More than 500 students from across southern Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula gathered at Aldinga Payinthi College for the Activating Youth Student Summit, an inspiring event focused on ambition, leadership, future pathways and the power of choice.
Across two engaging sessions, students had the opportunity to hear from an incredible line up of Australians who have each taken very different paths to success, while exploring the many possibilities available to them beyond school.
The summit brought together Nedd Brockmann, 2026 Young Australian of the Year, Chelsea Randall, Amber Brock Fabel and Noah Yang, who shared personal stories of resilience, leadership, taking risks, backing yourself and turning ideas into action.
Your future is yours to shape
A central message throughout the summit was that there is no single pathway to success and young people do not need to have their entire future mapped out before they leave school.
Nedd Brockmann shared his journey from growing up in regional NSW and becoming an electrician to taking on the extraordinary challenge of running almost 4,000 kilometres across Australia and raising millions of dollars to support people experiencing homelessness.
He was joined by Noah Yang, who founded We Are Mobilise at just 20 years old. Together, Nedd and Noah spoke about setting ambitious goals, taking the first step when an idea feels overwhelming and turning a desire to make a difference into meaningful action.
Amber Brock Fabel shared her experience of founding the South Australian Youth Forum at just 17, demonstrating that age does not need to be a barrier to having a voice or creating change.
AFLW champion Chelsea Randall brought another perspective to the conversation, drawing on her experience as an eight season Adelaide Crows captain and triple premiership captain to explore leadership, courage, strong team culture, embracing change and the importance of backing yourself.
Young people leading the conversation
Students were not simply there to listen.
Aldinga Payinthi College Learner Leaders played an important role throughout the summit, helping to open the event and taking to the stage to lead questions with the guest speakers.
Their confidence, curiosity and willingness to engage reflected one of the key messages of the day: young people do not need to wait until the future to become leaders. They can use their voice and make an impact right now.
Exploring pathways beyond school
The conversation continued beyond the stage through the Pathways Hub, presented by Flinders University, giving students the opportunity to explore different options for life after school.
Students connected with the Flinders University team to learn about tertiary study, flexible entry pathways and innovative Earn While You Learn degree apprenticeships, which provide opportunities to combine university study with paid employment.
Hickinbotham Group also connected directly with students, showcasing rewarding career opportunities across trades, apprenticeships and the building and construction industry.
The Pathways Hub gave students the chance to ask questions, explore practical options and discover pathways they may not previously have considered.
Connecting students across the region
More than 500 students participated across the two sessions, representing schools from southern Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, including:
Aldinga Payinthi College
Victor Harbor High School
Yankalilla Area School
Willunga High School
Mount Compass Area School
Bringing students from different schools and communities together provided another important opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and consider the possibilities available to them as they plan their next steps.
Big ideas and bright futures
The core takeaway for our young leaders was simple: your future is defined by the choices you make and the possibilities you choose to pursue.
Whether that pathway involves university, a trade, sport, advocacy, entrepreneurship or something completely unexpected, the summit encouraged students to remain curious, embrace opportunities and have the confidence to back themselves.
ADCSA is proud to create opportunities that connect young South Australians with inspiring people, practical pathways and ideas that encourage them to think boldly about their future.
We sincerely thank Aldinga Payinthi College for hosting the summit, our incredible speakers Nedd Brockmann, Chelsea Randall, Amber Brock Fabel and Noah Yang, and all of the participating schools, teachers and students.
A special thank you also to Jess Adamson for MCing the summit and bringing warmth and energy to both sessions.
We extend our appreciation to our valued partners, the Department for Education, Flinders University and Hickinbotham Group, for their support in empowering the next generation and helping bring the Activating Youth Student Summit to life.
