On Mission by Amy Young

Yarrabah Aboriginal Community Outreach 

Earlier this year, my mum (Brooke Young) and I hosted a cake stall in the church foyer to raise funds for the King’s Trade Training Centre (KTTC) mission trip to Yarrabah. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we were able to bless the Yarrabah community with self-care products for the men and women, and toys for the children.  

Over four incredible days, the KTTC team ministered to the community through a BBQ dinner, free haircuts, home visits, a women’s morning tea, a church service, toy giveaways, and even a few joyful water balloon fights!  

Yarrabah is Australia’s largest discrete Aboriginal community, traditionally home to the Gunggandji and Yidinji Peoples, located 55 km east of Cairns. Originally established as an Anglican mission, Yarrabah became home to many First Nations and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly relocated there due to past government policies. Today, the community has a population of over 4,000 people — 97% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and 78% identifying as Anglican.  

The main focus of our trip was to connect with the youth and young adults of Yarrabah and help them engage more deeply with their local community. While the church has strong participation from children and older adults, there is a noticeable gap among those aged 14–35. This was KTTC’s first trip to Yarrabah, and the team hopes that through continued visits, stronger relationships will be built with the youth and children to help them stay connected and supported as they grow.  

One of the most impactful moments of the trip came during our outreach mornings. The men delivered milk and bread door-to-door, sharing the good news — and one young man gave his life to Christ and became connected with the local church. Meanwhile, the women gathered for a morning tea, taking turns to share stories and listen to the experiences of community women and elders. It was a powerful time of connection and healing — both for the Yarrabah women and our students, some of whom found the courage to share deeply personal stories for the first time. The Yarrabah women shared that they were moved to learn that many of the struggles faced by their young people are also experienced by youth on the Gold Coast.  

Attending this mission trip and being able to minister to people in need was an incredible experience. Thank you so much for helping us bless the Yarrabah community. KTTC hopes to continue visiting Yarrabah each year, and these trips are only possible through the support of local churches. As a maths teacher at KTTC, my mum is hoping to join the next mission — and I’m sure there’ll be another cake stall coming soon!  

Thanks, 

Amy Young