NIYEC is building a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Congress to amplify student voice and agency of high school-aged learners.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people have an essential role to play in creating fair, just, culturally-responsive and future proof learning systems. This is reflected in the Coolangatta Statement on Indigenous People’s Right to Education. It states “Youth and the young have a special place and responsibility in the struggle to nurture and protect Indigenous cultures. It is to them that truths and wisdoms are bequeathed”.

NIYEC is building a National Indigenous Student Congress that will connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high-school aged learners, offer capacity building opportunities, and provide an avenue for them to have their voices and perspectives heard on their self-determined education priorities.

We are currently in the youth co-design phase to ensure that this Student Congress model delivers on this ambition. We will be holding a series on online youth co-design workshops, and stakeholder engagements to inform and guide the development of the congress model. Key workshop dates will be released soon.

We are also calling on contribution partners who are interested in hosting a place-based co-design workshop with existing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students networks. If you’re interested in being a contribution partner, please reach out to renee@niyec.com.