Inside Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw’s award-winning youth work

When award-winning youth worker, Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, was twelve years old, his family home stopped being a safe place.

The former Young Citizen of the Year had previously lived a happy life there with his mother. But after his stepfather moved in, things quickly turned sour.

In the years that followed, Jarib was exposed to violence – the experience leaving an indelible mark on him.

Plot twist

If statistics are anything to go by, Jarib’s encounter with domestic and family violence (DFV) could have set him on the wrong path. Studies show that DFV survivors are at higher risk of behavioural challenges and even criminality, later in life.

But for Jarib, the experience was an impetus for the success he went on to achieve.

At just 21 years of age, Jarib is now a 7NEWS Young Achiever Award winner, the 2025 Bush Champions Young Champion, a 2024 Darling Downs Child Protection Award recipient, and a 2024 Young Citizen of the Year. He is also currently nominated for the 2026 Young Australian of the Year Awards in Queensland.

Via his youth work with Cunnamulla Youth Council, and the Neighbourhood Centre he has helped more than 200 disadvantaged young people throughout Queensland.

“From a young age, I promised myself that I wouldn’t become the type of man that was abusing my mother – I wanted to be the complete opposite. And that’s what led me into youth work,” he said, ahead of the Children and Young People at Risk Summit.

Character defining

Jarib’s history didn’t just inspire his career choice. He believes it shaped his entire approach to life and work.

“What saved me as a young person was who showed up, the safe places I found, and the people who believed in me. They became a blueprint for how I do my work and support the young people within my community.

“Because of my experience, I’ve chosen to lead with love and care. Going through that at a young age, you learn that the world is full of bad people. It made me want to become someone that a young person feels safe with.”

Jarib also received strong mentorship throughout his career – through program like QYILP, Youth Parliament, and Fullaship – and credits this in sharpening leadership skills.

But above all, he believes his mother had a particularly positive influence on the man he is today.

“I had someone to love me unconditionally and show me what strength looks like. That is what ultimately saved me from a dark situation.

“The love I received from my Mum is something I try to emulate in my work. I want young people to feel loved and cared for, especially those who don’t come from loving families themselves.”

In fact, Jarib believes it’s a lack of emotional support that keeps disadvantaged young people entrenched in difficult situations.

“That’s something I believe to my core. Someone can have that internal drive, but without people supporting them, they won’t get to where they want to go.”

Work in action

With this philosophy underpinning this work, Jarib has helped turn around the lives of countless disadvantaged young people throughout Queensland.
While he has hundreds of stories, one in particular stands out.

“I was working with a 15-year-old boy. He was completely disengaged from school – virtually no attendance. The teachers labelled him as someone they couldn’t get through to, because they had tried everything.

“Just through taking this boy to the neighbourhood centre, chatting and playing video games, I found out he was going through substance abuse, domestic violence, and everything under the sun. School was the last place he wanted to be because he had so much going on in his home life.”

Working with stakeholders in the community, Jarib discovered the boy had a career passion – undisclosed to protect his identity.

He collaborated with the school and local businesses, to help secure the boy a school-based apprenticeship. Within six months, the boy had 100 percent school attendance.

“His story really showed me why I love this work,” Jarib said.

Overcoming challenges

While success stories like this keep Jarib going, he admits youth work can weigh him down at times.

“Youth work is a lot. You don’t get to clock off at 5:00pm. I’ve had calls from young people on the verge of suicide at 1:00 in the morning, because when you’re a safe person for them, you’re likely one of the only people they trust.”

While Jarib has had to navigate these situations with minimal training, he believes his ability to connect with young people has given him the tools to succeed.

“I was really fortunate because I knew many of these kids personally from growing up in the community and was able to connect with them on that basis,” he said.

“Connection is the secret ingredient in all of this work.”

Further insight

Sharing more on his journey, Jarib will present at the upcoming Children and Young People at Risk Summit.

His talk will discuss, what’s missing from youth work today, the hardest aspects of his work, what change actually looks like, and how to engage young people.

Learn more and register your tickets here.

About Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw

Jarib’s journey into youth work started with his own story. Growing up, he experienced domestic and family violence and made a promise to himself to never become like the man who caused that harm. Instead, he chose to walk through the world with love and to be the safe person he once needed.

Since joining Paroo Shire Council in 2023, he has supported more than 200 young people through case management, carrying an active caseload of 50 at any given time. He also leads the Cunnamulla Youth Council, giving young leaders a chance to learn real decision-making and civic leadership; and the Neighbourhood Centre – a safe place made with the young people themselves that provides food, connection, and belonging.

Along the way, he has been humbled by recognition, including the 2025 Bush Champions Young Champion Award, the 2025 7NEWS Young Achiever Award, the 2024 Darling Downs Child Protection Award, and the 2024 Young Citizen of the Year. He is also the Member for Warrego in the Queensland Youth Parliament, an alumni of the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, an alumni of the fullaship program and a Global Youth Ambassador with Theirworld. He is currently nominated for the 2026 Young Australian of the Year Awards in Queensland.