Young Change Agents

Today is International Day of People with Disability! It’s a wonderful time to celebrate and dedicate to the young people we know living with disability. Did you know that 16% of the world's population—more than 1 billion people—live with a disability? These individuals shape the world into the vibrant, diverse place we know and love, courageously overcoming barriers every day to live their best lives. At Young Change Agents, we are proud to have co-designed programs with specialist inclusion teachers and facilitated programs in partnership with Aspen Medical and schools with young people with disability, including Bribie Island State High School, Murrumba State Secondary College, GenNow Education and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. These programs foster innovation and empower young people to create solutions that promote inclusion and accessibility. After seeing the positive changes in his students, Jody Perry, Head of Special Education Services, at Bribie Island State High School shared “I have a renewed inspiration for teaching, particularly exposing student learning to increasing real-life contexts and experiences.” Often, the ideas young people develop through our programs are inspired by the desire to improve life for people with disability. For example, K.O.B. Connect (Kids on Board): an app that connects families and students with other families and students to create car pooling and ride share opportunities. Did you know that cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood, affecting around 1 in 700 births worldwide? One of our favourite programs in 2016, was when we held Australia's first social enterprise development program for youth with disability with Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Telstra, check out the program here: https://hubs.ly/Q02-4NtL0 to learn more about the amazing ideas these young change agents brought to life. Let’s continue building a world of equity, inclusion, and access, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and innovate. #InternationalDayOfPeopleWithDisabilities #InclusionMatters #YoungChangeAgents #SocialImpact #EquityInclusionAcces

Teens in Business Awards 2024: Celebrating the Future of Entrepreneurship! 🌟 The Teens in Business Awards were such a sensational night! It was absolutely brilliant to hear the finalists present their ideas in their own words, s special and proud moment for all - the room was buzzing with admiration and awe for the creativity and passion of the innovators and the educators who support them! We are very excited to announce the incredible winners of this year's Teens in Business Awards and honour the next generation of changemakers shaping our world with innovation and purpose. Tweenpreneur of the Year: 🏆 Sebastian from The Earth is My Place Transforming waste into fashion, Sebastian’s eco-conscious T-shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton, featuring his own nature-inspired designs. 🌍💡 Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year: 🏆 Keira from Arnku Ardla Nguthunha Empowering communities through art and education, Keira champions Aboriginal perspectives in schools, fostering truth-telling and unity. 🌈✨ Entrepreneurial Educators of the Year: 🏆 Liz Green (SCEGGS Redlands) & Sa Danh (Seaton High School) Liz and Sa are redefining entrepreneurial education, creating impactful opportunities for students to engage in real-world problem-solving. 🚀 ✨ One to Watch: Lorinda McVicar – advocating for First Nations students through cultural learning programs. Pivoting Pioneer of the Year: 🏆 Sasha from Money Magic - Benny the Penny Saving Bear This AI-powered teddy bear makes financial literacy fun for kids, teaching essential money skills through play. 🐻 Intrapreneur of the Year: 🏆 Ellie and Josh from ConTechz Revolutionizing construction tech, ConTechz enhances collaboration and data security in building projects. ⚙️ Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor of the Year: 🏆 Sajitha Srivelan Sajitha’s mentorship in entrepreneurial programs has inspired young learners, bridging education and industry. 👏 Most Impactful Entrepreneur of the Year: 🏆 Abigail from Good Knight Films Creating change through storytelling, Abigail’s films spotlight social issues and amplify the work of charities. 🎥 🥈 Runner-Up: Charlotte from Ethical Ears – transforming jewellery sales into life-saving vaccine donations. Regional/Rural Entrepreneur of the Year: 🏆 Jade from Epic Card Games Bringing farming challenges to life through a fun, educational card game that builds awareness and connection. 🌾 Teenpreneur of the Year: 🏆 Sienna from Tweeny Skin Creating skincare tailored for teens, Sienna promotes healthy habits with clean, effective products. 🌿 🥈 Runner-Up: Jaimen from Ramla Body – keeping sand at bay with a revolutionary beach product! ✨ One to watch: Darren & Co from Subjective Labs - Accessible student organisation digital platform made by students for students! We can’t wait to see what you achieve next! 💡 #FutureLeaders #YoungChangeAgents #SocialEnterprise #FutureOfBusiness #EmpoweringYouth #TeensInBusinessAwards2024

Australian Red Cross Humanitech: Exploring the use of technology to tackle the world's biggest humanitarian challenges. A proud moment for Young Change Agents! Last week in Melbourne, our CEO and Co-founder, Margaret O'Brien, represented us at the Humanitech Summit, joining a thought-provoking panel on Powering Scale Through Collaborative Innovation. Margaret shared her insights alongside Omar Abou-Samra (American Red Cross), Michael Lake (Leading Cities), and Johanna Weaver (ANU Tech Policy Design Centre), with moderation by Katy Southall (Australian Red Cross). Together, they explored how diverse sectors—from tech to government to NGOs—can build ecosystems that scale innovation and sustain humanitarian impact. Margaret brought a powerful perspective to the discussion, emphasising that scaling innovation must be equitable and rooted in collaboration. She highlighted the importance of capacity building and connection, explaining that Young Change Agents’ partners—especially educators—are central to their work. “It’s our privilege to connect Australian schools together,” Margaret shared, underscoring that our role is to bring people together, not work in isolation. She also pointed out that many people are eager to help and contribute, but they need someone to lead the way. Scaling requires stepping out of traditional approaches and fostering genuine collaboration to drive meaningful change. 🌏 Established in 2018 by the Australian Red Cross with support from the Telstra Foundation, Humanitech is dedicated to harnessing technology innovation to address complex humanitarian challenges. By connecting technologists, community leaders, corporate innovators, policymakers, and academics with the Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian network, Humanitech sparks new approaches that put humanity first. Thank you to the Australian Red Cross Humanitech team for creating such an inspiring platform for these critical discussions!

Join us Wednesday night (27th Nov) for the 2024 Teens in Business Awards showcase! Each Finalist will showcase their enterprise (1 min each) and we will announce the Finalists across nine categories: - Teenpreneur of the Year - Tweenpreneur of the Year - The Most Impactful Entrepreneur - Pivoting Pioneer - Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year - Regional/Rural Entrepreneur of the Year - Intrapreneur of the Year - Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year - Youth Entrepreneurship Mentor of the Year Thank you to our seed funding and prize partners Telstra Foundation and Who Gives A Crap! https://lnkd.in/gw7adUD4 #teensinbusiness #youthentrepreneurship #

Celebrating a Gamechanger: Aruna Venkatachalam Wins the 2024 Asia Society Australia Gamechanger Award The Asia Society Australia Gamechanger Awards celebrate Australia’s strong connection with Asia and honour leaders who are strengthening this vital relationship. We are excited to celebrate Aruna Venkatachalam, International Consultant at Young Change Agents and the recipient of the 2024 Gamechanger Award in the Education and Research category! Aruna has dedicated her career to enabling underrepresented founders—especially women and People of Colour—to grow their impact. Her incredible work spans over 15 years and is rooted in community development, humanitarian response, leadership and social enterprise. This prestigious award acknowledges Aruna’s remarkable contributions to education and research, particularly groundbreaking initiatives, such as: Forging Global Connections: Aruna developed a world-first partnership between India (AVENUES Meghalaya) and Australia (Young Change Agents), focusing on social entrepreneurship education for First Nations youth in both countries. Lighting the Spark: In collaboration with Australian First Nations leaders and youth, Aruna co-developed Lighting the Spark, a self-determined entrepreneurship program that has reached over 1,000 participants across Australia and was tabled in Parliament as a best-practice example. Environmental Advocacy: In India, Aruna co-founded a startup to track urban pollution, empowering local groups with the data needed to push for better air quality. Empowering Communities: From the Philippines to Sri Lanka, Aruna has partnered with diverse youth, women, and underestimated communities, enabling them to create self-determined futures. Aruna joins an impressive group of Asia Society Australia Gamechanger Award winners, including: - Icon Award: Poh Ling Yeow – Chef, Artist, Author, and TV Personality - Leadership: Jason Yeap OAM – Chairman, Mering Corporation - Arts and Culture: Priya Srinivasan – Director, Sangam - Business: Josh Chye – Partner, HLB Mann Judd - Gen A Emerging Leader: Jenny Tran – Operations Manager, 100 Story Building Aruna’s advocacy for culturally proud communities and amplifying underrepresented voices, especially Women of Colour, continues to make a significant impact in Australia’s startup and social enterprise sectors. "I believe the next chapter of the Australia-Asia education story is about relevance. Education is not only about sharing knowledge, but about our lifelong ability to adapt to change. We’re well positioned to blend cultural wisdoms with new technologies. To showcase creativity, cultural kinship and leadership through education. To enable not just job-seekers, but job-creators, who advocate the importance of community outcomes, sustainability, diversity, and global connection. Let’s make it happen!" Congratulations Aruna, we are inspired by your vision and dedication!

At Young Change Agents, we are thrilled to unveil the finalists for the Teens in Business Awards 2024. This initiative celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of young Australians and the educators and mentors who guide them. Each finalist represents the creativity, passion, and resilience that drives innovation and positive change in communities across the country. Learn more about some of our finalists in this article here - and we look forward to seeing you at the Teens in Business Awards next Wednesday!

We’re thrilled to announce the Finalists for Young Change Agents Teens in Business Awards 2024! ✨ The Teens in Business Awards celebrate the creativity, passion and ingenuity of young people and their educators as they drive positive change in their communities. Since its launch in 2021, this program has supported hundreds of young entrepreneurs across Australia, showcasing their innovative ideas and the value they bring to their communities. 💡 Did you know? A 2023 study found that over 40% of young Australians aspire to start their own business, highlighting a growing entrepreneurial spirit among the next generation. The Teens in Business Awards aims to nurture this potential by providing young changemakers with recognition, resources, and a platform to share their businesses. This year, we received incredible entries from across the country, and after much deliberation, we’ve selected our 2024 Finalists. We're excited to introduce some of the finalists over the next couple of days! First up meet our Tweenpreneur of the Year Finalists 🌟 1️⃣ Calm Kids Creating calming tools like spinning rings to help children manage anxiety and boost self-esteem. These tools assist kids in maintaining focus and keeping their hands busy, offering a helpful alternative to habits such as chewing hair or clothing when faced with social and academic pressure. 2️⃣ The Earth is My Place Combating plastic waste by selling T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton sourced from the USA. Each design is hand-drawn by founder Sebastian, featuring nature-inspired artwork that highlights his love for the environment. 3️⃣ Safety Walk Around & Girls Can Fly Anything Safety Walk Around is revolutionising pre-flight safety checks with a wearable barcode reader (similar to a Fitbit-style bracelet) and a series of barcode labels located on the plane. This innovative system ensures safety checks are accurately recorded and communicated directly through an app, streamlining aviation safety processes. Girls Can Fly Anything is a magazine designed to inspire more women and girls to consider careers in aviation. It showcases the stories of female pilots, engineers, and aviation career specialists, offering role models to those dreaming of a future in the skies. 👏 Congratulations to all our finalists, and thank you for inspiring us with your entrepreneurial spirit! 🎤 Join us for the Teens in Business Awards online next Wednesday 27th of November to see the finalists present their businesses and tune in as we announce the winners for each category. 📌 Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gw7adUD4 Stay tuned as we announce more of our finalists over the next few days!

Last week, our Head of Storytelling, Partnerships, and Government Relations represented Young Change Agents at the National Tech Summit 2024! 🙌 It was an amazing opportunity to connect with leaders, innovators and changemakers passionate about shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for tech and entrepreneurship. From exploring the role of AI to championing diversity and supporting budding entrepreneurs, we’re excited to carry these insights into our work empowering the next generation of young innovators💡Thank you Tech Council of Australia #TechForGood #YouthEmpowerment #NationalTechSummit

The #E3Unconference Hits Different – 5 Reasons Why I Think the YCA E3 (Un)Conference is the Best Education PD in Australia! 1. Global Perspectives and Connection – This year, we were joined by educational leaders from Ghana, India, Nepal, Panama, New Zealand, and the USA, who shared their lived experiences, insights, and impacts regarding education transformation across the globe. The deep reflection, empathy, inspiration, and perspectives this amazing group of educators offered has reshaped my thinking about my role in education as part of a global community. 2. It’s About the Students, Not the Sector – Check your ego, title, and sector at the door because E3 is all about the students. E3 fosters a culture of connection, humility, vulnerability, generosity, and sharing, all focused on improving outcomes for students and educators. There is so much work to be done to build a contemporary model of education, we need to share and champion each other! 3. The Youth Council – Youth at a conference about education… WHAT! Far too often, we make decisions and assumptions about the future of education without consulting our key stakeholders. Working with the Youth Council over the two days provided invaluable insights into what students want for their education and what success looks like to them. The youth-led workshops were incredibly impactful, offering a chance to ask the big questions and put educators in the hot seat to discuss their thinking and alignment with young people. 4. Connections – As Dennis Denuto would say (showing my age here), “It’s just the vibe.” E3 provides the culture, safety, and inspiration to form deep and lasting connections linked to our purpose as educators. Coming together from across the country and the globe, I was invigorated and inspired by the multitude of stories of impact and change. As educators, we come from different walks of life and unique contexts, but the drive to see positive impacts in our communities and beyond is the common thread that connects us all. 5. The E3 Playbook – Who doesn’t love a free resource that might save them five years of work?! A massive thank you to everyone involved 🙏🏻 Young Change Agents Margaret O'Brien Renae Jones Cat Kitney Tiffani Seaton Jessica Dudley Abraham Robertson Dickie Currer Sa Danh Richard Abell Franda Zondagh Allwyn Bryner Amanda Jones, Ed.D. Mark Gleeson Ajay Yadav

Landing in Tasmania felt like a sign—“Explore the Possibilities” was their mantra, and it perfectly aligned with my values. I joined Renae Jones, Tom Griffith, and global scholars for a hands-on design thinking workshop at Launceston College, diving into creative problem-solving and pitching ideas to the team at Young Change Agents. The day was filled with inspiration, connections, and a realization of how powerful design thinking can be in addressing everyday challenges. Watch the video for a glimpse into this unforgettable experience! Franda Zondagh Amanda Jones, Ed.D. Allwyn Bryner Margaret O'Brien #ExploreThePossibilities #YoungChangeAgents #DesignThinking #TasmaniaJourney