On this page
Reshape Our Future youth forums are finally happening across Melbourne and regional Victoria in June 2022, presented by YACVic.
Reshape Our Future youth forums are a fun, free and powerful event for young people aged 12-25, to have your say on what matters to you and make new friends who care about the same things as you.
After lockdowns kept us physically apart, it’s so important now more than ever for a space where young people can come together, learn and take action to Reshape Our Future together.
Dates and Locations
- Warrnambool, Gunditjmara Country: 3 June, Deakin Uni, Brother Fox
- Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country: 10 June, Melbourne Museum
- Wangaratta, Pangerang Country: 14 June, Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre
- Robinvale, Latji Latji Country: 22 June, Robinvale Leisure Centre
- Bairnsdale, Gunaikurnai Country: 24 June, Forge Theatre & Arts Hub
These events all are free and fully catered. See accessibility information for each location here.
Note: The Reshape Our Future Youth Forum was originally scheduled for May 2021 as an event happening across five different locations at the same time, but due to COVID-19 and feedback from young people, the event was postponed until it could be run in-person at a later date.
Book Your Tickets Now
Become a YACVic member
Stand united with young people as we work for justice and champion young people’s rights. YACVic supports young people with advocacy, training and resources to help you make a difference. The best part for young people is that it’s free to be a YACVic member until you turn 26!
A young person is anyone aged 12 - 25.
Accessibility
YACVic takes access and inclusion seriously. We are committed to making every event as accessible as possible for all members of our community.
When you book your ticket, there is a list of accessibility needs which you can tick to ensure your needs are met. If you have an accessibility need that isn't listed, you can contact support@yacvic.org.au.
Below you can see access information for each venue, including access keys and key dates to tell us about access needs.
Warrnambool
Please notify us of any access needs by Friday 27 May to ensure we have time to book supports. You can tell us about access needs directly in your ticket booking or by emailing support@yacvic.org.au. Once the deadline has passed, you can still check the access key, or contact us to see what we can do, or check if your needs are already being accommodated for.
Melbourne
Please notify us of any access needs by Friday 27 May to ensure we have time to book supports. You can tell us about access needs directly in your ticket booking or by emailing support@yacvic.org.au. Once the deadline has passed, you can still check the access key, or contact us to see what we can do, or check if your needs are already being accommodated for.
Wangaratta
Please notify us of any access needs by Friday 3 June to ensure we have time to book supports. You can tell us about access needs directly in your ticket booking or by emailing support@yacvic.org.au. Once the deadline has passed, you can still check the access key, or contact us to see what we can do, or check if your needs are already being accommodated for.
Robinvale
Please notify us of any access needs by Sunday 12 June to ensure we have time to book supports. You can tell us about access needs directly in your ticket booking or by emailing support@yacvic.org.au. Once the deadline has passed, you can still check the access key, or contact us to see what we can do, or check if your needs are already being accommodated for.
Bairnsdale
Please notify us of any access needs by Tuesday 14 June to ensure we have time to book supports. You can tell us about access needs directly in your ticket booking or by emailing support@yacvic.org.au. Once the deadline has passed, you can still check the access key, or contact us to see what we can do, or check if your needs are already being accommodated for.
Youth Forum Program
-
Friday 3 June
Deakin University, Warrnambool Campus - Brother Fox
-
9:30am
Arrival/Registration Open
-
10am - Welcome
-
Welcome to Country - Brett Clarke (he/him) - local Indigenous Cultural Custodian of the Gunditjmara nation, Kirrae Whurrung tribe
-
Young MC to set the scene - Dylan Bermingham (he/him) - residential care worker, psychology student and deep thinker
-
Welcome from Warrnambool City Mayor - Vicki Jellie AM (she/her)
-
-
10:20am - We are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!
We will hear from amazing young people as to why empowering young people as leaders is so important for their communities and society as a whole.
Speakers:
-
Aaron Morgan (he/him) - proud Gunditjmara man, Traditional Dancer and muso caring for Country and Culture
-
Michael Killen (he/him) - environmental justice advocate, Youth Parliamentarian and Councillor
-
Tess Lourey (she/her) - Youth Mayor of Corangamite Shire
-
Moderator: Cassandra Prigg (she/her) - activist, writer and student
-
-
11:40am - Lunch and Vibes
Fully catered lunch with a live music performance by Grace Moloney.
-
12:10pm - Where's your head at?: Addressing Mental Health and Stigma
Mental health conversations often only cover general things, and don’t get deep. Join us for a chat about intersectional experiences, the stigma around mental health and more.
Speakers:
-
Charlie Bassett (she/her) - Live4Life ambassador and trainee journalist
-
Kyle Hayes (he/him) - Live4Life facilitator, worker at batyr, orygen youth health, peer advocate
-
Melis Layik (she/her) - Centre for Multicultural Youth, mental health advocate
-
Alex Dalton (he/him) - ABC Takeover Melbourne winner, LGBTIQA+ and mental health advocate
-
Moderator: Jen Rowan (she/her) - mental health advocate and facilitator
-
-
1:00pm - Pathways to Power
Young people are underrepresented in all levels of government, with the average age of an MP in Federal Government being 51. Young people are leading the way on social change, whether its calls for action on climate change, mental health, consent and so much more. We will explore how young people's voices and perspectives can be heard, and how we can build your pathways to power.
Speakers:
-
Alex Dyson (he/him) - media personality, 2022 federal independent candidate for Wannon
-
Cassandra Prigg (she/her) - activist, writer and student
-
Sienna Gladstone (she/her) - student, activist, VicSRC Executive
- Moderator: Rachel Wilks (she/her) - youth worker
-
-
2:00pm - Close
Wrap-up and close for the day!
-
Friday 10 June
Melbourne Museum, Melbourne
-
9:30am
Arrival/Registration Open
-
10:00am - Welcome
-
Welcome to Country - Uncle Tony Garvey (he/him) - Wurundjeri Elder
-
Young MCs to set the scene - Natarsha Bamblett (she/her) - Yorta Yorta/Bangerang, Warlpiri, Wuradjeri and Kurnai woman, multi-business owner, mum, facilitator, speaker, performer, mentor, and Jacob Gamble (they/them) - YACVic young peer facilitator, 3CR radio hostess, youth advocate
-
-
10:20am - We are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!
We will hear from amazing young people as to why empowering young people as leaders is so important for their communities and society as a whole.
Speakers:
-
Linh, Aakriti, Tiffany and Joseph - VicSRC representatives
-
Divergent Fel (she/her) - Youth Disability Advocacy Service Young Leader graduate
-
Berat Kaya (he/him) - Hume City Council Young Citizen of the Year
-
-
11:00am - Morning Tea
Break time + making new friends
-
11:15am - Pathways to Power
Young people are underrepresented in all levels of government, with the average age of an MP in Federal Government being 51. Young people are leading the way on social change, whether its calls for action on climate change, mental health, consent and so much more. We will explore how young people's voices and perspectives can be heard, and how we can build your pathways to power.
Speakers:
-
Katie Hall MP (she/her) - Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs
-
Ashleigh Streeter-Jones (she/her) - thought leader, writer and activist
-
Arya Banerjee (he/him) - Victorian Youth Congress
-
Luke Hall (he/him) - Run For It lead workshop coordinator, The Bicycle Network data analyst
-
-
12:20pm - Lunch
Fully catered lunch
-
1pm - Ally as a verb: How to Be a Better Ally
This workshop will explore what true allyship is, why it is important and how we can all be better allies and ensure that we keep allyship at the heart of all our actions. We will explore tangible steps to improve your allyship and ways to harness being an ally to make change and not just noise.
Speakers:
-
Elsa Tuet-Rosenberg (she/her) - co-founder of antiracism organisation Hue, educator, facilitator, activist, organiser and performer
-
Krushnadevsinh (Kano) Ravalji (he/him) - youth and multiculturalism advocate
-
Jessi Hooper (she/her) - Youth Disability Advocacy Service Young Leader graduate, VicHealth FutureHealthy community champion, Youth Parliamentarian
-
-
2:00pm - Close
Wrap-up and close for the day!
-
Tuesday 14 June
Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre
-
9:30am
Arrival/Registration Open
-
10am - Welcome
-
Welcome to Country - Darren Atkinson (Uncle Dozer) - Local Bpangerang leader
-
Young MCs to set the scene - Steph Grant (she/her) - high school student and advocate; Riya Rajesh (she/her) - YACVic young peer facilitator
-
-
10:20am - We are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!
This is an interactive session which will explore the theme of youth leadership and what it looks like. We’ll discuss topics like what we need to do to make leadership more accessible, inclusive and available for young people locally.
YACVic Young Peer Facilitators will lead this session at each table.
-
11:00am - Morning Tea
Break time + making new friends
-
11:20am - Nothing about us, without us!: Disability Justice and Inclusiveness in Education
Accessing education as disabled young people can be complicated. Join our amazing guest speakers as they share their experiences, and how the disability justice movement is fighting for inclusiveness.
Speakers:
-
Tim Chan (he/him) - adult autistic non-speaker and advocate for access, participation and inclusion for people with disability
-
Mac Zamani (he/him) - 18-year-old queer and disabled youth advocate currently undertaking year 12
- Srishti Chatterjee (they/them) - Sociology and Media & Communications researcher at the University of Melbourne, disability advocate
-
Moderator: Is Hay (they/them) - facilitator and advocate
-
-
12:05pm - Lunch/Music Performance
Enjoy a fully catered lunch.
-
1:00pm - Pathways to Power
Young people are underrepresented in all levels of government, with the average age of an MP in Federal Government being 51. Young people are leading the way on social change, whether its calls for action on climate change, mental health, consent and so much more. We will explore how young people's voices and perspectives can be heard, and how we can build your pathways to power.
Speakers:
-
Eli Davern (he/him) - former Albury Youth Mayor, 2022 Young Citizen of the Year, youngest 2022 federal election candidate (seat of Farrer)
-
-
2:00pm - Close
Wrap-up and close for the day!
-
Wednesday 22 June
Robinvale Leisure Centre, Robinvale
-
9:30am
Arrival/Registration Opens
-
10am - Welcome
-
Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony
-
Young MC to set the scene - Conor Pall (he/him) - 2022 Victorian Young Achiever of the Year, domestic violence victim/survivor advocate
-
-
10:20am - We are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!
We will hear from amazing young people as to why empowering young people as leaders is so important for their communities and society as a whole.
Speakers:
-
Stephanie Hartshorn (she/her) - Youthrive Rural Youth Network youth engagement leader
-
Bayden Clayton (he/him) - Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service client services officer
-
Milla Devlin (she/her) - Youth Ball founder
-
-
11:00am - Morning Tea
Break time + making new friends
-
11:20am - I'm down if you're down…: Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships
This is a safe space for young people to talk about their experiences navigating intersectional sexual health, consent, sex education and relationships.
Speakers:
-
Anne-Marie Kelly (she/her) - Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health senior health promotion manager
-
Will Burns (he/him) - Swan Hill Rural City Council youth support officer, young person involved in Sexy & Safe (rural sexual health program)
-
Meagan McGregor (she/her) - Salvation Army youth AOD worker
-
-
12pm - Lunch/Music Performance
Fully catered lunch, with a live performance!
-
1:00pm - Pathways to Power
Young people are underrepresented in all levels of government, with the average age of an MP in Federal Government being 51. Young people are leading the way on social change, whether its calls for action on climate change, mental health, consent and so much more. We will explore how young people's voices and perspectives can be heard, and how we can build your pathways to power.
Speakers:
-
Conor Pall (he/him) – 2022 Victorian Young Achiever of the Year, domestic violence victim/survivor advocate
-
Laura Crozier (she/her) – VicSRC project officer, co-creator of Growing Up Clueless podcast
-
-
2:00pm - Close
Wrap-up and close for the day!
-
Friday 24 June
Forge Theatre & Arts Hub, Bairnsdale
-
9:30am
Arrival/Registration Open
-
10am - Welcome
- Welcome to Country
- Young MC to set the scene - Brodie Pyle (he/him) - comedian and creator of Gippsland Promotions
-
10:20am - We are the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow!
We will hear from amazing young people as to why empowering young people as leaders is so important for their communities and society as a whole.
Speakers:
- James Bush (he/him)
- Brodie Pyle (he/him)
- Kaitlin Woolford
-
11:00am - Morning Tea
Break time + making new friends
-
11:20am - Work in Progress: Meaningful Work for Young People
Let’s explore our rights, and what it means to be a young person in the workplace! We will work through things like peer work, lived experience, ensuring our rights as young workers are protected, and creating a safe space to share experiences.
Speakers:
- Jes John (she/her) - Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network
- Riley Legg (he/him) - Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network
-
12pm - Lunch/Music Performance
Fully catered lunch, with a live music performance by Olivia Lay (she/her).
-
1:00pm - Pathways to Power
Young people are underrepresented in all levels of government, with the average age of an MP in Federal Government being 51. Young people are leading the way on social change, whether its calls for action on climate change, mental health, consent and so much more. We will explore how young people's voices and perspectives can be heard, and how we can build your pathways to power.
Speakers:
- Kirsten Van Diggle (she/her)
-
2:00pm - Close
Wrap-up and close for the day!
Contact Us
If you need further information, please contact support@yacvic.org.au. Enquiries will be handled by Derm Ryan (he/him) and Jacob Gamble (they/them).
For location-specific enquiries, contact:
-
Warrnambool - Karen Walsh (she/her), KWalsh@YACVic.org.au
-
Melbourne - Julia Baron (she/her), JBaron@YACVic.org.au
- Wangaratta - Derm Ryan (he/him), DRyan@YACVic.org.au
- Robinvale - Rhiannon Jennings (she/her), RJennings@YACVic.org.au
- Bairnsdale - Carla Hall (she/her), CHall@YACVic.org.au
Acknowledgement of Country and Cultural Safety
We are committed to respecting this lore and creating a culturally safe event space.
Reshape Our Future will take place across the lands of the Aboriginal nations within Victoria and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. Bunjil’s lore states that those who walk on this land must care for the Country and waterways as well as for the children and young people. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Commitment to Child Safety
YACVic is a child safe organisation. By attending these events, you agree to join us in our commitment to child safety.
Meet Our Sponsors
Reshape Our Future is made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners and sponsors.
Principal Partner
Regional and Session Partners
Youth Partners
Media Partners
· Warrnambool: Karen Walsh (she/her) KWalsh@YACVic.org.au
· Melbourne: Julia Baron (she/her) JBaron@YACVic.org.au
· Wangaratta: Derm Ryan (he/him) DRyan@YACVic.org.au
· Robinvale: Rhiannon Jennings (she/her) RJennings@YACVic.org.au
· Bairnsdale: Carla Hall (she/her) CHall@YACVic.org.au