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Relational web
Brodie's networks span from traditional Elders in Mount Isa and the Lower Gulf region to youth justice services, school systems, and fitness communities. His relationships with local Indigenous communities underpin his ability to bridge young people to cultural teachings, while partnerships with organisations like Confit combat pathways provide urban connections and broader support systems.
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Ways I Hold & Share Knowledge
"Through the physical discipline of fitness training, the power of storytelling around campfires, and the wisdom of Elders on Country. Knowledge flows through movement, through yarning circles, through demonstrating resilience in my own journey from trouble to transformation. I translate cultural wisdom into accessible experiences for young people disconnected from their heritage."
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Who I Walk For
"I walk for the young people of the Lower Gulf who carry the weight of intergenerational trauma yet hold the promise of cultural renaissance. For the Elders who trusted me with knowledge when I was losing my way. For the families in Mount Isa who deserve to see their children thrive rather than survive. For those caught in cycles of addiction and crime who haven't yet glimpsed their potential.
Stories from the frontlines of Indigenous youth empowerment in Queensland's Lower Gulf
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The following are themes that have been identified through conversation
At the heart of CAMPFIRE lies the profound understanding that cultural disconnection is both wound and opportunity. By immersing young people in their cultural heritage, practices, and knowledge systems, Brodie facilitates healing that addresses the root causes of trauma and disconnection, creating pathways to wholeness beyond what conventional interventions can offer.
Brodie's approach recognizes the body as a vessel for transformation. Through structured fitness programs and physical activities, young people develop discipline, confidence, and healthy outlets for emotion. This physical empowerment extends beyond muscle to mindset, creating embodied resilience and self-efficacy.
Rather than treating young people as problems to be solved, CAMPFIRE positions them as emerging leaders with inherent wisdom and potential. The program builds capacity for self-determination and community contribution, nurturing the next generation of cultural custodians and change-makers through mentorship and practical leadership opportunities.
All aspects of the program operate with an understanding of how intergenerational and personal trauma impacts behavior, development, and wellbeing. This trauma-informed lens ensures safety, choice, and empowerment are centered in every interaction, creating conditions where healing can naturally emerge.
CAMPFIRE is deeply rooted in the specific cultural contexts and challenges of Mount Isa and the Lower Gulf region. Rather than imposing external models, the program grows from local knowledge, relationships, and realities, recognizing that effective healing must be culturally and geographically contextualized.
The program functions as part of a broader community ecosystem, collaborating with schools, justice services, healthcare providers, and families. This networked approach ensures consistent support across all areas of a young person's life, maximizing impact through coordinated care rather than siloed interventions.
CAMPFIRE addresses wellbeing across multiple dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, cultural, and spiritual. This integrated approach recognizes the interconnectedness of these aspects and provides comprehensive support that honors the whole person within their cultural context.
While responsive to current challenges, CAMPFIRE's core strategy is preventative – addressing root causes of youth disconnection and crime before crises occur. This upstream approach creates long-term sustainable change by building protective factors and cultural resilience in youth and their communities.
My journey begins on Kalkadoon country in Mount Isa, born to a Malaysian father and a Pitta Pitta mother with deep connections to the Wakka Wakka people. Growing up, I existed between worlds – seen as too white by some in my community but deeply connected to my Aboriginal heritage. The landscape of my childhood was complex: housing commission homes, family members cycling through the justice system, and the constant presence of violence and substance abuse.\n\nFootball became my first pathway to possibility. My talent on the field led to Queensland representation, even captaining the state side – a profound moment for a boy from the bush. This athletic promise carried me to Ignatius Park College in Townsville on a rugby league scholarship, opening doors beyond Mount Isa.
But at 18, when opportunity was at its brightest, I encountered drugs for the first time. What followed was a descent that cost me my football contract and disconnected me from my values and identity. I spiralled through a period of addiction, regret, and lost purpose. The redemption in my story came through an unexpected invitation to a men's camp led by Ernie Dingo. Initially reluctant – having just survived a suicide attempt – I attended only because my partner insisted.\n\nIn a yarning circle on Country, surrounded by 60 men, I found my voice. For the first time, I spoke about my struggles, my shame, my journey. That circle became the birthplace of my mission. Under Ernie's mentorship, I began facilitating Camping on Country programs throughout the Gulf, supporting men through healing and cultural reconnection.
Parallel to this cultural work, my passion for fitness grew. What began as personal training sessions in my shed during COVID evolved into a full gym – Brodie Germaine Fitness. More than just a physical space, it became a sanctuary where community members could find strength, connection, and purpose away from lateral violence and substance abuse.\n\nToday, I balance these vocations: running my gym while working in child protection for our local Aboriginal medical service. My days begin before dawn preparing content and business development, followed by full-time child protection work, then evening fitness sessions. This relentless schedule keeps me on the straight and narrow – the structure that supports my sobriety and service.
My life's work has become CAMPFIRE – an integration of cultural immersion, fitness, and mentorship designed to interrupt the cycles of youth crime and disconnection plaguing our communities. When young people join us on Country – without phones, without distractions, with just the land and their Elders – transformation begins. They learn to make didgeridoos that help with anxiety through breath control. They fish, hunt, and experience being present in ways impossible in town.\n\nMy story is one of continual healing through service. Every young person I reach reminds me of my own journey from lost to found, from isolation to belonging. Through CAMPFIRE, I create the spaces I needed when I was young – spaces of cultural pride, physical strength, and unconditional belief in potential.
CAMPFIRE (Culture, Ancestral Wisdom, Mentoring, Personal Growth, Fitness, Identity, Resilience, Empowerment) stands as the cornerstone of my work – a comprehensive program designed for Indigenous youth navigating the child protection and youth justice systems.
The initiative integrates three key elements: cultural immersion, physical fitness, and personalized mentorship.
Cultural Immersion: We lead 'Camping on Country' expeditions where Indigenous youth spend 7-day periods with Elders and traditional owners in remote areas without phone reception or modern distractions. These immersive experiences include traditional hunting, fishing, tool-making, and storytelling, reconnecting young people with their cultural heritage and identity. Each camp is conducted with proper cultural protocols, always involving Elders from the specific Country we visit.
Fitness Development: Through my community gym in Mount Isa, we provide structured fitness programs tailored to young people's needs and abilities. These sessions build physical strength while developing discipline, goal-setting abilities, and healthy stress management techniques. The gym serves as both training ground and community hub – a safe space where young people can belong regardless of circumstances.
Mentorship Program: We match each young person with a dedicated mentor who provides consistent support, guidance, and advocacy. Mentors help participants navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and build practical life skills.
The relationships formed often become lifelines for young people with few positive adult connections. Additional initiatives include:
- School-Based Support: We partner with local schools to provide in-class mentoring and fitness activities, helping keep young people engaged in education.
- Cultural Exchange: We're developing exchanges between Mount Isa youth and urban communities, broadening horizons and building cross-cultural understanding.
- Wellness Center Vision: We're working toward establishing a comprehensive wellness centre that combines fitness facilities, cultural programming, and support services under one roof.
All our programs employ a trauma-informed approach that recognizes the impacts of intergenerational trauma while emphasizing strength, resilience, and cultural pride as pathways to healing.
The wisdom embedded in cultural connection guides every aspect of my work – understanding that healing happens when young people know who they are and where they belong. I'm guided by the principle that physical strength builds mental resilience; that movement creates pathways for emotion to flow and transform.
I live by the truth that the small things matter – appreciating what we have rather than chasing what we lack. This perspective was forged in the remote simplicity of Mount Isa, where we create our own joy and meaning.
My journey taught me that vulnerability is strength. When I first shared my story in that yarning circle with Ernie Dingo, I discovered the healing power of honest expression. Now I create those safe spaces for others.
I'm guided by respect for proper cultural protocols – understanding that we must move at the pace of trust, with permission from the right people, honouring the knowledge systems that sustained our people for millennia.
Above all, I'm guided by the belief that transformation happens in relationship – that none of us heal alone, and that community is both the means and the end of our collective journey toward wholeness.
Join me in reimagining how we support Indigenous youth – moving beyond punishment toward healing, beyond programs toward relationship, beyond intervention toward cultural empowerment.
For government and funding bodies: Invest in prevention rather than incarceration. The economic argument is clear – it costs up to $1 million annually to keep a young person in detention, while preventative cultural programs require a fraction of those resources. But beyond economics lies a moral imperative to nurture potential rather than punish pain.
For service providers: Partner with us to develop culturally-led, trauma-informed approaches that centre the voice and agency of young people. Let's build a coordinated network of support that wraps around each young person with consistent care rather than fragmented services.
For community members: Volunteer your time, skills, or resources. Visit our gym, participate in community events, or contribute to our camping programs. Challenge the narratives that criminalise youth rather than addressing the root causes of their behaviour.
For fellow Indigenous leaders: Let's collaborate across regions, sharing our models and learning from each other's successes and challenges. Our strength lies in our unified approach to cultural reclamation and youth empowerment.\n\nFor young people: Your voice matters in shaping these programs.
Join us – not as participants but as co-creators of a movement that honours your experience and builds on your strengths. We walk this path together – not as saviors and saved, but as a community committed to creating the conditions where every young person can thrive in the fullness of their cultural identity and personal potential.
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