YOUTH SPEAK OUT
Artwork by Amy Thurling, Year 6, The Cottage School. Youth Speak Out 2021.
Youth Speak Out is Reconciliation Tasmania’s annual statewide education initiative for students in Grades 5–12, empowering young people to explore reconciliation and share their perspectives on the future of Lutruwita/Tasmania.
Through art, writing, film, performance and other creative formats, students engage in meaningful conversations about truth-telling, our shared history and positive change.
2026 Theme – Truth. Reckoning. Change.
Youth Speak Out is open to all Tasmanian students in Grades 5-12, including those attending government, Catholic, and independent schools.
This year’s theme reflects ongoing conversations taking place across Lutruwita/Tasmania and acknowledges that there are diverse perspectives about what reconciliation means today and how it should be understood in the Tasmanian context.
Prompts for students:
Students can submit responses in any creative format – painting, writing, dance, photography, woodwork, textiles, film – whatever works for them. As long as the work engages with the above theme, it will be considered. Individual, small group, and whole class projects are welcome.
Reconciliation:
| Truth:
| Change:
|
| Entries open: 17 August 2026 | Entries close: 18 September 2026 | Finalists notified: 28 September 2026 | Showcase at Parliament House: 27 October 2026 |
2025 Themes:
Bridging Now to Next & The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy
Entries Close: 26 September 2025 | Showcase at Government House and Parliament: 13 November 2025 |
2025 Student Showcase:
By St Patrick’s College Year 9 students, Lucie Hall and Stephanie Gardner – Teacher Mr. Paul Thomas
Reconciliation Stingray
‘Youth Speak Out’ 2025
By St Patrick’s College Year 9 students, Lucie Hall and Stephanie Gardner – Teacher Mr. Paul Thomas
This piece is designed to sit on a table or hang as wall art. Through laminating plywood, its form is inspired by the body of a stingray, whose
outline can also be traced in between the stars, reminding us of the deep connection between the sky, sea, land, and people.
The work invites conversation. The stingray moves with quiet strength, gliding smoothly, often unseen until it rises as a symbol of protection,
balance, and spiritual flow. Its presence teaches us to live in harmony with Country, to observe, and to move gently through life.
Lucie and Stephanie have used the stingray as a mode of storytelling, embedding their own experiences as young Aboriginal women. Their
work speaks to the challenge of holding on to culture after it was disrupted by colonisation, and carries a key message of resilience. It is an invitation: for others to walk alongside them, to begin and continue a journey of learning about Aboriginal culture, in the spirit of
Reconciliation – Bridging Now to Next.
Full Project here
Youth Speak Out: Travelling Exhibition
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.
The Cottage School.
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 youthspeakout@rectas.com.au 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.
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.
Phoenix Lorbach, Dominic College, 2019.
Bahzi Nicholas, Year 9, The Friends School, 2023
Scarlett Stone, Circular Head Christian School, 2019.
St Patrick’s College class collaboration ‘Open Letter’, 2020.
Emily Hansen, Year 12, The Friends School, 2022.
