Tuesday 9 September 2025, 6pm - 7:30pm AEST
Overview
This Spotlight Series shares practical lessons from Katie’s research so we can take the best of what works internationally and apply it to strengthen youth participation in Australia.
As a youth worker and advocate, Katie Acheson’s Churchill Fellowship took her across France, Portugal, England, Ireland, and Canada to learn how young people are meaningfully included in decision-making across government, policy, mental health, research, and youth work.
Katie didn’t come home with a perfect “model” of youth inclusion to roll out in Australia. What she found was even more valuable: different recipes for success, systems, structures, supports, and mindsets that ensure young people’s voices aren’t just heard, but shape decisions at every level.
The truth is: we already have all the ingredients here in Australia. What we need is clarity on what we’re trying to achieve, the right supports, and the right starting points.
Format
- 90 min online interactive webinar
- Brief keynote from Katie sharing Churchill Fellowship insights
- Deep dive into one international case study per session
- Guided discussion to translate lessons into Australian practice
- Q&A and resource sharing
Guest Speaker Bio:
Katie Acheson is a long-time youth advocate, strategist, and connector with more than two decades of experience driving change alongside young people. You may remember her from the dark days of unfunded AYAC, when she was the Chair. Or as the former CEO of batyr and Youth Action - Katie has worked at the intersection of policy, lived experience, and community action leading initiatives that amplify youth voices in decisions that shape their lives.
A recent Winston Churchill Fellow, Katie’s current work focuses on global best practice for embedding young people, particularly those with lived experience of mental ill-health, into decision-making. She has collaborated with youth, organisations, and governments across France, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, and Canada, learning how to create the conditions for meaningful participation.
Katie is passionate about building systems where young people are not just consulted, but are active partners and decision-makers, ensuring their insights and creativity inform solutions to complex challenges.