What is the Mount Druitt Press Conference?

FUNPARK’s Mt Druitt Press Conference is a curated conversation led by young local cultural leaders. Emerging from a need to highlight the lived experiences and concerns of Mt Druitt youth, the Mt Druitt Press Conference provides a vital opportunity for youth-led, critical

conversations around the issues that matter to young people.

The unique Mt Druitt Press Conference format creates time and a safe space for young participants to reflect on 'wicked' problems facing our society - stigma, poverty, mental health, violence and hopelessness in the face of exclusion. Facing hard questions head on, young people propose meaningful solutions to these issues which fundamentally challenge social cohesion in our community and flip the lens, by focussing on the enormous strengths and potential, ready to be unleashed by the next generation.

This report reflects on the conversations and issues raised over four live-broadcast Mt Druitt Press Conference events held over 2020-2021. In the lead up to each of these events, participants attended a series of facilitated workshops which encouraged young people to share their lived experiences with each other and to develop their own carefully considered personal reflections on issues that arise. The workshops are designed to teach and empower young

people to 'control the narrative' and to curate the conversation the way they want to be heard.

Through this process, we amplify youth voices and provide a platform for conversations about difficult topics to reach local change-makers in a public forum. In doing this, we hope to combat societal stigmas and stereotypes, create opportunities for youth-led change and build resilience and empathy across the community.

“REALLY GREAT AND IMPORTANT DIALOGUE THAT'S PART OF THE ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND MT DRUITT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES!” - MICHAEL CRUZ

9