2024 Youth Climate Conference
Custodians of Place
Reconciliation Day Monday May 27 2024 @ The J
What an amazing event this years conference was, we are already planning next years event so contact us today to get involved.
Held by youth for youth!
Inspirational Youth speakers and student presentations - sustainable careers expo
Cultural workshops - walks on country, weaving and native cuisine tasting
OUr regions schools have been doing great things its time to come together and celebrate and share ideas
break out sessions - Nature PHOTOGRAPHY with SPencer Hitchen (12yo), Wildlife protection with Jarrah Small (14yo)
The 2024 Youth Climate Summit was a great success for 2024. The sustainability and climate change focussed conference for students of all ages was held on Reconciliation Day. Delivered by youth for youth it included a sustainable careers expo, cultural performances and workshops and break out sessions on a range of interesting topics. Born from the concern for climate action the day is a chance for schools to come together and share Sustainability and Reconciliation Action. We already planning next years expended event. Contact us to get involved.
The event is FREE to all participants and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
Video of the Custodians of Place Youth climate Conference created by Jarvis Barrett Media a youth based media business located here in Noosa.
Featured School Presentation Noosa District High School Sustainability Connection to Place and Community
We are so very thankful to all the schools who presented at the conference this year. The presentation below is our feature presnetation from Noosa District High School who have successfully embedded an elective subject around sustainability in their curriculum. Well done to Ms Nikki Olds and her students!
Noosa District High Schools Presentation at 2024 Custodians of Place Conference
Guest Speakers
My name is Taylor Ladd-Hudson, I’m 15 years old and live in Sunrise Beach. I'm a freediver, snorkeler, scuba diver, Patrol member for Noosa Surf Life-saving Club, and local surfer but most of all I'm a shark conservationist and environmentalist.
I absolutely love spending all my free time in the water, snorkelling, swimming, and surfing alongside wildlife. I grew up surrounded by wildlife, but it wasn’t until late 2019 that I experienced my first ever wild shark encounter. It was only a baby blacktip reef shark, but I instantly fell in love with this misunderstood apex predator. I remember it swimming off peacefully into the distance and that’s when I realised, they weren’t the mindless killers I grew up believing they were. Shortly after that first encounter, I discovered the threats sharks are facing and how their numbers are declining at a rapid rate. I learnt that if we want to continue to enjoy the ocean, we must protect the species that ensure the health and balance of the ecosystem. I discovered in late 2020 what shark nets and drumlines were doing in my backyard and how they weren’t just affecting sharks but also all marine life in the area.
I now work for multiple different organisations including Sea Shepherd Australia as their youth representative, focusing on their shark campaign as well as Envoy Foundation, Surfrider, and all my local wildlife rescue groups such as Coolum Coast Care and Wildlife Noosa (I particularly enjoy sea turtle rescues!). I attend a lot of public speaking events including Australian events, and especially enjoy youth forums. I have discovered how well-educated kids are on environmental problems! It’s exciting and fills me with a lot of hope for our future when talking to kids! I have been invited to the State Parliament multiple times to talk to people in power about positive, modern alternatives that can replace shark nets and drumlines. I also manage the Humpback Whale entanglements in the shark nets along the Sunshine Coast, filming original content and managing media. I also use social media platforms to spread my message to a broader community.
Meet Spencer Hitchen, a 13-year-old dynamo on a mission to safeguard the majestic Glossy Black-Cockatoos from the brink of extinction. His journey began with the inception of Save Sunrise Glossies, dedicated to protecting the local Wallum ecosystem. Six years into his ecological crusade, Spencer has gathered an impressive 85,000 signatures on his petition, to preserve this precious habitat.
In a world where many kids are consumed by video games and social media, Spencer stands out as a young guardian of nature. Armed with a camera and unwavering passion, he utilizes his photography and keen observations to convey the vital importance of protecting habitats and nature's wonders. Through this lens, he crafts a compelling narrative, enlightening others on the critical significance of preserving ecosystems for threatened species and the generations yet to come.
Spencer is not content with mere signatures and photographs, he takes the stage, captivating audiences with talks about the urgency of conservation. He has created the Save Sunrise Glossies 2023 and 2024 calendars, blending art and advocacy to showcase the breathtaking beauty of biodiversity.
Spencer's journey is a testament to the extraordinary impact a single individual, no matter their age, can have on the world. Spencer states that “together as a collective, we can all make a difference”. With Spencer at the helm, the magic of our planet has an unstoppable advocate, ensuring that its wonders endure for the future generations to come.
Spencer will be running a nature photography workshop at the Climate Conference. Bookings are essential, spaces will be limited so grab your ticket now and bring your camera to the event!
You can follow Spencer’s work at @savesunriseglossies Instagram and Facebook and sign up for updates on his work at his website www.savesunriseglossies.com.au
As an aspiring writer, traveller, and environmentalist, I am very passionate about protecting the natural environment and reorienting how we communicate about these large issues at hand. Creating youth voices in sustainability conversations is crucial, and through my work and the work of the community, I believe we can create hope, inspiration, and impactful change. In 2023, I created the coffee-table style book, Earth & Us, which explores the environmental concerns and sustainability movements on the Sunshine Coast. As a Plastic Free Noosa Ambassador and Noosa Youth Advocacy Group member, I am proud to be involved in the Custodians of Place events as we share, celebrate, and create change in our community.
What to Except….
A day filled with youth led presnetations insipring their peers in climate action and volunteer and employment pathways. Learn how to follow your passion and turn into a thriving career. Raise your voices on the issues that matter most to you and help shape the future of the Sunshine coast you wish to see.
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We will hear from Taylor Ladd Hudson and Spencer Hitchen about their passionate work as ambassadors of our Marine and Terrestial ecosystems and how they ventured into these important roles.
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Lyndon Davies Traditioaal Custodian and a group of Aboriginal dancers will share with us a cultural session and performance as part of our day.
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TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS YOU MUST ALSO BE REGISTERED AND PRESENT FOR THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE Attendees will have the opportunity to register for one of the following workshop areas.
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Speak-up! EnviroChat will empower participants to voice their concerns about environmental issues, develop communication skills, and inspire them to become active participants in the conversation about our planet's future.
An interactive and engaging workshop designed for young people passionate about sharing their ideas. Participants will create the recording-set and become the interviewers and interviewees, creating dynamic conversations about pressing environmental solutions and challenges. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to practice communication skills, develop insightful questions, and articulate thoughtful responses on topics that matter most to them.
Participants should bring their smart phones to film and edit content. There will be an iMac available for students to utilise for editing.
2024 Custodians of Place Youth Art Exhibition
The Noosa Youth Advocacy Group has formed a Youth Arts Collective to help support our regions young artists. As part of the conference program we are holding a Youth Art Exhibition for the entire month of May. Held in the foyer of The J and open everyday young people will have the opportunity to present and sell their artworks. The multi media opportunity includes a youth launch event on Friday May 3rd with artist talks and youth performances. Artisits from across the Sunshine Coast exhibited their artworks of all types and mediums under the theme of the event which is Sustainability, Reconciliation or Climate Action.
“Let’s come together and share ideas and inspiration, so many great things are happening in our Sunshine Coast schools.”
Student presentations include: Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives, Reducing Waste and Emissions,
Improving campus biodiversity, Starting a Youth Based Business.
Attendees will not only have the opportunity to share ideas with their peers, they will be able to explore sustainable career pathways,
participate in walks on country with Beverly Hand and trial some native cuisine.
Hear from inspirational young speakers!
The 2024 Climate Conference
May 27 at The J, Noosa
9-2pm
The 2024 Youth Climate Conference is supported by:
