The Foundation for Young Australians launches its Young Social Pioneers program.
After months of searching, the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has selected fourteen young people for its inaugural Young Social Pioneers program. Based on the International Youth Foundation’s global initiative, the program aims to support and celebrate the role of young people creating positive change in their communities.
A national call-out for aspiring young leaders took place in April and after 70 applications, fourteen have been selected to take part in the year long mentoring program. The Young Social Pioneers will be provided with professional mentoring, training, networking, skill building, learning and recognition of their work. All of which will assist in their power and potential to initiate urgent social change in areas such as disability support, refugee settlement, climate change and Indigenous Australia.
Adam Smith, CEO of FYA said, “Young Social Pioneers is about empowering socially conscious young people, who create positive change in their communities, to become successful leaders. The program offers them ideas, resources and connections that will make their great work have even more impact and sustainability.”
Modelled on the International Youth Foundation’s global initiative, the Young Social Pioneers program will provide more localised content and enable the participants to learn more about specialised areas in relation to the Australian landscape.
A previous participant in the global initiative, Richard Lenn, founder of YouthGAS said “Being a Young Social Pioneer enables you to make connections with other like-minded young people, who are trying to do things that have never been done before or trying to create opportunities that address difficult social challenges.”
The fourteen Young Social Pioneers for 2009 are:
• Alissa Phillips, QLD – founder of s.p.a.c.e or ‘specialised programs and community endeavours’
• Catherine Sweeny, VIC – founder of Jungle City Massive a dance initiative for culturally diverse young people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne
• Darren Lomman, WA – founder of Dreamfit Foundation which helps people with disabilities fulfil their dreams and to raise disability awareness
• Edwin Kemp Attrill, SA – founder of ActNow Theatre for Social Change (ANTSC)
• Jack Hegarty, VIC – involved with the Whatever Youth Diversity Project and the OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity
• Kat Etwell, VIC – involved in the OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity
• Larissa Brown, VIC – 2008 Australian Young Environmentalist of the year and founder of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership
• Laura Iles, QLD – founder of Choose your Path (Save a Life) which educates her community about the dangers and consequences of drink driving
• Lucinda Hartley, VIC – founder of Design Leadership Project (DLP), a training program regarding environmentally responsible design and social change
• Mark Robertson, NSW – founder of One Vision Productions, an initiative that educates youth in isolated and marginalised communities through arts based multi-literacy programs
• Roxanne Moore, WA – founder of ARTillery, a social awareness project aimed at educating young Australians about human rights
• Sarah Williams, VIC – co-founder of Footprints Enterprises and the Grounded Project, a creative arts program for students primarily from refugee backgrounds
• Shona Cools, NSW – founder of Linkz Incorporated, an organisation that aims to establish connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
• Tim Kenworthy, WA – founder of Youth Tree, an initiative to encourage and involve young people to volunteer
In the first week of September, the delegates took part in a week-long retreat in Seymour, Victoria, which featured a series of workshops on communication, skill-building, media training and conflict resolution, as well as a forum to The inaugural YSPers also shared ideas about their projects and organisations. The retreat was just the first step on a year-long program for participants, which will provide capacity building, mentoring, learning and recognition of their work.
Read more about the 2009 Young Social Pioneers here.
For complete biographies or to arrange an interview with any of the Young Social Pioneers, please contact:
Emily Yarwood:
Phone: 03) 9289 9555
Mobile: 0417 301 088
Email: eyarwood@porternovelli.com.au
Tara Oldfield:
Phone: 03) 9289 9555
Mobile: 0431 458 031
Email: toldfield@porternovelli.com.au
To find out more about YSP, visit www.youngsocialpioneers.org.au
To find out more about IYF, visit www.iyfnet.org.au
To read YSP media coverage, visit out Media Centre.
