Rural Youth Sector Conference 2023: Potholes to Possibilities

Registration

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

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, politics and computer science student; youth advocate

Concurrent sessions

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

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

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

Morning tea

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)

Lunch

Keynote and 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

More speakers TBA

Afternoon tea

Concurrent sessions: Mental health

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

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

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?

Closing remarks

Evening event

Location: FOS Kitchen & Bar. 2-4 Howard Place, Bendigo.
Optional group dinner; this is not included in the conference ticket price and participation is at each attendee’s own expense. There will be a set menu for a subsidised price of $25/head.

Registration

Concurrent streams

The changing landscape of consent in Victoria — BASSFORD ROOM 1

This stream includes a panel, discussions and presentations. We take a guided tour of different projects supporting young people to understand affirmative consent. 

Panel: The changing landscape of Consent in Victoria

With the affirmative consent law reforms earlier this year, Victoria is undergoing a seismic shift in how we approach sexual consent, particularly in cases of sexual assault and harassment. Beyond the legal implications, this reform also sparks essential ethical discussions about healthy communication, autonomy and respect in intimate relationships. This panel will dispel common myths around affirmative consent, how technology and social media can shape young people's consent dynamics, and the need for comprehensive education.

Speakers:

• Lisa Nguyen (she/her) — Legal Education Coordinator, Youthlaw

• Fran Caccamo (she/her) — Consent Labs

• Jaeme Opie (she/her) — Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic)

Keynote and workshop: Consent Matters

Experienced community educator Natalie Cavallaro (she/her) — Sexual Health Victoria will guide session participants through how to provide young people with primary prevention information, support and resources for respectful, equitable and consensual sex and relationships.

Poster presentations

See the incredible work being delivered across Victoria to support young people to understand affirmative consent, and building their knowledge and skills to navigate healthy relationships. These presentations will highlight best practice principles of youth participation and codesign.

• Yeah, Nah — YACVic Rural: affirmative consent education workshops by and for young people in the Mallee.

• Power to Kids — The MacKillop Institute: strengthening prevention and responses to sexual exploitation, harmful sexual behaviours and dating violence for young people in residential care.

• Is This OK?? — The Man Cave: digital program delivered on streaming platform Twitch to equip boys to realise their full potential, build healthy relationships and take positive action in their communities.

• Young People as Agents of Change — CASA CV: inclusive, youth-led location-specific education program in the Macedon Ranges for young people of diverse genders and sexualities.

Disaster and climate adaption — THE CONSERVATORY

This stream includes keynotes and a panel with a variety of experts. We look at how to support young people to harness their skills, find work or volunteer pathways in emergency services, and contribute to better climate policies.

Keynote: Climate Superpowers

Everyone has unique skills and talents (superpowers!) to help face the challenges of climate change. But let's be honest: it can be hard to know where to start. Learn about how young people from the University of Melbourne created this resource to help you work out what you can contribute to tackling climate change, and learn your own superpowers!

Speakers:

• Phoebe Quinn (she/her) — Research Fellow, University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

• April Harrison (she/her) — veterinary student, young person with lived disaster experience

Keynote: Girls on Fire

Girls on Fire is a sustainable movement of empowered women, diverse allies and resilient communities in fire and emergency services. Learn about how they empower young people to find future work and volunteer pathways in firefighting and disaster management, build confidence and community connection, and increase visibility of Indigenous cultures' rich contributions to Australian bushfire and disaster management.

Speaker:

• Bronnie Mackintosh (she/her) — Station Officer, Fire and Rescue NSW

Keynote: Country Fire Authority (CFA)

Learn about the CFA's Cadet Pilot Project, a series of targeted activities for 16 to 17-year-olds across Victoria developed to address retention rates and engagement in this age group. CFA will share how this program addresses challenges in youth engagement in emergency services, and how it feeds into wider reform of CFA's youth opportunities and future plans.

Speakers:

• Goldie Pergl (she/her) — Country Fire Authority (CFA)

• Jennifer Clement (she/her) — Country Fire Authority (CFA)

Panel: Rural Futures Ignite: Empowering youth for climate resilience and equity

This dynamic panel will explore the vital nexus between gender equity, food security and climate resilience. We will learn about innovative policies, evidence-based research, and strategies to empower rural young people. Together, lets forge pathways that amplify young people's voices.

Speakers:

• Julianne Tice (she/her) — VCOSS

• Amanda Lamont (she/her) — Australasian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE)

• Meg Last (she/her) — VicHealth Food Systems, Bendigo Food Hub

• Kelsey Macdonald (he/him) — ADAPT Youth Climate Network

Lunch then close