Voices in Action provides a unique opportunity for decision-makers to hear directly from young people, gain practical insights into their experiences, and work alongside them to identify priorities, recommendations and actions that can strengthen policy, practice and support across Victoria.
Join young people with lived experience, government representatives, sector leaders and practitioners for a youth-led conversation about rights, relationships, support and shared responsibility, and what it takes for young people to thrive while in care in Victoria.
📅 Friday, 2 October 2026 ⏰ Registrations open 10am, first session starts at 10:30am 📍 Melbourne Multicultural Hub (on arrival please register at the Drill Hall, 26 Therry Street, Melbourne - 1 min walk) 🍽️ Morning tea and lunch provided 🎫 Secure your ticket now
One-day. Four powerful, youth-led sessions. Explore our program below.
10:00am Registrations and Morning Tea
10:30am Opening Plenary: Welcome to Country, Young Consultants Welcome, CREATE Foundation CEO Welcome
11:10am Concurrent Sessions (Choose 1) Panel: Capability vs Service Reliance. Are services helping young people build the skills and confidence they need for adulthood, or unintentionally creating reliance on systems and workers? Hear directly from young people about what effective support looks like, the practical skills care leavers need, and what workers and organisations should do differently. Workshop: Charter of Rights. Young people in care have a Charter of Rights, but rights only make a difference when people know, discuss and act on them.Led by Young Consultants Kyran Walsh and Anna Zhang, this interactive workshop explores the gap between rights and reality, who is responsible, and what a truly impactful charter could look like.
12:10pm Lunch with a screening of The Way We Care documentary film
1:10pm Fun Activity
1:30pm Concurrent Sessions (Choose 1) Panel: Corporate Parenting - Turning Commitment into Action. What will it take to turn Victoria’s Corporate Parenting commitment into meaningful action? This panel brings together government, sector and lived experience perspectives to discuss shared responsibility, implementation, accountability, collaboration, and the genuine role of young people in shaping the reform. Workshop: What Makes a Good Worker. This interactive, youth-led workshop explores what young people in care value most in the workers who support them. Through lived experience reflections, group activities and practical discussion, participants will identify the qualities, skills and organisational supports that help workers build strong relationships and improve young people’s experiences of care.
2:35pm Reflections and commitment to young people
2:50pm Young Consultant wrap up and next steps
3:00pm Day ends
To discover our speakers, explore the visual program.
Our event will be held at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub, an accessible and inclusive community space conveniently located opposite Queen Victoria Market and just a short walk from Melbourne's city centre. On arrival, please register at the Drill Hall, 26 Therry Street, Melbourne. The Drill Hall is 1 min walk from the main venue.
By tram: Take route 19, 57 or 59. Exit at Stop 7 - Queen Victoria Market.
By train: Exit at Melbourne Central Station and take a short walk.
By car: Pay to park in an off-street carpark nearby, or pay for metered parking on the surrounding streets.
By bike: Secure your bike at the bicycle hoops in the surrounding streets.
Voices in Action provides a truly unique opportunity for decision-makers to hear directly from young people, learn from their insights, experiences and expertise, and work alongside them to strengthen policy, practice and systems across Victoria and nationally.
The event will center around the simple question of: What do children and young people need to thrive while they're in care and beyond, and what can we do to make that happen?
