In November, five young people from Toormina stepped onto a plane—some for the very first time—and travelled across the country to speak on a national panel at ChangeFest, held on Whadjuk Country in Walyalup (Fremantle, WA). What followed was more than a trip. It was a moment of becoming.
This opportunity grew from the heart of Becoming U, a youth-led movement in Toormina committed to amplifying young voices, strengthening community, and creating pathways that honor the brilliance and potential of our local young people. When the Accountable Futures Collective invited young leaders to share their experiences on a national stage, of course we were so keen. Their belief and trust in regional youth leadership set this entire journey in motion.
Thanks to the support of Uniting, the amazing Bongil Bongil Youth Collective (BBYC), and our local community, who generously contributed through GoFundMe, the five young people were able to say yes to this life-changing experience.
Every donation and every word of encouragement helped lift them, made this opportunity equitable and something we could really make happen.
For this diverse group of young people, many of whom had rarely left the Mid North Coast, the trip was filled with firsts. First time on a plane. First time navigating an airport. First time trying Yochi! First time wearing conference lanyards, shaking hands with strangers, and introducing themselves as speakers.
We explored Fremantle, hit up op-shops, cafes and restaurants, stayed in a beautiful Air BnB and laughed so much while bowling, winning at putt-putt golf and learning who is competitive on the arcade machines together. Although all the young people are in the BBYC together, most don’t spend spare time together. Everyone connected, supported and amplified each other in the most beautiful ways. We are honestly so lucky to have these future leaders in our Toormina community.
And then came the panel.
Sitting under bright lights on stage at Freo Social, they shared the stage with other incredible young leaders from Firefly Bay and Basin and Cairns South Together. Together, these groups created a powerful, youth-led conversation about accountability to young people and why safe spaces matter.
Young people did the acknowledgement, led the conversation by asking the questions to the panel and absolutely lit up the stage. Their passion and truth completely engaged the entire room full of adult professionals from across the country. We witnessed these brave young people step into their power—speaking with honesty, humor, courage, and heart.
Watching their confidence grow—on stage, in workshops, and in conversations—was a reminder of why spaces like these matter, why accountability to young people matters.
Throughout ChangeFest, the group connected with an incredible community of people working for systems change across Australia. They were welcomed, listened to, celebrated, and treated as peers—proof that young people aren’t just the future; they’re already leading. These conversations sparked new ideas, perspectives, and relationships that will carry forward into their work back home.
The young people returned to Toormina with a wider sense of the world and a deeper belief in themselves. They brought home pride, possibility, and the confidence that their voices matter not just locally, but nationally.
We are profoundly grateful to everyone who made this journey possible:
- Accountable Futures Collective for the invitation and trust.
- Uniting and the BBYC for championing youth voice and supporting the logistics that enabled the trip.
- Our local community, whose generous fundraising through GoFundMe helped turn an invitation into a reality.
- Our amazing community chaperone, whose support really made the whole trip .
Becoming U has always been about transformation—of individuals, of community, and of the systems around us. This experience showed what is possible when a whole community backs its young people.
And truly, this is just the beginning.
