YOUTH SPEAK OUT

Artwork by Amy Thurling, Year 6, The Cottage School. Youth Speak Out 2021.

Our annual education initiative celebrating the next generation’s views on reconciliation

Each year, students are invited to contribute artworks that respond to the theme for either National Reconciliation Week or NAIDOC Week.

Students from Year 5 – Year 12 can enter art, multimedia, speeches, letters, poems or whole class projects expressing their views about reconciliation. Selected students are invited to Parliament and Government House to meet and present their work to the Premier, Ministers and the Governor.

Stand out entries will also feature on our Annual Report and in other Reconciliation Tasmania promotional materials, including on our website.

The deadline for entries this year is 31 August 2025.
Presentation event: details TBA.

Youth Speak Out 2025

This year’s themes

Click here to read about the 2025 National Reconciliation Week theme, “Bridging Now to Next”.

Click here to read about the 2025 NAIDOC Week theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”.

Submit your entry

Youth Speak Out: Travelling Exhibition

Last year, Reconciliation Tasmania and Libraries Tasmania partnered to showcase selected artworks and poetry from the last six years of Youth Speak Out in a special travelling exhibition.

Youth Speak Out: Travelling Exhibition was firstly up at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart from November 2023 until February this year. Around 18 pieces travelled north to feature at the Launceston Library, the exhibition running from April until June. From there the exhibition had a month at the Devonport Library from June until the end of July and is now featuring at the Burnie Library until October 4. Queenstown Library is the next location, dates TBC.

Reconciliation Tasmania would like to thank supporters the Hobart Airport, Libraries Tasmania and the MyState Foundation.

MORE INFO

Artwork: Amia Harback, Year 6 2022,
The Cottage School.

The exhibition is now at Devonport Library, the third location so far.

The exhibition is now up at the Burnie Library.

Taylah Pickett, YSO 2018.

YSO 2023

2023’s theme was Be a Voice for Generations. For the work of generations past, and the benefit of future generations, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all. We are seeing more people speaking up, speaking the truth, asking the hard questions, seeing the hard facts, and informing themselves about issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Youth Speak Out initiative was suggested by Margaret Reynolds, herself a former Federal Minister, to give students a voice or a space to express their thoughts and ideas around Reconciliation.

Students are invited to Hobart to present their pieces, meet the Premier and ministers and the Governor at Parliament and Government Houses, respectively.

This day takes place late in Term 3 when the Parliament is in session and students are able to view actions that make up our democratic process.

What will you do?

This year Reconciliation Tasmania will select an individual piece of artwork to feature on our annual report, website, and advertising materials.

Entries close October 16.

Presentation date: November 1. Lunch and afternoon tea provided.

Use the above Entry Form on this page to submit your entries or email to [email protected] or post 1 College Rd, Research House, UTAS, Sandy Bay, 7005.

Ensure your email details are correct as we will need to keep you up to date on collection/return of your artwork.

Tips on how to take good quality images with your phone: poor quality images will be difficult to print and exhibit
Keep an eye on this space for further ideas and resources.