In celebration of the First Nations young people in our out-of-home care and youth housing programs, Burdekin recently hosted our very own first Gayamaygal and Cadigal debutante ball on Friday June 20, 2025 at South Sydney Juniors Leagues Club.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, a debutante ball is not just about a formal dance event, but a powerful expression of cultural pride, community building, and celebration. It’s a significant event for young ladies and young men to celebrate their journey into adulthood.
Debutante balls reflect the intersection of an aristocratic tradition and the advancements of Indigenous rights in Australia. For some, it’s about empowering young Aboriginal and Torres Strait young people to create the change they’re seeking, and make the legacy of debutante balls theirs, doing it their way.
If you can’t find it, make one yourself
Aunty Barbara from Burdekin’s Aboriginal Team attempted to find a suitable local debutante ball for our young First Nations people. However, a local appropriate ball didn’t exist. So, Burdekin decided to hold our own debutante ball, as we didn’t want our young people to miss out. The resulting debutante ball was designed to be held in a way that the young people felt most comfortable to attend.
“Debutante balls hold significant cultural importance for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.
They serve as a way to celebrate young people’s transition to adulthood, a way to develop their confidence and build pride, and give a social occasion that they may not have had otherwise.
Burdekin’s inaugural debutante ball puts a spin on the traditional debutante ball, adding cultural components to boost the young people’s confidence and leadership skills. “
Aunty Barbara, Head of Burdekin’s Aboriginal Team
An invitation to Burdekin’s first debutante ball was also extended to three key people of each young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander young person – a friend, a family member or a Burdekin person.
Debutante Ball traditions honoured
Traditionally, a formal suit or white gown is worn by debutantes (aged 15-19), and Burdekin’s young people were encouraged to wear the same, or whatever they felt most comfortable in.
Ball room dancing lessons were provided in the lead up to the ball (and on the night) by well know professional, Gordon Gilkes, CEO and Founder of Dance Sport Confidence and known to television viewers as the partner of Dawn Fraser on Channel Seven’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’. He introduced the young people to some basic dance steps, including the Waltz, Samba, and rock-and-roll style.
“We taught over 160,000 students to dance in public schools in Australia, while learning about respectful relations, resilience and courage. I’m very fortunate to have found my passion in life, and to be surrounded by like minded professionals willing to give of themselves in order to help children and young people become the best versions of themselves.”
Gordon Gilkes, CEO and Founder of Dance Sport Confidence
A professional make-up artist worked her magic with her make up and hair bush brush on the afternoon of the Debutante Ball, adding a touch of glamour, while taming the tresses of the young people attending.
During the proceedings, each First Nations young person and their partner were introduced to the audience, by Emcee and Burdekin’s CEO – Justene Gordon – while describing the young person’s positive key qualities, their interests and previously unknown facts about them.
The Community Elders in the audience were Lola Ryan – an Aboriginal Elder from the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and Charles Mundine, a Widjabul Aboriginal Elder. Charles Mundine presented the debutantes with a corsage or boutonniere while being admired by the watching young people, family, friends, Burdekin Youth Workers, Carers and mentors.
All in all, it was a magical, positive affirming night that lifted up Burdekin’s First Nations young people!
