Every year ABC runs Heywire, a chance for young people in regional Australia to have their voices heard.
The idea behind the competition is to bring the big issues in rural areas to the foreground. For a week, 45 people between age 16 and 22 fly to Canberra to brainstorm ways to improve local communities. This year Jesse Chaffey, scenestr's LGBTI Correspondent and General Writer, was one of those lucky people. Here, Jesse pens his experience of the Canberra Heywire summit he attended last week:
"I'm really passionate about the LGBTI+ community and am openly gay. In an industry subject at the University Of The Sunshine Coast called 'ABC Open', our task was to find a group of people and interview them for a short film. The topic of the film was 'community and belonging'. Mine was the LGBTI+ community at the university.
Jesse Chaffey and Senator the Honorable Anne Ruston for SA
My tutor suggested it was strong enough to enter Heywire. Accompanying the video, I submitted my written experiences growing up in the LGBTI+ community, and how no kid should be bullied for who they are.
The week in Canberra was one of the most mentally draining yet rewarding experiences. We were sorted into groups, and our task over the six days was to come up with an idea that would help make our regional communities a better place.
The week in Canberra was one of the most mentally draining yet rewarding experiences. We were sorted into groups, and our task over the six days was to come up with an idea that would help make our regional communities a better place.
We me the Governor General and his wife, Lady Cosgrove at Government House, toured the ABC building and attended a hour in Question Time at Parliament House. There were also hours of brainstorming and rehearsing sessions in preperation to our pitches.
My group – the LGBTI+ group – came up with a podcast run by both LGBTI+ and straight people, that can be listened to and contributed to by anyone in any regional community.
My group – the LGBTI+ group – came up with a podcast run by both LGBTI+ and straight people, that can be listened to and contributed to by anyone in any regional community.
© Mark Graham
On the final full day of the summit, each group pitched their idea to a room of over 100 people in Parliament House, including government representatives and business leaders. It was a wildly successful day, with issues including: tourism, gender equality and education tackled.
Heywire is an eye-opening programme for young people to tell it like it is on issues regarding regional Australia."
– Jesse Chaffey
Heywire is an eye-opening programme for young people to tell it like it is on issues regarding regional Australia."
– Jesse Chaffey
© Mark Graham
