Young Leaders' Forum

Council hosted an event for Young Leaders in the Ballroom on Tuesday 21 September with 40 students from Seymour College, Pembroke School, St Peter’s Girls’ School, Mary MacKillop College and Marryatville High School with a theme of Respect.

The Welcome to Country was given by Senior Kaurna man Mickey O’Brien.

The students heard a key note address from former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Natasha spoke of her own personal journey as the youngest woman ever to enter Federal Parliament in Australia and her leadership roles in the Australian Democrats from 1995 to 2008.

She said her first take out about leadership is inclusion. “Leadership is under scrutiny in Australia now,” she said. “Some attitudes are being called out and challenged. It is important as this forms our attitudes towards leadership.”

She advised the audience to look at who they admire and the traits that they have, both the good and bad traits.

Her second take on leadership is about respect. “Violence is preventable,” she said. “Gender inequality and disrespect is at the core of this violence. And this is at the core of the solution.”

She urged the students to do what they could, no matter how small. “Support charities, look at school policies, be a good bystander and call out inappropriate behaviour. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”

Natasha said education is the great equaliser. “It is a serious global challenge for girls to access education. The best leaders are investing in girls through education,” she said.

She described empowerment as giving someone the tools to create change and then to listen to what they have to say. “Leadership is a mindset. Real and lasting improvement requires us all to be leaders. In home, school, sport clubs.”

A discussion panel followed with Fiona Dorman, Chair Premier’s Council for Women, John White, Young Australian of the Year for City of Burnside and Amber Brock-Fabel, Young Achiever of the Year SA Environment winner, They encouraged people to stand up and be heard, to call out injustice when they saw it and to recognise that young people sometimes need guidance, mentoring, direction and support.

The students then undertook a workshop to discuss key learnings and takeaways.