Young voices shaping the future of youth work at YP+ME Conference 2026

Kids First Australia’s South Australian Youth Advisory Council members AJ and Mason recently joined sector leaders, practitioners and young people from across the state at the 2026 YP+ME Conference, contributing to conversations shaping the future of youth participation and youth work practice in South Australia.

 

Moderated by Kids First South Australia Operations Lead Maddy D’Angelo, the youth voice panel featured AJ, Mason and fellow young panellist Sommer, who shared their experiences navigating tailored learning environments and reflected on the impact youth workers had throughout their journeys.

 

The discussion explored youth-centred practice, power imbalances within traditional systems, and the importance of creating safe, respectful spaces where young people feel genuinely heard and supported to make decisions about their own lives.

 

“It was a bit intimidating to speak in front of so many people but it was great to have my input be valued and my experiences listened to,” Mason shared.

 

“When we listen to young people we give them the power to make the choices that are best for them.”

 

Reflecting on the experience, Maddy said it was powerful to hear AJ articulate the difference between being spoken to and being truly listened to.

 

“It highlights that meaningful engagement is not just about asking questions, it’s about how we position ourselves in relation to young people, particularly in reducing perceived power imbalances,” Maddy said.

 

The session later expanded into a broader panel discussion alongside representatives from the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA), Orygen and Victoria University, exploring how youth advocacy and engagement can move beyond tokenistic participation toward genuine partnership.

 

“Effective panel facilitation is the same as effective youth work practice; it’s about creating balance, holding structure while allowing space, guiding conversation while stepping back, and ensuring young people remain at the centre of the dialogue,” Maddy said.

 

Attendees described the session as one of the highlights of the conference, reflecting on the honesty, insight and impact of hearing directly from young people.

 

Daniel Pisani, General Manager Youth Services SA & WA, said the discussion reinforced the importance of listening to young people’s experiences to strengthen practice across the sector.

 

“What stood out from this discussion was the clarity and insight young people brought to conversations about engagement, trust and power,” Daniel said.

 

“For the sector, there is real value in listening to those experiences and allowing them to shape how services respond.”

 

Through our Youth Services programs across South Australia, Kids First Australia works alongside young people to strengthen connection, participation and pathways through education, wellbeing and community support.

Kids First Australia thanks the YP+ME Conference organising committee for creating an important space for collaboration, reflection and conversations shaping the future of youth participation and youth work practice in South Australia.