For 16-year old Shyanne McClung, art has been the driving force in enabling her to make her mark on the world.

Shyanne is set to bring her creative vision to life for a new Australian clothing label, AIME Apparel. She is one of 17 Indigenous Year 10 students from across Australia selected as art interns for the brand’s 2016-17 collection, which will raise funds for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME).

“I've always had a love of art. It's been one of the main things that has helped me through school, and it's been something that has helped me open up. I'm more inspired to do things now,” she told the Tribune when describing her great passion.

The Murrumbateman local was selected from a group of around 1,000 students to participate in AIME’s project.

“When I found out I'd been selected, I couldn't believe it, I was literally over the moon,” she said.

“I had to have my teacher repeat it because I couldn't believe I'd won.”

The intensive art and design workshop took place over two days from Wednesday April 13 to Thursday April 14 at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Collective in Leichhardt. Working alongside professional mentors from Budgy Smuggler, Havaianas, One Teaspoon, Saltwater Dreamtime, Recycled Mats and Aboriginal Mats, Seafolly Australia, and Staples Australia, the 17 interns were tasked with creating an original artwork that will inspire the 2016-17 range of products for AIME Apparel.

“When I came up to Sydney we got straight into work, all the other kids took it seriously and professionally. It was really good the fact that we all got along so well and the fact that we went up there,” she said.

“We had ideas straight away, we sat there and whatever was inspiring us to do it, we just did it! I met so many wonderful people.”

Shyanne chose to capture the story of when Australia finally decided to accept Aboriginal people.

“In my main work you can see two hands,with different patterns, one Aboriginal, one Australian. The patterns in their hands represent their emotions and thoughts towards this greeting. The bubbles in the background represent the confusion, excitement and nervousness of their surroundings,” she explained.

The artworks were exhibited on Friday at Boomalli, where students shared their stories and artworks with their mentors, AIME staff and corporate partners, and potential fashion collaborators who may use the interns’ designs on their products.

Shyanne started AIME last year when she was in Year 9.

“Since I've been involved with AIME I've loved it! It's helped a lot with school, I've got a boost in social confidence and with school in general.”

The artworks will soon be printed onto apparel and distributed across Australia.

“It's great to think my work can actually mean something to other people, the fact that it can get out there and other people can enjoy looking at it just as much as I do and just as much as I loved drawing it.”

Shyanne hopes to continue her passion in art and carry it onto a career.

“I want to become an art teacher, one of my main goals in life is to sort of travel around a bit more, to study different cultures, to come back and teach other people what I've learnt over the years,” she said.