Episode 6: Centring lived experience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples | Kids, Culture, Community

Episode Description

In this episode of Kids, Culture, and Community – SNAICC Yarns, we take you right to the main stage of the SNAICC’25 Conference for the Youth Voice plenary.  

Join Meuram man Joel Matysek, SNAICC’s Youth Voice lead, and Youth Advisory Group members Samuel Dela Bon, Rylie Cadd, Kasey Kopp and Jaharn Mundy Drazevich as they yarn about the work of establishing a formal youth structure within SNAICC.   

Listen as the panel shares what makes them deadly and dives into the motivations behind creating the Youth Advisory Group. They discuss the eight-month co-design journey from nationwide consultations to their key principle of not duplicating existing community efforts but building from them. The group reflects on the importance of creating culturally safe, flexible spaces where young people are the experts in their own lives and can influence the policies that affect them.

Hear their personal stories of navigating the anxieties and triumphs of leadership, the importance of collaboration, and the need for an ‘ecosystem approach’ that amplifies voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth from urban, regional, and remote communities. This conversation is an inspiring testament to the power of youth voice, cultural identity, and the responsibility of organisations to listen, support, and act. 

Keep the conversation going—follow and share this podcast episode to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities.

This artwork was created to visually represent Kids, Culture, Community – SNAICC Yarns, a podcast by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities.

At the heart of the artwork is a central motif drawn directly from the SNAICC Marulu design – a symbolic anchor that represents SNAICC’s identity, purpose, and vision. This central element grounds the piece, reflecting SNAICC’s leadership in advocating for the rights, wellbeing, and futures of our children.

Surrounding this are three figures, symbolising a community in conversation. These figures represent not only the act of yarning, but the diversity of voices – children, families, Elders, leaders, and community members – who will be heard through the podcast. The figures are encircled by layered soundwaves that ripple outward and inward, capturing both the expression of voice and the act of deep listening.

These soundwaves reflect how stories, knowledge, and lived experiences are shared, received, and echoed across communities – from grassroots voices to national conversations. The design intentionally shows sound as both something that travels outward to inform and inspire, and something that returns inward to strengthen identity, connection, and culture.