2023 Pilot Program 

The Youth Voice Project is an exciting initiative aimed at empowering local students through youth participation and research. The pilot of this project was delivered in 2023 in collaboration with Vincentia High School, Firefly Bay and Basin, Youth Insearch, and Western Sydney University. This project provided students with the platform to lead conversations about social issues affecting their community and work towards meaningful change. 

We are excited to run this project for a second time in 2025 in partnership with Vincentia High School. 

Empowering Youth Participation 

The Youth Voice Project effectively engaged students in discussions around the challenges they faced in the Bay and Basin community. By conducting thorough research and fostering dialogue among their peers, the participants aimed to understand local youth experiences, their engagement with services, and the social issues they encountered. 

Through training, collaboration, and peer-led research, students became confident advocates, skilled in data collection, storytelling, and developing solutions rooted in lived experience. The project’s motto, “Ask, Amplify, Act,” reflects its core ethos: listening deeply, raising awareness, and driving tangible change. 

Youth Training and Support 

In 2023, Youth Voice students received training from Western Sydney University in research skills, empowering them to act as peer researchers within the Vincentia High School community. Additionally, they gained skills in advocacy, project development, and pitching through workshops provided by the Firefly and Uniting team, with additional peer support from Youth Insearch. 

In 2024, they received further training from Uniting’s Advocacy team on how to sustain their projects and gain community support. They attended the Secondary Leadership Conference in Darling Harbour, Sydney, where they heard about how to put their skills into practice to make meaningful change in their communities.  

In recognition of the work done, the project was awarded a Highly Commended recognition by the Australian Council for Student Voice at the 2025 National Student Voice Conference. This award recognised the project’s innovation, leadership, and the meaningful outcomes achieved by the students’ projects. 

Youth Voice Roadmap & Evaluation 

The Youth Voice Roadmap by Western Sydney University and the Evaluation Report by Uniting ensured the project’s alignment with best practices and its ongoing effectiveness in empowering young voices. These documents offered valuable insights and guided the development of future initiatives. 

The Youth Voice Roadmap, a comprehensive report outlining the research findings and insights gathered by the student researchers in 2023, became a valuable resource for community and service organisations, helping to shape programs that catered to the needs of local youth. 

You can download the Bay and Basin Youth Voice Roadmap here. 

Project Delivery Phases 

Phase 1 (2023): Community Research and Pitching Ideas 

The Youth Voice Project initially met fortnightly to deliver content based on Western Sydney University’s REACH program. Students went on an overnight trip to Sydney, where they received researcher training from the REACH team at Western Sydney University’s Innovation Centre. 

After the trip, the students focused on creating a survey for their school to gather data that would help them formulate project ideas. Together with Firefly and WSU, they analysed the data and developed four project proposals. 

In October 2023, students presented their research findings and four evidence-based pitches to key individuals, community groups, and organisations to seek support for local change: 

• Basin View BMX Track Revitalisation – A proposal to transform the Basin View BMX track into a vibrant community hub.
• Self-Expression Wall – Empowering artistic expression through the creation of local creative spaces and workshops for young people.
• ASD Support Service – Developing a support network for students with autism spectrum disorder and their families. 
• Breakfast Club Expansion – Increasing the number of days the Vincentia High School Breakfast Club was available. 

Phase 2 (2024): Transforming Ideas into Reality 

Building on the research and community engagement of 2023, Phase 2 in 2024 focused on translating ideas into action. 

In February 2024, the Youth Voice Project video “Empowering Youth: Ask, Amplify, Act” was premiered. 

With funding from the NSW Government, students embarked on a new journey with the aim of turning their pitch ideas into impactful community projects. With guidance from Firefly and community partners, the students worked throughout the year to bring their ideas to life. 

In 2024, we took the students back to Sydney to receive advocacy training from Uniting’s Advocacy Team, and they attended the Secondary Students Leadership Conference. Find out more here.

As they continued their journey, students faced the challenge of navigating bureaucratic processes and adapting to real-world obstacles, but their persistence and determination shone through. 

At the end of 2024, we celebrated the young people and their change-making projects at a special graduation at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. Find out more here.

Project Outcomes 

• Basin View BMX Track Revitalisation – Students worked together to raise community awareness about the condition of the BMX track. They collected valuable data through a community survey and engaged a track designer to create a new concept. In July 2024, they presented their findings and plan at a Shoalhaven City Council briefing. They also hosted a bike riding event at Sanctuary Point Skate Park with SCUM delivering mountain biking workshops. Since the presentation, basic maintenance has improved track safety, and the reserve has been added to the council’s priority list. 

• Self-Expression Wall – In partnership with the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, local artists, and Beyond Empathy, students created a vibrant mural now displayed at the museum. They invited local youth to co-design and paint the wall, creating a lasting space for expression and pride. Find out more about the project here.

• Beyond the Spectrum – This project shifted focus to support young carers and their families. Activities included a group trip to Mogo Wildlife Park and an information session on neurodiversity and intimacy at Vincentia High School. 

• Breakfast Club Expansion – The Breakfast Club was extended from three to five days a week. Students surveyed the school community, secured funds to enhance the menu with gluten-free and dairy-free options, and purchased new equipment. 

In May 2025, the second mini-documentary documenting the student journey in 2024 was released.

Student Growth & Development 

An evaluation of the Youth Voice Project identified five key areas of growth for students involved: 

• Skill Development – Research, planning, communication, and advocacy skills were fostered through real-world application. 

• Confidence – Students gained experience in public speaking, leadership, and engaging with decision-makers. 

• Connection – Many students built new friendships, found a sense of belonging, and stepped outside their comfort zones. 

• Empowerment – Through the project, students developed a strong belief in their ability to lead and create positive change. 

• Future Pathways – The experience broadened horizons, inspired aspirations, and expanded students’ understanding of their role in the community. 

Reflections and Key Learnings 

Over two years of implementation, the Youth Voice Project revealed important insights into what makes youth-led initiatives meaningful and successful: 

• Youth leadership grows through trust, time, and tangible investment. 

• Co-design creates inclusive, responsive, and relevant outcomes. 

• Incentivising participation—no matter how small—respects students’ time and contributions. 

• Simple gestures, like giving students a choice over food, can powerfully shape engagement. 

• Embedding diversity fosters empathy, creativity, and impact. 

• Community systems change begins with deep listening. 

Support and Generosity 

The Youth Voice Project pilot was generously funded by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, with further support from Uniting. Additional funding from the NSW Government ensured that Phase 2 could continue in 2024, enabling the development and delivery of these student-led, community-driven initiatives. 

The Journey Ahead 

With the success of the pilot, in 2024, Firefly received additional training from Community Minded Kids, a program focused on building community knowledge, civic responsibility, and youth-led change. This content has since been incorporated into the Youth Voice Project. 

Firefly also ran an abridged version of the project, Youth Voice Jr, at Sanctuary Point Public School. In 2025, a new group of students will join the next iteration of Youth Voice—a condensed, year-long version that builds on past learnings and continues to inspire young changemakers across the Bay and Basin. 

Youth Voice is not just a project—it is a movement. Students are stepping into leadership roles, shaping the future of their community with compassion, courage, and creativity