just heightened fun at the pool," area manager Elena Pecori told National Indigenous Times, bringing inflatables and hosting barbecues - where some of the kids even helped out with the sausages.

Ms Pecori added: "The other benefit is that we were reporting back to NIAA these splash parties created 105 additional working hours for local Indigenous employees at the pool."

The Y have secured funding through to April 2026.

Whether or not local kids have enough to do around town has been a regular conversation she's heard living and working in Alice, Ms Pecori said, adding she and colleagues are also happy to see being addressed with funding going into remote communities.

Alice Springs Town Council community development director Nicole Battle said "it's always hard to measure the counterfactual" on whether their local school holiday activities have been effective in addressing recent youth antisocial behaviour concerns, but "my gut (feeling) was yes".

Ms Battle said a pop-up roller skating ring and laser tag were among the most popular activities the council hosted, bringing in close to 5,000 of the 9560 young people who engaged with their holiday program.

She said the Council received $720,000 from the NIAA to facilitate.

"I think that investing the money in the types of activities; like opening up the cinema, opening up the bowling alley - I think some of these are places where sometimes kids feel as though they're excluded, particularly Indigenous kids," Ms Battle added.

Senator McCarthy feels the injection through the recent school holidays resulted in "tremendous success".

"Through these investments, we are empowering local councils and community-run organisations to give children and teenagers in Alice Springs and our remote communities opportunities to learn and have fun in a safe environment," she said.

"It's not just about giving kids something to do over the school break – it's about bringing communities together.

Ms Scrymgour added: "It makes an enormous difference when young people and families can come together in a social and positive space".

"This year's school holiday activities program provided a healthy alternative and safe place for young people to come together and learn, play and keep fit," she said.

In Yuendumu, Wanta hopes the music program carries on for 18 months.

Mr MacKenzie said the important thing isn't just about activities, but "activities with purpose".

"This is about trying not to just give them the activity, but give them an insight to what could be something for their life going forward," he said.

"Yes, communities have their troubles, and certainly central Australia has had its troubles over the last x amount of months. This is a way to try and help and address that. But to me, at least it's more than that. I'll say it again, activities with purpose.

"It's a bit future-oriented as well as addressing issues of the present."