Deadly Democracy: Improving Civic Education for Indigenous Youth

First Nations people are significantly underrepresented in Australia’s democratic systems, with young people experiencing the lowest voting rates nationally. Previous AEC-led civic education programs were often Canberra-based and fly-in-fly-out, creating disconnection from Country and community. These approaches lacked continuity, cultural safety, and relevance to First Nations experiences. They did not acknowledge the historical trauma of colonisation or embed First Nations values and ways of knowing, which prioritise kinship, community and relational leadership. Without meaningful design participation, such models limited First Nations young people’s ability to engage confidently and meaningfully in democratic processes.

To address these challenges, both iterations of Deadly Democracy combined co-design and lived experience expertise to create meaningful, culturally safe civic education. A hybrid delivery model allowed participants to stay connected to Country and community, while local Indigenous organisations acted as trusted entry points and workplaces. Every stage of the program was developed and delivered by First Nations people, embedding cultural safety, relational trust and self-determination. Co-design was grounded in lived experience and empowered participants to shape content that reflected their realities. This approach ensured democratic knowledge was relevant, engaging, and could be confidently shared within their own communities.

Both iterations of Deadly Democracy strengthened participants’ confidence, knowledge and leadership in democratic spaces. Young people gained electoral understanding, public speaking skills, and paid experience in facilitation and community engagement. Many expressed feeling empowered to lead conversations about voting and democracy within their communities and reported a deep sense of feeling respected and culturally safe. Their communities benefitted as participants took on leadership roles, shared knowledge, and created space for others to engage. The impact extended beyond individual growth, empowering democratic participation and trust in civic systems through the voices and leadership of Young Mob.

Deadly Democracy was built on three core features that shaped its success and lasting impact: lived experience-led co-design, paid employment, and strong community partnerships. Both iterations were grounded in a co-design framework that positioned First Nations Young People as program designers from the outset. Their lived experiences shaped how electoral knowledge was explored and communicated, ensuring content was culturally safe, locally relevant, and reflective of identity, culture and community. Participants were employed as Associates, recognising the value of their insights and contributions. This was not volunteer work, but paid, entry-level employment that created genuine pathways for growth. Associates developed skills in facilitation, leadership, public speaking and civic participation, which they could apply in employment, study, or community-led initiatives. Paid roles affirmed self-determination and empowered democratic education. The program was also co-delivered in partnership with local Indigenous organisations; these organisations acted as an essential ‘broker,’ allowing participants to engage with Deadly Democracy through an existing First Nations organisation they already knew and trusted. In 2021,the NRL Cowboys House, Garnduwa and Umeewarra Radio 89.1FM helped co-deliver Deadly Democracy over 3 locations. In 2023, we leveraged these existing partners (and partnered with additional organisations) across seven locations.