Built on a prototype program, the evidence-based approach of the Equestrian Youth Engagement Service (EYES) was born out of a need to find innovative ways to support justice involved young people to re-imagine themselves living positive hopeful lives , connected and contributing to community. It is a collaboration between Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) , Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation (KKAC) , YACWA and Centre for Social Impact, UWA . EYES uses multiple behaviour change elements including equine facilitated interventions, cultural mentorship and strong support from the WA Equestrian industry to help young people re-engage with education, undertake work experience, gain employment and divert them from criminal activity and early school disengagement . It is underpinned by integrating current thinking in trauma transformative practice and criminogenic need into everyday interactions with young people.
Young people’s voices are at the centre of the program design and delivery. Young people develop personal goals and after each phase of the program participants provide feedback and review progress towards their goals. After 3 groups had completed, a team of YACWA young consultants spoke to program participants, their families and referral agencies to provide an impact report. Activities have been refined, adding industry recognised online training and extending the program to an older cohort, 17 to 23 years. An Aboriginal youth peer support worker with a lived experience of out of home care and youth justice detention has been a key staff member from the outset and has guided and mentored young people through the program. She has been pivotal in gaining young peoples feedback and using this to develop activities that keep young people engaged.
The learnings from the pilot, service impact study and evaluation planning can be discussed, including the power of animal assisted interventions, maintaining youth engagement with lived experience, working within statutory systems, the importance of cultural support and supporting young people to transition to employment
Lyn Millett
Director Strategic Projects, Australian Childhood Foundation
Lyn is the Director of Strategic Projects at the Australian Childhood Foundation. She is a registered clinical psychologist and holds a Masters in Clinical and Health Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Sciences and a Graduate Diploma in Education. She has an exceptionally strong record of achievements in community service growth, evaluation and outcome measurement and has held senior positions within major not for profit organizations and government departments. She has worked in the USA and New Zealand in the adult and youth justice sectors and has co-authored articles in the fields of offender rehabilitation and youth mental health.
Ellie Higgins
Youth peer support worker, Australian Childhood Foundation
With a strong background in the equestrian industry and lived experience in youth justice and out of home care, Ellie is the youth peer support worker at the Equestrian Youth Engagement Service. She received the highest rating from the youth participants for her ability to engage and support young people in the 2024 Service Impact Report. She currently divides her time between running her own horse retraining and agistment business and working at ACF.
Ellie was named as the winner of the Positive Achievement category at the WA Youth Awards in 2024.
She was also part of the ACF team that won the Sector Collaboration Award in the 2025 WA Youth Awards for the Equestrian program.
