Young people who’ve experienced care know better than anyone what needs to change. They understand the system not from the outside looking in, but from lived reality, and their insights are vital to building a better future.
Image: Three youth advocates sitting on stage. Jack, in the centre, is holding the microphone and speaking.
At Life Without Barriers, we’re deeply committed to elevating the voices and leadership of young people with lived experience. That commitment came to life recently when our Youth Participation Advocates, members of the National Youth Advisory Group (NYAG), joined the CREATE Foundation’s Speak Up (SUP) program during a vibrant Skills Fest on the Gold Coast.
The SUP program, run in partnership with CREATE, helps young people build leadership, advocacy, and communication skills to drive meaningful change. Across a series of engaging workshops, the group explored public speaking, systems advocacy, and strategic thinking, all tools that strengthen their ability to influence reform.
A highlight of the training was learning about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and state-based charters of rights for children and young people in care. Understanding these frameworks gave participants, like Jasmine, a powerful foundation for their advocacy work, turning knowledge into influence.
"Learning about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the NYAG Skills Fest gave me the tools to be a stronger advocate," said Jasmine, Youth Participation Advocate with Life Without Barriers.
"Now, I can use that knowledge to help frame the work that I do to improve processes."
"As a lived experience Youth Participation Advocate, it’s my job to help amplify the voices of children and young people in care, and understanding children’s rights is a big part of that."
But it wasn’t just about policy and process. A big part of the learning was about storytelling, seeing personal experience not as a burden but as a strength. In a safe, supportive environment, participants shared their stories and discovered how lived experience can shape systems that truly work for young people.
In doing so, they not only developed personal skills but also deepened their capacity to contribute to systemic reform efforts at Life Without Barriers and within the broader sector.
The lived experiences of care leavers helps to connect theory and practice.
A key example of this is the Accountability Statement Life Without Barriers launched ahead of Child Protection Week.
This collaboration with CREATE reflects the heart of Life Without Barriers’ Strategy 2025, which commits us to tackling systemic barriers and creating opportunities for future generations, with people who have lived experience, not just for them. By recognising young people as experts in their own lives, we ensure the services and initiatives we design are more relevant, responsive, and effective.
It also embodies our values of: courage, imagination, respect, responsiveness, and relationships. These values guide every step of our work.
Through initiatives like this, Life Without Barriers continues to walk alongside young people, supporting their growth, amplifying their voices, and ensuring they have a hand in shaping the systems of tomorrow.
Because when young people lead the way, the future of care looks brighter, fairer, and full of possibility.
