Takeover Shepparton will cover the Greater Shepparton area and will give young people a platform to share their experiences with their community and communities across Australia, through local and national ABC networks.
The project will work with high school students to give them the skills to develop stories about what it's like to grow up in their region. At least 30 students will then be selected to have their story broadcast across the ABC and to take part in the Takeover Shepparton Youth Summit from 16 May 2022, where they will develop ideas to make their community an even better place for young people.
ABC Director, Regional and Local, Judith Whelan, said the expansion of the Takeover program into regional Australia was an important next step in giving young regional voices a platform to be heard. "Shepparton is an ideal place for us to start our Regional Takeovers and I'm sure we'll be hearing some inspiring and uplifting stories from the young people of the region on our digital sites and also on ABC Radio and triple j."
CEO of VicHealth, Dr Sandro Demaio, said: "It's fantastic to see the successful Takeover program expand into regional Victoria for the first time, and we're proud to support it."
"We have seen Takeover Melbourne winners taking the lead on important issues, and I can't wait to listen to the stories and ideas that young people in Shepparton put forward."
The CEO of FRRR, Natalie Egleton, says there's no doubt the ideas generated at Takeover will inspire real change in Greater Shepparton.
"I'm looking forward to discovering the passions and ideas from these young rural Australians who are honestly sharing their own stories and big ideas."
We're proud to be able to support their ideas so they can become a reality and create an even stronger regional Australia."
High school students can submit entries via the Takeover Shepparton website from February 25 to April 7, 2022: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/shepparton/programs/takeover-shepparton/
ABC Takeover acknowledges the support of VicHealth, the Australian Government and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR)
