Koorie Youth Summit to return in May with Sue-Anne Hunter keynote

Victoria’s largest youth-led gathering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people will return in May, with organisers pitching the 2026 Koorie Youth Summit as a space to strengthen culture, leadership and self-determination at a time when young voices are often sidelined in policy debates.

The Koorie Youth Council (KYC) says the three-day summit will run from Wednesday 13 May to Friday 15 May on Boonwurrung Bunurong Country, bringing together young people aged 18 to 28 from across Victoria. The program will begin with an on-Country day on 13 May (venue to be confirmed), followed by conference days at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren on 14 and 15 May.

KYC says the 2026 theme (Together, We’re Staunch: Our Culture, Our Power) was developed by a summit working group and is a call for young people to recognise collective strength grounded in culture, Country and the teachings of Elders and ancestors.

KYC chief executive Bonnie Dukkakis said young people are frequently excluded from decisions that directly shape their lives. “This exclusion shuts them out of vital conversations” Ms Dukkakis said. “The Summit offers a crucial platform to develop skills, speak out, and be heard by experts and leaders within the Koorie community.”

The summit’s keynote speaker will be Sue-Anne Hunter, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. The National Commission says the commissioner’s role is to protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of First Nations children and young people by amplifying their voices and embedding their priorities in advice to government.

Ms Hunter told National Indigenous Times that her focus is on reform that centres children’s rights. “The agenda is the children, and the agenda is systemic change,” she said.

KYC chair Jye Charles said the summit is designed to open doors that aren’t always available to young people, particularly those outside Melbourne. “At KYC, we are honoured to foster this environment with and for our young people, offering experiences they might not otherwise have” he said.

The Koorie Youth Summit has been run by KYC since 2014 and typically attracts more than 200 delegates from communities across the state. Organisers say accommodation and meals are covered for registered participants, with travel support available for those who need it.