The Future Generation Global Exchange, held in Sydney late last month, provided an incredible opportunity to connect with our impact partners, shareholders and advocates over the issues impacting the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians. The two-day event attracted thought leaders from across the nation, with panel discussions and workshops all aimed at promoting sector collaboration as we seek to build a brighter future for our young people.
As Rosie Thomas OAM, co-founder of Project Rockit, wrote: “These issues we address, especially when you’re advocating for change, can be really taxing. To be with people who understand, and in the face of that are bringing their mammoth tenacity, innovation and hope for the world, was like a tonic!!”
More than 70 shareholders attended a breakfast event on the second day of the Exchange to hear two panel discussions, moderated by the award-winning journalist Annabel Crabb. The first – a “conversation” with Dr Tracy Westerman (founder of Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health) and Bernie Shakeshaft (founder of BackTrack) – was a poignant reflection on our nation’s failure to support Aboriginal youth and the urgent need for indigenous-specific initiatives. The second was an exploration of whether social media is friend or foe in the fight to prevent mental ill-health in our young people. A hearty thanks to Mia Garlick (Meta’s regional policy director); online safety expert Yasmin London, and Professors Selena Bartlett and Amanda Third for their insightful and nuanced contributions to this debate.
A clear takeaway from the Exchange was the need to incorporate young voices into our decision if we are to implement successful and sustainable wellbeing initiatives. Youth advocates Sina Aghamofid, April Willis, Em Howes, and Taylor Hawkins all made the case for this in terrifyingly articulate fashion. By generously sharing their experience of the ongoing cost-of-living and housing affordability crises, they challenged attendees to consider the destruction of long-standing social contracts and to ask ourselves what we, as Australians, wish to embody for future generations.
For our 14 non-profit partners, the ‘fundraising insights’ and ‘storytelling for impact’ panels and workshops were a resounding success, providing them with strategies for engaging with influential stakeholders.
But the clear highlight was the “Shark Tank Philanthropy” session – a world first in which three advisors to Australian philanthropic boards and families instead pitched to our impact partners. An enormous thanks to Michelle Gortan, Fiona Higgins and Rachel Kerry for lifting the veil on the sometimes opaque world of philanthropic decision-making.
The success of this year’s Future Generation Global Exchange was achieved through the tireless work of our impact partners, insightful advocates, and exceptional expert panellists. As Sarah La Roche, the new CEO of Smiling Mind, wrote, “I feel incredibly proud to lead an organisation that is part of this special group.”
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