The Youth Voice Journey

Centring strong, young futures

For many years, SNAICC have been imagining a future where the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people can be even stronger in guiding SNAICC’s decisions, ideas and directions.

SNAICC recognises that we must strengthen opportunities for young people to meaningfully and safely contribute, support, and advocate, and that’s what we’re doing. 

Guided by young peoples

To create this future, it was clear that young people must shape the SNAICC Youth Voice, so in the beginning, a group was formed of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples.

This group became our Youth Advisory Group to co-design alongside SNAICC and to hear nationally from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on what should come of the SNAICC Youth Voice. 

Yarns and consultations

Throughout 2025, SNAICC’s Youth Voice team began having conversations nationally, which included meeting in person or online with many Communities from many different Countries.

It was important that the SNAICC Youth Voice was informed and led by the sector, which is why we connected with many peoples, particularly young peoples, Communities and the local organisations that support and advocate for young people. 

What we heard…

We heard how some local youth-led initiatives exist and do incredible work. We heard the need to support advocacy for youth-led initiatives where they didn’t exist. 

We heard the need for stronger and safer pathways for young peoples’ voices to reach national decision-makers, including facilitating national sharing and connections between and amongst communities. 

We heard that the Youth Voice needs to be an ecosystem, not a single group or a strict hierarchical structure.  

What we did…

The ideas from young people, communities, organisations and advocates were used to construct a clear action plan that outlined how the Youth Voice could work, how young people could lead and SNAICC’s role in making this happen. 

This is still a new and evolving journey for SNAICC.

We’re committed to being guided by young people and contributing to a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples’ led movement, grounded in young peoples’ rights, lived experiences, and their self-determined leadership to support young people in influencing policy and systems that affect their lives

What we will continue to do going forward…

Continuing to be guided by young people, Communities, our Members and existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, we’re strengthening pathways for young people to participate in decisions that affect their lives. 

Some of these pathways include national gatherings, supporting jurisdictional and local youth-led groups, and creating roles for young people to share their experiences and vision. 

We know not everyone feels the same way about everything. We recognise diverse interests, strengths and lived experiences. 

You don’t need to have all the answers to be part of Youth Voice – your unique voice and experiences are enough. 

Acknowledgement of Art and Artist

We would like to thank Tovani Cox for her Paths to Purpose artwork and the Youth Voice journey illustrations and art pieces.

Tovani Cox is a proud Bunuba, Gija, Karajarri, Yawuru, and Miriwoong woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. 

Born in Broome, Tovani is passionate about art and design and often her inspiration is from her long-standing commitment to self-determination and rights of First Nations people and communities. 

She was predominantly raised in Noongar country in Perth, and since early 2017 has been living on Wurundjeri country in Melbourne and travels home to the Kimberley as often as she can to connect with kin and country. 

Tovani has qualifications in Digital Graphic Design from RMIT University, and wants to pursue further skills and training using art as therapy and healing. 

Paths to Purpose

Created for SNAICC’s Youth Voice initiative, this artwork represents the strength, leadership, and unity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people coming together to shape the future. The Youth Voice project centres young people in national advocacy and policy, creating supported spaces for them to be heard and lead.

In this piece, two silhouetted figures represent young people from different places who have each made a journey—walking across Country to meet at the top of a hill or mountain. The peak represents clarity, courage, and perspective. As they meet in the middle, they begin an important conversation, ready to look ahead and unlock new possibilities together. It symbolises young people rising, connecting, and stepping into a shared space to start shaping change together. Their meeting in the middle reflects unity, leadership, and the power of coming together from different backgrounds to create a stronger future.

The surrounding elements reflect connection to land, culture, and community, with layered textures and colours symbolising the diversity of voices and Nations involved.

Tovani Cox

Tovani Cox is a proud Bunuba, Gija, Karajarri, Yawuru, and Miriwoong woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Born in Broome, Tovani is passionate about art and design and often her inspiration is from her long standing commitment to self-determination and rights of first nations people and communities.

She was predominantly raised in Noongar country in Perth, and since early 2017 has been living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri country, and travels home to the Kimberley as often as she can to connect with kin and country.

Tovani has qualifications in Digital Graphic Design from RMIT University, and wants to pursue further skills and training using art as therapy and healing.