The Brisbane Meanjin Queensland Youth Week Community Event, held on Sunday, 7 April 2024, at The Station in Brisbane, was a celebration designed to empower young people aged 12-25 and highlight their achievements within their communities. Open to the public and attended by Community Partners, the Office for Youth, the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts, this event aimed to foster connections and recognise the significant contributions of young Queenslanders.
My participation in this event came about after building a strong relationship with the Office for Youth following the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP in September 2023). The Office for Youth has supported me in my endeavours to work more closely with my community, integrating all of my skills and lived experiences. This ongoing support facilitated my involvement in the Makers Market, where I showcased my contemporary Aboriginal apparel, art, and other creative works. This platform allowed me to engage with the community and share my cultural heritage and artistic passion. Additionally, I was invited to join a Panel Discussion and Q&A session alongside other inspiring young speakers.
During my panel discussion, I spoke about my passion for leadership, which stems from my role as a big sister, and my experiences growing up. My background fuelled my commitment to returning my skills to the community. I shared the significant obstacles I faced in completing high school as an independent student, pursuing university and post-graduate studies, and securing several sought-after roles within the legal sector—all within the first two years of my legal career.
In my vision for the future, I expressed my hope to see board and management meetings shared by a diverse range of people, where young people’s inputs are respected equally with those of their more experienced counterparts, fostering a spirit of mutual learning.
An ongoing theme echoed by my peers on the panels was that we, as young people, are often overlooked as “too young” or “too inexperienced.” We hope to see a workforce which encourages mutual learning and respect, where we can all come to the table to collaborate and build stronger, better futures for young people. This will work towards closing the dismaying gaps that exist for Indigenous youth in education, health, employment, and justice outcomes.
The event also featured other notable young speakers. Rabin Mohammadi, a member of the Youth CaLD Disability Collective and the Youth Strategy Engagement Group, and Indi McKeown, an alumnus of Queensland Youth Parliament and the 2023 elected Leader of the Opposition, joined me on the first panel. The second panel included Ned Heaton, founder of the Turtle Tribe; Amelia St Baker, a member of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur’s Innovation Advisory Council and Senior Associate of StB Capital Partners; and Siobhan Wilson from Our Pixie Tribe, a renowned young entrepreneur and speaker.
The Brisbane Meanjin Queensland Youth Week Community Event was a remarkable occasion that celebrated the achievements of young people and provided valuable networking opportunities. It underscored the incredible talents and contributions of young Queenslanders and encouraged continual growth and authentic leadership. This event was a fantastic way to open Youth Week, setting a positive tone for the activities to follow. It also served as a preparation for my upcoming engagement in Cherbourg, where I was supported by post-program funding and fellow QIYLP Alumni Cassandra Spencer of Saltwater Stories to facilitate a Craft n Culture workshop. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an inspiring event and look forward to continuing to contribute to our community’s growth and empowerment.
Stay deadly
Amelia Rose @ Rose Creations