Young leaders visit Canberra: Inspiring generation of change for the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area

From Far North to Canberra: Left to right – Wrench Larry, Rubyann Sailor, Maine Gibuma (back) and TSRA’s Julia Kaczmarek

Three young people from Thursday Island and Seisia in Far North Queensland have travelled to Canberra for the first time to attend the National Youth Forum 2025 hosted by the Office for Youth on 5 February.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) funded Maine Gibuma, Rubyann Sailor and Wrench Larry to attend alongside around 100 youth and widen their perspectives on education, agriculture and national emergency management.

Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly and the Office for Youth hosted the forum to give young Australians a direct voice in policy discussion, particularly on issues affecting rural, regional and remote communities.

20-year-old Rubyann Sailor from Thursday Island said the experience provided insight and greater experience into conversations

“The forum was an important opportunity to connect with other youth from across Australia and hear the different challenges they face in their communities,” Rubyann said.

“As well as shedding a light and perspective on youth in remote Queensland, we shared our unique experiences from the Torres Strait.”

The youth forum was an opportunity for young people and government to come together and discuss policy solutions to issues that matter to young Australians.

It focused on three differed rural and regional development streams:

Department of Education: Supporting rural, regional and remote young people in accessing and aspiring to tertiary education.
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Building social resilience in communities to support young people during droughts.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA): Enhancing youth involvement in disaster resilience and recovery efforts.

Rubyann participated in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Stream about enhancing youth involvement in disaster resilience and recovery efforts.

“There was a lot of talk about bushfires droughts and recent flooding across Australia,” she said.

“I was fortunate enough to shed a light on challenges we face up north about climate change impacts here, such as rising sea levels and how natural disasters on the mainland has an impact on us, for example through food shortages.”

The Youth Forum tied in with this year’s 2025 theme – rural, regional and remote.

Visit www.youth.gov.au/news/announcements/office-youth-celebrates-national-youth-week for more information.