Recently, we had the privilege of speaking with Sheryl Batchelor, the founder and CEO of Yiliyapinya, an organisation that helps young people heal and strengthen their brains through culture, science, and community.

Sheryl told us how her journey started in teaching and youth mental health, where she saw firsthand how adversity changes the brain. With Yiliyapinya, she and her team now run programs for kids and teens—often those coming through the youth justice system—that focus on rebuilding memory, attention, and brain speed. The programs are small and personal (five staff for ten young people), and can run anywhere from a school term to a year depending on each person’s needs.

What stood out most was Sheryl’s determination in starting Yiliyapinya back in 2019. There was the uphill battle of shifting conversations from “mental health problems” to “brain health and healing.” For two years she showed up every day—meeting with communities, speaking at conferences, networking wherever she could—often without pay, just to build trust and get people talking. Along the way she kept learning from neuroscientists, weaving science into culturally grounded practices that actually work for First Nations youth.

Today, Yiliyapinya is recognised as a leader in this space, bringing together dozens of organisations to rethink how we support young people.