Children and families

2025 Youth Summit

2025 Youth Summit

The 2025 Youth Summit showcased the voices and achievements of 35 incredible young Queenslanders who shared their lived experiences and ideas for change to over 300 attendees. 

Cover of Youth Summit 2025 report
This report outlines the impact of 35 young participants from across Queensland.
File details: Youth Summit 2025 (pdf, 5.46 MB)
Cover of Youth Summit 2025: Impact report
This report outlines the impact of 35 young participants from across Queensland.
File details: Youth Summit 2025: Impact report (pdf, 8.01 MB)

Participating

Encouraging children to actively engage in decisions that affect them, have their voices heard, and are involved in family, community, civic, and cultural life.

17, Gold Coast
The Butterfly Effect: Creating movement for positive change
18, Wavell Heights
Community engagement beyond tokenism
25, Brassall
Leo
Making it easier for young people to be happy and healthy
19, Logan
Mo
Building pathways for a generation already dreaming big
Maroochydore and Gympie (Headspace Youth Committee)
Camp Connect - supporting growth, connection and awareness
Reflection speaker
Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission

Healthy

Promoting physical, mental, and emotional health through access to healthcare, nutrition, and opportunities for physical activity.

22, Mount Cotton
Providing understanding and support: Importance of Lived Experience work
23, Bamaga
Building for better health: the vital role of water infrastructure
14, Eagleby
Redefining healthy: Social media influence on self-image
19, Runcorn
Men do cry: Ending the stigma in small towns
22 and 25, Kippa-Ring and Kallangur
Breaking cycles, building futures: The power of supporting young parents
Reflection speaker
Chief Executive Officer, Health and Wellbeing Queensland

Valued, safe and loved

Ensuring that children feel secure, supported, and protected from harm in their family, community, and broader environment.

25, Gold Coast
Understanding siblings who go on to become sibling carers
17, Toowoomba
Ash
Super Safe Stars: Empowering children to stay safe, speak up and shine bright
16, Robina
What I've learnt and would like to see as a young carer for someone with a disability
14, Ipswich
Valued, loved and safe: A call for change in child protection
23, Palm Beach
Losing yourself in the system in the world of disability
22, Maroochydore
Unofficial caretaking in the family home
19, Kallangur
Nel
Mental health: Another 100 days of fear and stress
20, Little Mountain
Lea
From Surviving to Thriving: The Lifesaving Nature of Gender-Affirming Healthcare
15, Rockhampton
Breaking free from the medical model of disability: An autistic person's perspective
Reflection speaker
Director-General, Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support
Reflection speaker
Principal Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission

Learning

Supporting access to quality education, skill development, and lifelong learning to enable children to reach their full potential.

9, Rochedale South
Digital literacy and safety for young children in Queensland schools
15, Warwick
When school isn't the answer: Finding a new way forward
20, Salisbury
Engaged in education
18, Wynnum
School is the real world
12, Brisbane
Navigating peer pressure
Reflection speaker
Chief Executive Officer, Hand Heart Pocket

Identity and culture

Helping children develop self-confidence, resilience, and a strong cultural identity, including recognition and support for First Nations children’s connection to culture and community.

25, Capalaba
Disconnected roots - Why we need our Elders
22, Saint Lucia
Roots of resilience: A celebration of identity and culture
22, Emerald
They told me I wasn’t – but I am
23, Tingalpa
Climate crisis: A perspective from the Torres Strait Islands
25, Doolandella
Refugee with commitment to community impact
Reflection speaker
Chief Operating Officer, Cancer Council Queensland

Material basics

Ensuring children and families have access to essentials like housing, food, clothing, and financial security to support wellbeing.

22, Mabuiag Island
Our Islands, Our Home: protecting home and culture from the impacts of climate change
18, Greenbank
The cost of mental health support for childhood trauma survivors
17, Kingston
Oli
More than my past - A voice for the unheard
Reflection speaker
Executive Advisor, Office of Social Impact

We look forward to seeing how the amplification of these young people's voices makes an impact on the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, their families and communities.

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