Harmony Youth Summit 2024: Dare to Dream
The Harmony Youth Summit (HYS) was held on 28 June this year, bringing together over 140 multicultural young people, many from Māori and Pasifika communities, to share their perspectives on the unique challenges they face today.
This years’ theme, “Dare to Dream,” was set to inspire young people to envision and pursue their aspirations with courage and determination. The theme emphasises the limitless potential within each individual and encourages participants to break through barriers, both personal and societal. The summit featured dynamic speakers, engaging workshops, and collaborative activities designed to foster a supportive environment where dreams can be shared and nurtured.
“The Harmony Youth Summit is a space for young people to navigate through not only their personal journeys, but where they want to go after school. It also allows them to explore their culture, many different areas that the might not often get the space to do so.’
Frances, WYPIN Project Lead, CMY
This year’s Harmony Youth Summit was led by the CMY programs Le Mana Empower Pasifika Program and the Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN). They partnered with various organisations, including NRL Vic, Wyndham Youth Services, the Les Twentyman Foundation, the University of Melbourne, Drummond Street, Collateral Culture, CFMEU, Monash Health, and Youth Projects Ltd. Partners came together with schools in the Wyndham area to provide students with an opportunity to take agency in their future.
‘There’s been a bit of a gap in our ability as a school to support the students in a culturally safe and appropriate way, so we wanted to bring them to the Harmony Summit to better cater to their needs and interests.”
Joanne, Assistant Principal, Werribee Secondary College
The day kicked off with an Acknowledgment to Country, as well as welcome speeches from Wyndham City Council Mayor CR Jennie Barrera and CMY CEO Carmel Guerra OAM, encouraging young people to dare to dream.
Exploring the many pathways available to young people, the morning included workshops defining dreams and goals, chatting about career journeys and discussing solutions to overcoming barriers. Young people departed to their allocated sector destinations, hearing from industry professionals in Community, Health, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Construction and Sport.
To enrich the summit experience, organisers enlisted the support of Culture Spring, CMY’s youth-led impact agency. The Culture Spring team provided cultural competency and personal development training to teachers who accompanied their students on the day. This training equipped educators with the tools to understand their students’ cultural values and take the learning back into their teaching settings.
“The energy and the vibes are high, every group that I’ve gone around to, all I can hear is giggles, great conversations, great questions and the ability for young people who don’t know each other to come together, have a laugh and really talk about what’s important to them.”
Naomi Jade, Youth Development Officer, Wyndham Youth Services
The day concluded with an afternoon presentation from the University of Melbourne, followed by a panel discussion with industry professionals. The event emphasised the importance of culturally safe spaces, effective leadership, and community support in helping young people achieve their dreams. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, “Dare to Dream” aimed to empower youth to take bold steps toward their future, recognising that their unique contributions can lead to transformative change in their communities and beyond.
“It’s been a great opportunity for me to come here, get my mindset right. They taught me a lot of things on how to chase my goals, chase my dreams and it was a really fun experience. It was really enjoyable.”
Young Person
The Harmony Youth Summit is an example of how committed young people are to building a strong, vibrant community. We hope to see the continuation and growth of the Harmony Youth Summit with our partners, identifying more pathways and opportunities for the young people of the community.