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YOUTH SPEAK OUT

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

Youth Speak Out

Our annual event celebrating the next generations views on Aboriginal affairs

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

The deadline is mid-October with presentations in early November in Hobart.

Youth Speak Out (YSO) 2023

Be A Voice for Generations

Keep up the momentum for change: the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 is Be a Voice for Generations.

This year’s theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. Young people across lutruwita/Trouwunna (Tasmania) can do this by entering Youth Speak Out.


Her Excellency the Governor at Government House awarding a student from Cygnet’s St James Catholic College a certificate at Youth Speak out 2022.

YSO 2022

2022’s theme was Be Brave. Make Change. It was a call to action. 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 2. Lunch and afternoon tea provided.

Use the above Entry Form on this page to submit your entries or email to [email protected] or post to PO Box 359, South Hobart 7004

Need more info?

Call Marnie on 0488 444 648

  • 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.

Contact Us


Lino Print by Sossan Hamrah, Sacred Heart College New Town
Youth Speak Out 2020

Mixed media by Ariel Batemen, Year 6, The Cottage School. Youth Speak Out entrant 2022.

YS2019 Phoenix Lorbach Dominic College

Scarlett Stone Youth Speakout 2019 CHCS

YS 2020 St Patrick’s College collaboration ‘Open Letter’