Potholes to Possibilities: Rural conference program

Contents

Day 1 – Wednesday 22 November	1

11:30 AM — Registration and networking lunch	1

12:30 PM — Welcome to Country	1

12:45 PM — Opening remarks	1

1 PM — Plenary: The future of rural youth work	1

2:15 PM — Concurrent sessions: Youth participation — Our most powerful change agent	1

Stream 1 — Panel: Pathways from participation	1

Stream 2 — Panel: Tools of the trade	2

3:30 PM — Discussion breakouts	3

4 PM — YACVic AGM	3

Day 1 — Wednesday 22 November

11:30 AM — Registration and networking lunch

Register for the conference. We will also be taking registrations for the optional conference dinner (limited places).

12:30 PM — Welcome to Country

Welcome to Country by a Dja Dja Wurrung Elder.

12:45 PM — Opening remarks

Minister for Youth The Hon Natalie Suleyman MP and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Member for Bendigo West The Hon Maree Edwards MP will open the conference.

1 PM — Plenary: The future of rural youth work

An exciting panel about current and future youth issues for the rural youth sector.

Speakers:

Anne Murphy (she/her) — Glenelg and Southern Grampians LLEN

Jemal Ahmet (he/him) — CMY

Tom Saxton (he/him) — YACVic Young Peer Facilitator

Professor Tim Corney (he/him) — Victoria University

Tasha Ritchie (she/her) - Titjimbat (Teachabout Inc.)

2:15 PM — Concurrent sessions: Youth participation — Our most powerful change agent

Introduction by Sam Champion (he/him) — Participation and Development Manager, YACVic.

Stream 1 — Panel: Pathways from participation

Youth participation is normally used in the context of specific programs or projects, but we know that young people develop many transferrable skills along the way. This session explores the life, study and work pathways your youth participation ‘alumni’ could pursue, and how to help them get there.

Speakers:

Alannah Sander (she/her) and Laura Crozier (she/her) — Youth Live4Life

Steph Hartshorn and Ella Jacobsen — YouThrive Victoria

Chloe Rheinberger (she/her) — UN Youth

Jun Bin Lee (he/him) — Disability Pride Starts Here, YDAS

Moderator: Sienna Gladstone (she/her) — Young Peer Facilitator, YACVic

Stream 2 — Panel: Tools of the trade

Successful models of meaningful youth participation share their best tips for success.

Speakers:

Jo Lindsey (she/her) - Junction Youth Services

Alex Ross (she/her) - Full Impact Squad, Tomorrow Today Foundation Benalla

Tom Saxton (he/him) - Young Peer Facilitator, YACVic

Finnley Sterling (they/them) - Participation & Development Administrative Officer and Code of Ethics Project Officer, YACVic

Riya Rajesh (she/her) - Young Peer Facilitator and YERP & Code Upgrades Project Officer, YACVic

Moderator: Sam Champion (he/him) - Participation and Development Manager, YACVic

3:30 PM — Discussion breakouts

Percolating on youth participation, we want to help you transfer what you learned into practice. We’ll discuss: what are your key takeaways? What are the most important next steps that could make them happen in your region?

4 PM — YACVic AGM

TEXT HERE

Day 2 — Thursday 23 November

8:30 AM — Registration

9 AM — Keynote & panel: Technology for good

It’s important to be aware of safety and ethical risks when using technology as a youth worker, but that doesn’t mean we should be scared off.

Technology is here to stay in the lives of young people; this expert panel walks us through how we can make the most of the advantages without compromising safety.

Keynote:

Lucy Thomas OAM (they/she), CEO and co-founder of Project Rockit

Panel:

Julia Rovery (she/her) — CMY Gippsland

Cassandra Rowe (she/her) — 5CT Program Coordinator, Indigital

Rebecca Elmes (she/her) — Community Planning Officer, Moyne Shire Council

Dr Kelsey Deane (she/her) — Measurement, Evaluation and Learning Advisor, BRAVE Foundation

Moderator: Tom Saxton (he/him) — politics and computer science student; youth advocate

10 AM — Concurrent sessions

Stream 1 — Research speed dating

Talk to young researchers working on prickly issues for young people and the youth sector in rural Victoria.

Speed daters:

Dr Charlotte McPherson (she/her), Youth Research Collective, University of Melbourne

Dr Melyssa Fuqua (she/her), Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne

Meg Lee (she/her), Wimmera youth worker

Stream 2 — Consult: The future of rural youth health

The recently launched VicHealth Strategy 2023 – 2033 outlines a 10-year plan to improve the health and wellbeing of all Victorians. The VicHealth team will offer insights into Future Reset, the VicHealth funded program for rural and regional young people and hear your ideas and feedback on the opportunities presented by the new VicHealth strategy.

Representatives:

Liss Gabb (she/her) — Manager, Social Wellbeing and Mental Health team

Geskeva Komba (she/her) — Lead, Social Wellbeing and Mental Health team

Stream 3 — Consult: National Centre of Excellence in Young People and Disasters

YACVic and Victoria University (VU) are establishing a National Centre of Excellence in Young People and Disasters. It will be a collaborative hub for research, expertise, and programs for young people to be actively involved in decision-making and management of disasters such as bushfires or floods.

We want to hear from you about what the Centre should look like and how you want to be involved.

Speaker:

Derm Ryan (he/him) — Head of YACVic Rural, acting co-CEO

11:15 AM — Morning tea

11:45 AM — Workshop: Connecting to Purpose, REACH Foundation

This interactive workshop will help you align back to the ‘why’ we do the work we do. Be guided through an experience which cuts to the core of your purpose, and makes you feel energised and proud.

Facilitators:

Cam Quashie (he/him)

Katie Sproule (she/her)

12:45 PM — Lunch

1:45 PM — Keynote & panel: Creative approaches to youth mental health promotion

It’s going to take all kinds of creative thinking to respond to the prevalence of mental health concerns amongst young people. This panel session will explore programs that are innovative and responsive to young people’s strengths and needs.

Keynote:

Stephen Carbone (he/him), CEO and founder of Prevention United

Panel:

Cam Quashie (he/him) and Katie Sproule (she/her) — REACH Foundation

Sophie Rak (she/her) and Ash Hem (they/them) — Orygen Youth Mental Health

Moderator: Lyn Eales (she/her) — School and Community Programs Manager, Brophy FYS

3:15 PM — Afternoon tea

3:30 PM — Concurrent sessions: Mental health

Stream 1 — Panel: Natural solutions

A growing body of evidence shows that nature-based activities have a positive impact on young people’s mental health. Hear how different youth programs use nature to enhance wellbeing, tackle mental health issues, and prevent mental ill-health.

Speakers:

Lauren Barker (she/her) — Nature Scripts headspace

Sönke Tremper (he/him) — Giz a Break

Carmela Diaz Arteche (she/her) — Ocean Mind

Moderator: Sienna Gladstone (she/her) — Young Peer Facilitator, YACVic

Stream 2 — Panel: Access matters

This session is all about how to break down barriers to help young people access supports for wellbeing and mental health. We hear from various youth workers about how they’ve approached this from different perspectives to create relevant and effective resources and pathways, including to advocacy.

Speakers:

Liss Gabb (she/her) and Geskeva Komba (she/her) — VicHealth Social Wellbeing & Connection

Lucy Demant (she/her) and Aaron Batchelor (he/him) — Alcohol & Drug Foundation (ADF)

Thu Nguyen (she/her) — Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)

Heather Ryan (she/they) — Human Rights Advocacy Manager, Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)

Moderator: Finnley Sterling (they/them) — Participation & Development Administrative Officer and Code of Ethics Project Officer, YACVic

4:30 PM — Discussion breakouts

Lets reflect on how you can transfer the day’s learnings into practice. We’ll discuss: what are your key takeaways? What are the most important next steps that could make them happen in your region?

5 PM — Closing remarks

7 – 9 PM — Evening event: Optional group dinner

Optional group dinner; this is not included in the conference ticket price and participation is at each attendee’s own expense.

FOS

Day 3 — Friday 24 November