BY KATRINA BRANDON
CREATING a platform for Latrobe youth, the ABC Takeover Latrobe Valley Summit held a media competition to hear the stories and voices of local youth.
Around 35 local winners of Takeover participated in leadership, networking, and skill-building activities with like-minded people, community youth organisations and politicians.
On Tuesday, September 17, the Takeover winners, their carers, family, and friends were invited to a red-carpet screening of each of the winners’ content to celebrate their achievements. More than 600 people attended event.
The night started with a local story and a Welcome to Country delivered by Uncle Lloyd Hood. He showed the significance of the tradition and discussed its cultural importance. He talked about his time at Lake Tyers mission. Uncle Lloyd’s lead led to the Boorun Boys from Gunaikurnai Country’s story.
Throughout the night, many topics were discussed, such as overcoming social anxiety, finding your community, how different passions can impact your life, cultural conversations, social pressure, rural living and living with a disability.
The night also welcomed many guests, such as Behind the News presenter, Amelia Moseley and Vic Health Chief Executive, Dr Sandro Demaio.
“It has been astonishing being able to work with the Takeover group. Being able to voice our opinions and how we can help our people within our own communities, people that we talk to every day,” Takeover winner, Claire Lindsay said.
“To already be representing my community as a leader has so much more meaning to me, and I feel like there is so much we can take away from this experience.”
During the workshops, the winners voiced their opinions on local issues and the future of Latrobe Valley. They shared their innovative ideas and suggestions, which could feature in later projects. Ideas ranged from youth mental health to young people in agriculture to inclusion and employment.
By being given the platform, Claire said that this opportunity provided rural students and youth the chance to speak on issues and gain insight into things that metropolitan youth wouldn’t know.
“As rural and regional youth, I think it is great that we can voice our opinions because they are so different from what might be in the cities. We have more barriers. I feel like we have more to say,” she said.
“We are very secluded and so different from everyone else that it is time for us to have our say and shine in our areas.”
Claire told the Express that she hopes the event will help create connections so that she can continue to work on different areas with multiple organisations. She also hopes that the opportunity will help her make the connections she needs to further herself and make a difference for her own and others’ futures.
