In this episode of Kids, Culture, and Community – SNAICC Yarns, we take you right to the main stage of the SNAICC'25 Conference for the Youth Voice plenary.

Join Meuram man Joel Matysek, SNAICC’s Youth Voice lead, and Youth Advisory Group members Samuel Dela Bon, Rylie Cadd, Kasey Kopp and Jaharn Mundy Drazevich as they yarn about the work of establishing a formal youth structure within SNAICC.

Listen as the panel shares what makes them deadly and dives into the motivations behind creating the Youth Advisory Group. They discuss the eight-month co-design journey from nationwide consultations to their key principle of not duplicating existing community efforts but building from them. The group reflects on the importance of creating culturally safe, flexible spaces where young people are the experts in their own lives and can influence the policies that affect them.

Hear their personal stories of navigating the anxieties and triumphs of leadership, the importance of collaboration, and the need for an ‘ecosystem approach’ that amplifies voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth from urban, regional, and remote communities. This conversation is an inspiring testament to the power of youth voice, cultural identity, and the responsibility of organisations to listen, support and act.

Keep the conversation going—follow, subscribe, and share this podcast to help amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities. Visit SNAICC’s website to learn more, access resources and find out how you can get involved.