NEW DATES - Reshape Our Future: 2021 Youth Forum and Sector Conference

Each session of the Conference is connected state-wide. Attendees can participate in Q&As and table discussions. For more information, visit our FAQ page.

Explore the Conference program and expo site.

Catch up with colleagues and peers before the Conference sessions start.

• Welcome to Country

• Welcome by Tasha Ritchie (she/her) - Chair, YACVic & Youth Programs Manager, Children & Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

Youth Loop: Video montage of a young person from each Conference location sharing insights about their region.

• Melbourne: Natarsha Bamblett (she/her)

• Lakes Entrance: Brodie Pile (he/him)

• Mildura: Breanna Macfarlane (she/her)

• Wangaratta: Steph Grant (she/her)

• Warrnambool: Cassandra Prigg (she/her)

• Program Overview by Katherine Ellis (she/her) - CEO, YACVic

Young people are more active than ever in their communities across global movements. How is it that they do not have a more prominent role in decision-making on urgent issues?

• Moderator: Andrew Leap (he/him) – Student Voice Advocate & Member, VicHealth Reimagining Young People’s Futures Youth Steering Group

• Dr Harry Shier (he/him) – Writer, researcher and global expert on young people’s rights and participation

• Bryce Taylor (he/him) – Participation & Development Officer, Koorie Youth Council

• Amy Chu (she/her), Youth Ambassador, and Catherine Maine (she/her), Youth and Family Services Team – ‘Youth United Against Family Violence’ initiative, City of Greater Dandenong

• Thanked by: Heather Morecroft (she/her) - Senior Strategic Advisor, Spark Strategy

This session is sponsored by Spark Strategy

Meet a Kiwi Youth Worker: interaction opportunity with youth workers attending the INVOLVE New Zealand Youth Sector Conference 

Update on the progress of the Victorian Government’s new Youth Strategy, due for launch later this year.

• Hon Ros Spence MP (she/her) – Minister for Youth

• Gerry Goswell (she/her) – Director, Office for Youth, Victorian Government

• Otis Heffernan-Wooden (he/him), Tom Saxton (he/him) & Lily Trethowan (she/her)  – Youth Congress members, Victorian Government

Short break and transition to new Zooms for next session

Parallel 1: Identity and Intersectionality

People and politics seem more divided than ever. How can we empower diverse young people to participate in and build a more connected society?

• Moderator/Speaker: Hang Vo (she/her) – CEO, Whitelion, and Chair, the Victorian Pride Centre

• April Goldring (she/her) – Rainbow Program Leading Aboriginal Mentor and Facilitator Mentor and Facilitator, Strong Brother, Strong Sister

• Swathi Shanmukhasundaram (she/her) – ABC Takeover, & Co-founder, The Vermillion Project

Parallel 2: The Future for Mental Health – Making Reform Real

Bushfires, pandemic and recession over the past two years have put even more intense pressure on the mental health of young people and those working with them. At the same time, the Royal Commission into Mental Health has presented a roadmap for the future of Victoria’s mental health system. As key stakeholders, how can young people and the youth sector contribute – state-wide and locally – to the successful implementation of the recommendations?

This session will have a state-wide speaker and Q&A, then local speakers and discussions.

State-wide Speakers:

• Pam Anders (she/her) – CEO, Mental Health Reform Victoria

• Natasha Ludowyk (she/her) – Researcher, Live4Life Evaluation Project, Ludowyk Evaluation

• Han-Mari Cronje (she/her) and Kirsty Fealy (she/her) – Global Ambassador Program, Werribee headspace

• Kirsty Fealy (she/her) – Global Ambassador Program, headspace Werribee

• Moderator: Jen Rowan (she/her) – Youth Mental Health Working Group Member, YACVic

Break and Networking

Parallel 1: Young People Leading Peace and Connection

Social media bubbles and identity politics try every day to divide us, and can lead to violence and exclusion. How are young people taking action to build social connection and respectful relationships, and how do we support them?

• Lakshitha Saji Prelis (he/him) – Co-Chair, UN Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, & Director, Children & Youth Programs, Search for Common Ground

• Ofeira Satele (she/her) and Aby Simaika (she/her) – Know Your Roots, Point of Difference Studio, Shepparton

• Zoe Condliffe (she/her) – Founder, She's a Crowd

• Moderator: Thomas Feng (he/him), Media & Communications Manager, YACVic

Parallel 2: Young People in Disaster Recovery and Emergency Management

In disasters, it’s vital to provide resources to specifically support and empower young people. Not only in the immediate aftermath, but also as part of ongoing recovery and rebuilding over several years. In the wake of the 2019/20 fires and COVID-19, how do we collectively ensure that young people have a central role in decision making? How do we ensure that they get dedicated and specific roles on local, state and national recovery committees, and other advisory bodies?

• Carmel Flynn – Acting CEO, Bushfire Recovery Victoria

• Dr Fiona MacDonald (she/her) – Senior Research Fellow, ISILC, Victoria University, & Research/Project Coordinator – Youth Perceptions of Bushfire Response, YACVic

• Chris (she/her) – Combienbar Rural Activator

• Willow (she/her) – Bairnsdale Rural Activator

• Quin O’Bran (she/her) – Member, Bushfire Youth Working Group, YACVic Rural

• Moderator: Carla Hall (she/her) – Rural Youth Projects Coordinator, YACVic

Break & transition to new Zooms for next session

Three young activists speak on urgent issues, encouraging better allyship from the youth sector.

• Cindy Liu (she/her) – COVID-19 Youth Working Group, Youth Disability Advocacy Service

• Tim Lo Surdo (he/him) – Founder & National Director, Democracy in Colour

• Angie Judd (she/her) - Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)

• Introduced by: Tyson Harris (he/him) – Businesss Relationship Manager, HESTA

Session sponsored by HESTA Superannuation.

End-of-day reflections and feedback.