Youth Online Forum to Feature Young Leaders & Resources to Inspire Environmental Action
21 July: With Australia’s environment rapidly deteriorating, Landcare is needed more now than ever. Building on the momentum of young leaders who have turned their passion and concern for the planet into meaningful action, Intrepid Landcare and Junior Landcare Ambassador Costa Georgiadis are joining forces for a high impact online forum on 23 August to empower young people eager to take action and connect with like-minded youth.
Designed for senior primary school students, high school students and youth groups aged 18 or under, the NextGen Landcare Youth Online Forum will provide access to practical tools, resources, knowledge and support from Intrepid Landcare. It will feature talks from inspiring young speakers, ranging from high school students to community volunteer leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs.
“Young people are keen and ready to take action in their communities and environments but they sometimes lack the know-how and/or the confidence to do so. We need to meet them where they are at, engage them, become more available to them and be more conscious of their need to act,” said young freelance wildlife photographer and passionate conservationist Jayden Gunn, who will be speaking at the forum.
“As a young person who utilised a Landcare pathway to its utmost potential to prepare myself professionally for employment in the conservation and land management industry, I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to share my journey, and hope to inspire other young people to actively engage in and expand their capacity through the opportunities and experience Landcare provides.”
After researching the needs of young people and Landcare networks to engage the youth demographic and bringing their lived experience in innovating youth engagement initiatives, Intrepid Landcare was co-founded in 2015 to drive a national campaign of youth action. Underpinned by an ethos of ‘think global, act local’ Intrepid Landcare connects young people to their local landcare community and environment where they co-create projects, adventures and experiences that they want to show up to, and address the issues that are pressing and important for that landscape.
“As the Australia State of the Environment 2021 Report drove home this week, our environment is in crisis. Young people play a vital role in caring for the land, their environment and other natural resources, and we couldn’t be more excited to learn from and share with young people the opportunities that exist to move from being overwhelmed to feeling empowered when it comes to landcare,” said Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish.
Young people aged 18 and under are invited to submit an expression of interest to share their story or project at the forum. Each story chosen will receive a $500 cash contribution. Expression of interests to be submitted by 5pm July 29, 2022, here.
The NextGen Landcare Youth Forum will be hosted online on Tuesday 23 August from 10.30am – 2pm AEST, 2022. More info or register.
