Description
Koorie Youth Summit 2026
Dates and locations: | Wednesday 13 May Gathering Day Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, 10C Pound Road, Hastings VIC 3915 Thursday 14 May & Friday 15 May Conference Days Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren VIC 3805 |
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What's Included: | 3-days of workshops, activities, panels and guest speakers (to be announced). Accommodation, catering and transport is included with all individual delegate tickets during the Summit. If you are attending with or on behalf of an organisation, your organisation will need to arrange and cover the costs of your accommodation and transport. If you'd like to access our discounted rooms at Atura Dandenong, please contact events@otidesk.com for details. |
Event description
The Koorie Youth Summit is the largest gathering in Victoria created for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 18-28 years. Since 2014, Koorie Youth Council (KYC) has hosted the event to create a safe space for young mob to gather from around the state to connect with each other, discuss what is important to us, be proud, learn, share and celebrate our culture.
About our Theme
This year’s theme, Together We’re Staunch: Our Culture, Our Power, is a call for young mob across Victoria to remember their community strength. Guided by KYC’s youth-led approach, our Summit Working Group shaped this statewide event to foster knowledge sharing and engagement. The Working Group highlights that young people possess an inner power that is amplified by community. Young mob in Victoria bring diverse lived experiences and interests; one constant remains: our strength from culture, lore, law, Country, and the teachings of Elders and ancestors.
About the Summit Working Group
The Koorie Youth Summit Working Group have held a vital role in leading and shaping the 2026 Koorie Youth Summit, ensuring it reflects the voices, interests, and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people living in Victoria. Group members have attended multiple meetings and contributed their ideas and reflections—co-creating a meaningful and impactful Summit.
Registration details [deadline extended]
Registrations open Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 11AM and close Friday 24th April 2026 at 12PM (midday).
Please note, tickets are limited to 1 ticket per person and 5 tickets per organisation. For organisations sending more than 1 delegate, please use the Organisation - Group Bookings ticket type.
Getting here and home
The Summit starts with a Gathering Day at Willum Warrain from 2:00pm on Wednesday 13th May.
We will have bus departures leaving from Quest Narre Warren to Willum Warrain at 2:30pm, once everyone has checked into their accommodation.
You will need to make your own way to Quest Narre Warren in time for the bus. If you need additional support with travelling to the Summit, please let us know in the travel support section of your registration. Individual travel support will be considered on a case by case basis.
The Summit finishes at 1:45pm on Friday 15th May, however takeaway lunch is available for anyone needing to leave earlier to travel home.
About Us
The Koorie Youth Council (KYC) is the representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Victoria. KYC is guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through our networks, KYC values the diversity and strength of young people as decision-makers. We advocate to government and community to advance the rights and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
By hosting events like the annual Koorie Youth Summit, we bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people together to amplify our voices for social change.
Our Story
Koorie Youth Council (KYC) has a rich history and is the only organisation of its kind in the country. KYC is a dedicated representative organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in policy and advocacy.
KYC was first known as the Victorian Indigenous Youth Advisory Council (VIYAC). VIYAC was established in 2003 by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), a nationally appointed body which operated from 1990-2004. VIYAC was created with the support of the Aboriginal community and Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic). In 2012, VIYAC became known as the Koorie Youth Council.
Contact us
For more details, please get in touch with Natasha Lieschke, Otidesk Project Manager at events@otidesk.com.
MC
Megan Waters
Introducing our Summit MC, Megan Waters! Megan is a Warumungu/Yawuru woman, media presenter, podcaster, and fitness coach based in Melbourne. A proud ambassador for Indigenous culture and health, Megan is a NIKE Trainer and a passionate advocate for mental and physical wellness. Known for her energy and warmth, Megan inspires others through her work in media, sport, and fitness. Megan believes that health is our greatest asset, physically and mentally, which is why you’ll find her spending most of her time either exercising or practising mindfulness. She is now a Certified Breathwork Facilitator, and her passion for wellness is unparalleled. Megan made her move into the media in 2021, when she became the newest personality on NITV’s popular show, Yokayi Footy. She now cohosts various formats and content for AFL Media and is looking forward to another big year in 2025. She is also a boundary rider for FOX Footy’s AFLW coverage. In 2024, Megzy also launched her own podcast – Rushing Slowly. Megan feels that through her media work, she has been given a wonderful opportunity to use her platform to educate and help promote greater understanding of Indigenous culture, and she is extremely honoured to be representing sport and her culture on screen.
Keynote Speakers
Sue-Anne Hunter
Sue-Anne Hunter is the inaugural National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, and a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman. She is known for her work as Deputy Chair and Commissioner in Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission, Australia's first formal First Peoples truth-telling inquiry. Sue-Anne is also a member of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Advisory Board, an Adjunct Professor of Global Engagement at Federation University and a PhD candidate at Monash University. With a background in child and family services practice, Sue-Anne has over two decades’ clinical experience responding to developmental, transgenerational and community trauma. She is widely recognised for developing rights-based, transformative practice responses that empower Aboriginal people to heal from the continuing effects and processes of colonisation.
Miss Kaninna
Miss Kaninna is a First Nations artist whose music, voice, and presence have made her one of the most compelling figures in so-called Australian music today. Hailing from Bruny Island, Tasmania, she is of Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon, and Yirendali heritage. She made history in 2024 with her debut single, Blak Britney, earning three ARIA nominations, including Best Independent Release, becoming the first independent Aboriginal woman nominated for an ARIA for a debut single. The track reached #1 on triple j, featured in Netflix’s Heartbreak High and was named by Rolling Stone as one of the Best Australian & NZ Songs of the 21st Century, marking a critical and cultural breakthrough. Her debut EP, KANINNA, followed to critical acclaim, winning Best Independent Hip-Hop EP/Album and Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year at the 2025 Australian Independent Music (AIR) Awards, and receiving an ARIA nomination for Best Hip-Hop Release. In late 2025, Miss Kaninna took her music overseas, joining Irish rappers Kneecap, for an 18-date sold out tour across the UK and Europe. From Amsterdam to Glasgow, her ferocious charisma, rage, and resistance made every performance an uncompromising statement of identity and truth. At home, she has supported Amyl and the Sniffers, Hiatus Kaiyote and M.I.A, whilst sharing stages with Stormzy, Steve Lacy, and Raye on the 2024 Laneway Festival tour. She was named triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year, received SXSW Sydney’s inaugural Justin Cosby Award for Best New Talent, and was included in NME’s 2025 Essential 100 Emerging Artists. In 2026, Amazon named her one of their Global Artists to Watch. Miss Kaninna’s reputation as a live performer rests on her ability to hold space, rousing rage and joy in equal measure. Floating effortlessly between Hip-Hop, R&B, rock and pop, her genre-defying approach to performance provides a staunch foundation for a new artist with an urgency for change. With activism a crucial thread in her lineage and her art, contributing her platform and support to marginalised communities form a vital part of her practise. In 2025 she spearheaded the creation of Sovereign Day Out - a festival to uplift First Nations people following a white supremacist attack on sacred land - and continues ongoing work with initiatives supporting Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQI+ and women’s rights. With each milestone and movement, Miss Kaninna continues to solidify her place as an artist whose voice and presence command attention. She is a cultural leader, a creative force, and a performer whose influence extends far beyond the stage.
Speakers
Cienan Muir
Cienan Muir is a Yorta Yorta, Ngarrindjeri & Taungurung man who grew up in Echuca, Shepparton and Melbourne, attending the Institute of Koori Education in Geelong for his university studies. Cienan and his partner Heidi have attended overseas comic conventions, including New York Comic Con, served as guest speakers at conventions, and even showcased some of their cosplay creations at the Melbourne Museum. Cienan delivered the Country’s first Indigenous Comic Con in 2019, showcasing Indigenous creativity from across the Country, from the video game industry to comic books to cosplay, even attracting international guests. In the same year, Cienan created INDIGINERD, a pop culture platform that promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creativity across the industry. In 2021, he joined the Drop Bear Bytes Studio narrative team, helping to build an Indigenous storyline within their game, Broken Roads. He has helped establish a permanent space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gamers at PAX, helped establish the First Nations Film Club at ACMI, and has helped deliver TTRPG programming for Big Games Night Out for the past 2 years, most recently helping to design the Game Worlds exhibition at ACMI. Join Cienan as he speaks on the Advocacy in the Arts: Black, Loud & Proud! Panel at this year’s Summit!
Tishiko King
Tishiko King is a proud Kulkalaig woman from the Island of Masig and is an Ocean & Climate Advocate. Tish is the founder of Just Futures Collab, Torres Strait Island-led giving circle activating resources for climate justice. Tish is a marine biologist and a dedicated climate justice advocate committed to addressing the interconnected crises of environmental degradation, gender, and economic inequality. Grounded in the wisdom and frontline leadership of Torres Strait Island culture, Tish believes that redistributing wealth is essential to decolonising climate solutions in order for systemic change that respects the ocean, culture, and community. Based between Naarm/Melbourne and Masig Island, Tish has an undergrad in Ocean Science, lived experiences in the mineral and exploration industry and continues playing a role in advocating for Torres Strait Island Climate Justice. Tish is a member of the Australian Museum Climate Solutions Centre Advisory Group, contributor for Climate Council, collaborator with Patagonia, current Board member for AIME and She Changes Climate Australian Ambassador. Join Tishiko as she speaks on the Honouring Our Old Peoples Teachings Panel at this year’s Summit!
Rubii Red
Rubii Red (formerly know as lifeofrubii online) is a proud Lama Lama woman from Cape York, QLD, but has grown up and lives in Narrm (Melbourne, VIC) for the majority of her life. She’s an artist and occasionally streams herself playing videos games over on the streaming platform, Twitch. Her art style is heavily influenced by her interest in anime, manga and comic books. These influences have shaped her creative vision from a young age. Rubii began sharing her artwork on Instagram in 2015, amassing over 18,000 followers, and started her streaming journey on Twitch in 2019. Her achievements include working in collaboration with Google, XBOX ANZ, having her art featured on a Yarra Tram as part of the RISING festival (2023), running character-design workshops for teens at the NGV (2022), designing a guernsey for the AFLW Western Bulldogs (2022) and being featured in Vogue Australia (2020), just to name a few. Rubii is also the co-founder of the First Nations online gaming community, BlakoutGG a safe space designed for any Mob interested in gaming or streaming. She hopes to expand BlakoutGG in the future, creating content and providing opportunities for First Nations peoples in the online space. Looking to the future, Rubii aspires to work with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to nurture their skills and interests in the creative arts and gaming. Join Rubii as she joins the Advocacy in the Arts: Black, Loud & Proud! Panel at the Koorie Youth Summit
Matty Chilly
Matthew is a proud multi-clan nations man, a descendant from the Wemba-Wemba, Neri-Neri, Yiti-Yiti, Mutti-Mutti, Wuradjuri, Yorta-Yorta, Watti-Watti, Barapa-Barapa and Gubbi Gubbi tribes. He also has ancestral ties to the Maori Iwi’s of New Zealand. Matthew developed an appetite, a desire and a dream for the arts when he was young and realised that he could draw, paint and create. Matthew lives in Culture every day through his art practices that include painting, weaving, photography, Smoking Ceremonies, dancing and digital art. Matthew has worked for 11 years for Community in Housing, Admin and AOD work. Matthew works with The Torch’s male participants in prison as well as in community. Join Matty as he speaks on the Advocacy in the Arts: Black, Loud & Proud! Panel at this year’s Summit!
Connor Wright
Connor Wright (Djindjabad), is a proud Larrakia man, working within the intersection of science, policy, and Indigenous knowledge. He holds a Masters of Environment specialising in climate change and policy from the University of Melbourne and was appointed as the 2024 G20 Youth Climate Change Negotiator. He currently serves as a Director for Plant for The Planet Australia and is the science advisor for environmental justice Australia. Alongside this he is also a PhD candidate at The University of Melbourne where he is investigating how can Indigenous peoples in Australia be meaningfully engaged in national climate change policy. Join Connor as he speaks on the Land, Sea, and Sky Country: Honouring Our Old Peoples Teachings Panel at this year’s Summit!
Workshop Facilitators
Philly
Join Wemba Wemba Hip Hop artist Philly for an inspiring workshop that celebrates creative expression and the power of young blackfulla voices. Philly will share his journey as a songwriter and advocate for First Peoples’ storytelling, offering practical insights and encouragement. Whether you’re a writer, musician, or simply passionate about storytelling, this workshop welcomes everyone. Bring your writing, ideas, or stories to share, or just come ready to listen and be part of the conversation. All creative voices are valued, with the goal of inspiring confidence in your unique story. Philly grew up in Mildura (Latji Latji country) off the banks of the Mighty Murray River. He won the National Indigenous Music Awards ‘New Talent of the Year’ in 2015. He released his first E.P, Dreamchaser, and was later signed to Bad Apples Music. After a break, Philly remains committed to using his voice to inspire young people. He performed a breathtaking rendition of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds “ for triple j’s Like a Version and released his first E.P, Dreamchaser, the same year. Signed to Bad Apples Music in 2016, Philly took a break after several years but continues to use music to inspire change.
Blak Wattle Coaching
Join Caroline Kell from Blak Wattle Coaching for a visioning workshop at this year’s Summit! Caroline Kell is a proud Mbarbrum woman whose family hails from Far North Queensland, but she was born and raised in Melbourne/Naarm. A TedX speaker, qualified Counsellor and Coach, Consultant, Podcaster and sometimes Writer. Evolving into a thought leader, Caroline passionately champions the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal people, critical discourse on empathetic leaders and workplace dynamics, underscoring the imperative of addressing anti-racism and its links to trauma, stress, and burnout. Caroline has spent a decade working alongside Aboriginal people and communities advancing outcomes in mental health, justice, community engagement and Treaties. Her contributions have been characterised as a remarkable talent for navigating complex historical and current social dynamics. A true master connector, she brings a grounded, dynamic and impactful presence.
Wunyun Indigenous Healing
Join Peta Hudson for a healing workshop blending traditional and modern methods. Peta Hudson is a proud Djaara, Taungurung, and Yorta Yorta medicine woman with ancestral bloodlines in Indian Healing. Dedicated to lifelong learning, Peta is on a mission to revive the ancient traditional medicinal and healing practices passed down to her. Peta's great grandfather emigrated from India and used his knowledge of plants and animals to create tonics and healing products for his community. She also remembers her mother making traditional First Nation remedies. This fusion of Peta's heritage drives her to revive ancestral healing practises that are in tune with nature.
First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria
Join our relaxed and interactive session to learn about the Gellung Warl, ask questions and build your knowledge of our first-ever Victorian State-wide Treaty. Topics we will cover: · Who Gellung Warl are and what they do · What Youth Voice is and how young people are shaping our future · What our first Treaty means, why it matters and how it works · Seeing how young people want to be involved in Gellung Warl and Treaty” Explainer: The Treaty establishes Gellung Warl as the permanent representative and deliberative body for Traditional Owners and First Peoples in Victoria. Gellung Warl means ‘tip of the spear’ or ‘pointed spear’ in Gunaikurnai language.
Djirra: Young Luv
Join Leticia & Kahealea for a special one-hour Young Luv workshop focusing on healthy relationships, sistahood, assertiveness and self-love. Young Luv is designed by and delivered by young Aboriginal women, for young Aboriginal women. Grounded in cultural strengths, Young Luv is a safe space to yarn and reflect on relationships and issues in our lives. This session is open to Aboriginal women, and gender-diverse mob comfortable joining a women’s program.
FAQs
- What does my ticket include?
For individual delegates, your ticket includes:
Complete access to our 3-day program including workshops, guest speakers, stalls and more
A 2026 Summit merch bag
Accommodation in a shared apartment at Quest Narre Warren for Wednesday and Thursday night
Meals and catering during conference times
Transport to/from Quest Narre Warre to the conference activities each day
If you need additional support with travelling from home to the Summit, please let us know in the travel support section of your registration. Individual travel support will be considered on a case by case basis.
For delegates attending with or on behalf of an organisation, your ticket includes:
Complete access to our 3-day program including workshops, guest speakers, stalls and more
A 2026 Summit merch bag
Meals and catering during conference times
Please note, your organisation will need to arrange and cover the costs of your accommodation and transport to/from the Summit each day. If you'd like to access our discounted rooms at Atura Dandenong, please contact events@otidesk.com for details.
- Where do I need to go?
Accommodation
Our shared accommodation is at Quest Narre Warren
Address: Princes Hwy & Verdun Drive, Narre Warren VIC 3805
Bus Departures
Buses will be departing each day to the Summit activities from Quest Narre Warren. If you are staying elsewhere, you'll need to make your own way to the Summit each day or meet at Quest to join a bus departure.
Wednesday 13 May
Gathering Day
on Bunurong and Boon Wurrung Country (Mornington Peninsula)
Thursday 14 May & Friday 15 May
Conference Days
Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren VIC 3805
- What accommodation options do you have?
The accommodation we are able to provide for the Summit includes both 2-bedroom apartments (1 bed per bedroom with shared kitchen/living areas) and twin-share (2 beds per bedroom with shared kitchen/living). This helps us to ensure we can support as many mob as possible to be able to attend. We understand that this won't be suitable for everyone, and have arranged to hold a number of private (1 person only) rooms at Atura Dandenong for a discounted price. You are welcome to book one of these at your own expense. Please contact events@otidesk.com for details.
Alternatively you may organise your own accommodation somewhere you prefer.
If you are arranging your own accommodation, you will need to make your own way to and from the conference each day as our buses are not able to service multiple collection points. - What transport is included?
We have arranged bus transport for all delegates from Quest Narre Warren to the conference activities each day.
You will need to make your own way to Quest Narre Warren for the start of the Summit on Wednesday 13 May. We have arranged two bus departures for Day 1 (13 May) so that those traveling a long distance can still join for the afternoon/evening. Day 1 buses depart from Quest at:
12:00pm; and
3:00pm
If you need additional support with travelling to the Summit, please let us know in the travel support section of your registration. Individual travel support will be considered on a case by case basis.
- How will I receive my Delegate Information Pack and when?
You will be emailed your Delegate Information pack after registrations have closed (20 April) which will include everything you need to know to get ready for this year's Summit! Keep an eye on your inbox.
- When do I need to register by?
Registrations close on Monday 20th April 2026 at 5PM.
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