In a world where young people often have laws made for and about them, Amber Brock-Fabel is ensuring youth voices are heard.

Amber founded the South Australian Youth Forum in 2021 at just 17 years old. It empowers those aged 14 to 18 to discuss critical issues such as climate change, period poverty, gender equality and youth loneliness. The insights gathered – including surveys and models of engagement – are then presented to lawmakers and relevant organisations.

Under Amber’s leadership, the Forum has secured partnerships and collaborations with various organisations, gaining both national and international recognition, and was recently represented at the United Nations Summit of the Future, the National Inquiry into Civics Education and the Australian Conference on Youth Health.

The youth-led initiative won the Connecting Communities Award at the Young Achiever of the Year Gala in 2024, while Amber herself received the Governor of South Australia’s Commendation for Excellence.