ABC Heywire 2020 Competition Launched

The ABC is calling on people aged 16-22 to share their experiences of life in regional Australia for the opportunity to be featured on the ABC and win a lifechanging trip to Canberra for the Heywire Regional Youth Summit in February 2020.

Anyone with a story to tell about life outside of the big cities is encouraged to enter, with entries of any medium accepted, including text, video, audio and photo. The competition officially opens on 24 July 2019.

Forty winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Heywire Regional Youth Summit and will take part in workshops. The Summit gives winners an opportunity to inspire each other, develop ideas and share stories to help make life in regional Australia even better.

Past winners have used Heywire as a springboard to make positive change in their communities by exploring issues around agriculture, mental health, youth employment, disability and strengthening culture, just to name a few. 

ABC Director of Regional & Local, Judith Whelan said “the Heywire competition is an important platform for young people living outside of the big cities to have their voices heard.”

“We’re proud to celebrate the stories of a new generation of Australian storytellers.”  Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie encourages young people to get involved and share their stories.

“I am always inspired by the depth of capacity of young people from rural and regional Australia,” Minister McKenzie said.

“Heywire helps to showcase the next generation of young leaders.

“There is a positive future for the regions with young leaders so passionate and proud of where they come from.”

Former Heywire winner, Bethany Evans, says “It’s an enormous privilege to be a Heywire alumni and to see how the program has continued to grow and give young rural Australians a platform for discussion and change.”

“For me, my experience as a Heywire winner reaffirmed how lucky I am to call rural Australia home despite the unique challenges we face. The opportunity to meet and form lasting friendships with other rural youth from across Australia has been priceless.”

“The sense of empowerment and conviction that rural voices matter and deserve to be heard at all levels of Australian society is something that has stayed with me always.”

Get your entries in via the Heywire website by 16^th of September.

Heywire acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources; the Department of Education and Training; the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development; the Department of Social Services; the Department of Health; and AgriFutures Australia.