Young Australians turn adversity into leadership at Youth Insearch's 2026 Leadership Graduation in Brisbane
Youth Insearch
One of Australia's leading peer-led youth support organisations will today celebrate the next generation of young leaders at the 2026 Youth Insearch Leadership Graduation in Brisbane.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington MP will preside over the event, which is being held in Brisbane for the first time.
The 2026 Leadership cohort brings together 10 young people from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria who have overcome major life challenges to complete 18 months of nationally recognised leadership training.
They will now use those skills to give back in their own local communities and support other young people facing a range of life challenges.
This annual event comes at a time when regional communities are experiencing increasing demand for youth mental health and early intervention support services.
Many of the graduates come from regional communities where young people face additional barriers, including economic disadvantage, rising psychological distress and limited access to traditional support services.
Youth Insearch's peer-led model is delivering measurable results, with 75% of young people who were experiencing severe psychological distress reporting an improvement after participating in the program.
For many young Australians in crisis, the first person they trust is not a clinician, caseworker or adult authority figure, but another young person who has lived through something similar. Youth Insearch puts that trust at the centre of early intervention by training young people with lived experience to become mentors, role models and leaders in their own communities.
Each year, Youth Insearch supports almost 1,000 young people aged 8–24 across 38 regional and remote communities in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Its reach is strongest where conventional services struggle to connect: with young people who are isolated, distrustful of formal systems, or unable to access support early enough.
This graduation marks not only the personal achievement of each young person, but a growing national recognition of peer-led support as a practical response to youth distress and the widening gap in access to early intervention programs across regional Australia.
The Hon Deb Frecklington MP Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, will deliver the graduation address, recognising the graduates’ achievements and peer-led early intervention as a critical part of Australia’s youth mental health, suicide prevention and justice diversion efforts.
Date/Time: 2pm Thursday 3 September 2026
Venue: Grand on Ann, Brisbane
Quotes attributable to Ahmarni, Youth Insearch Peer Leader
“I still remember watching someone my age run the leadership session by herself. I was mesmerised. I wanted to be that role model for other young people, and that’s what motivated me to stick with my healing journey, show up for myself, and keep coming back.”
“Before Youth Insearch, I was scared to form relationships with the people around me after years of being stuck in survival mode as a result of escaping a domestic violence situation. I never got the chance to fully process what I experienced as a child.”
Quotes attributable to Stephen Lewin, CEO Youth Insearch
“Right now, many young people across Australia are carrying the weight of their trauma, family violence, mental ill-health and disconnection, and many simply don’t feel able to walk into a traditional service for help. That leaves a dangerous gap in early intervention.”
“Our peer-led model fills that gap. We know when young people are supported by someone who has walked a similar path, it changes everything. It creates safety, trust and connection which are the foundations young people need to rebuild their confidence and sense of belonging.”
“Our Peer Leaders show what is possible when early intervention is built around lived experience, trust and belonging. They are changing the trajectory of young lives now, and today we celebrate the next generation of leaders who will carry that work forward.”
“Youth Insearch’s peer-led support model opens doors that would otherwise remain shut.”
About us:
Youth Insearch is a peer-led youth support organisation that helps young people aged 8-24 overcome challenges including trauma, family violence, mental ill-health and social isolation. Through lived-experience mentoring and leadership programs, it supports around 1,000 young people each year across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. More information: www.youthinsearch.org.au
Contact details:
Daniel Scoullar - 0402 596 297 / [email protected]