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2024 Youth Climate Conference
Custodians of Place
Reconciliation Day Monday May 27 2024 @ The J
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 is a sustainability and climate change focussed conference for students of all ages. The event, held on Reconiliation Day is delivered by youth for youth and includes a sustainable careers expo, cultural perfomances and workshops and youth led 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. This full day event, hosted at The J will celebrate the grassroots actions students have been taking since our last gathering in 2021. Insiprational youth presenters, hands on workshops led by youth for youth! Learn new ways to make your school more sustainable.
The event is FREE to all participants and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
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.
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 as well as a community open day on Friday 17 May. We invite artists from across the Sunshine Coast to join the exhibition, contact us to receive the application form. Artworks of all types and mediums are welcomed under the theme of the event which is Sustainability, Reconciliation or Climate Action. Artists will be profiled and will have the opportunity to sell their works. We look forward to seeing your creations! Register for the launch party here!
“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
Spaces are limited
Register your place below!
The 2024 Youth Climate Conference is supported by:
