Madison Eastmond, Murray Pioneer
The South Australian Youth Forum (SAYF) All Voices Tour made its most-recent stop in the Riverland last weekend, with their local workshop hoping to further understand the shared passions, hopes, and struggles of regional youth.
The SAYF’s All Voices Tour was attended by 10 young locals between the ages of 16 and 22 last Saturday at the Renmark Institute, with the afternoon workshop hosting conversations on climate resilience, mental health resources, and the importance of agricultural wellbeing.
Funded by Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal’s Heywire grant, SAYF has been travelling across South Australia facilitating youth-led and attended workshops that engage in vital conversations about the future, with the insights and recommendations forming a SAYF Bigger Picture Report 2025.
Presented to state and federal decision-makers later this year, the Riverland is only the second stop on the tour after last week’s Kangaroo Island workshop, which will now be followed by events held in Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln.
“(The workshop structure has been) refined over the last three years,” SAYF deputy director Abbey Wilkinson said.
“(They include) adult-free spaces for conversation, participant- led conversation… and our Travelling Capsule of Us artwork creation to finish the day, (which young people are invited to add their creative contributions to and will stand as a visual testament to the collective strength of these communities).
“While the (Riverland) workshop opened to awkward introductions and a gradual openness to conversation, we concluded at 4pm with laughter, inside jokes, truthful stories shared, and a sense of solidarity between the young participants and the young facilitators.”
Ms Wilkinson said there were “major preliminary findings” from the workshop that reflected social, economic, climate, and wellbeing youth experiences.
“(We have learned) there needs to be greater discussion given to how we can re-translate the importance of climate action for an agriculturally-centric ear — not just to urge regional communities to act,” she said.
“It is critical that farm wellbeing is recognised as the backbone to the health of wider regional communities.
“There is (also) a significant deficit in mental health support facilities.
“Many (are) unable to access necessary services without significant wait times, and are often directed to travel to the city or other nearby towns for essential medications and treatments.
“Youth loneliness has grown increasingly prevalent among ages 14 to 24, with scarce opportunities and spaces to meet new people, hang out, and socialise — outside of sport-based activities, many young people unsuited to the field, feel isolated, and left with little choice.
“(It is also) difficult to see representation of minority groups outside of online spaces, as many organisations and schools within the region seemingly dismiss certain advocacy-focused events, and/or fail to address discrimination in, and outside the classroom.”
Ms Wilkinson said local youth revealed limited education and work opportunities were afforded to them in the region.
“The availability of opportunities to pursue your interests within a school environment is entirely dependent on the enrolment numbers, forcing various students into subject choices they are uninterested in, and one’s array of opportunities are determined by where one’s school sits along the river,” she said.
“Schools need additional resources to fund and support students who require alternative learning arrangements.
“There is (also) a sense among farm-based young people that the quality of academic curriculum, teachers, and resources should remain prioritised over improving curriculum on ‘adulting skills’.”
With frameworks and call-to-action statements set to be developed from future follow ups, larger workshop material, and survey findings over the next two-to-three months, Ms Wilkinson said SAYF’s work would “ensure that there is highquality material and insights for decision-makers to tap into when the time comes to make greater change for young people”.
“We know that the only way valid insights from young people can be collated and presented to decision-makers at all, is through this process of workshops, surveys, awareness-raising, and community connection,” she said.
“By involving the participants in the actual presentations and calls to action, we feel confident that no suggestions will be lost in translation.
“We feel confident the necessary process of follow-up, and earnest involvement in advocating, will spark greater waves of youth advocacy across the Riverland and other regions across South Australia.”
This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 9 April 2025.
