The ABC is looking for it's next cohort of Heywire winner and Trailblazers. They're looking for young people across the Top End to share their stories.
What is Heywire?
Heywire isn’t a spelling or grammar competition—we want real stories from young people (aged 16–22) living in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
We want to hear about:
- Life in their part of the world
- What they care about
- What frustrates them
Stories can be submitted in writing, audio, video, or photos—as long as it’s a true story.
Heywire winners (aged 16-22) work with ABC producers to have their story heard across the country and they win an all expenses paid trip to the ABC Heywire Regional Youth Innovation Summit in Canberra next year. Entering the Heywire competition is a chance for young people to have their voices heard, and they can be supported to do that through an online Heywire workshop. The workshops are designed to support young people to settle on an idea about their life they would like to share… and gives them tips for how to enter that story in a way that suits them.
- Free online storytelling workshops delivered by an ABC producer: We will be running the workshops throughout April, May, June, July and August this year.
- A recorded version of one of the earlier versions of the storytelling workshop can also be accessed online and used to help generate online
For more information and to enter the Heywire competition now, here’s the link: https://www.abc.net.au/heywire.
For Trailblazers…
Are you a young innovator with a passion for creating positive change? We are calling on anyone interested in applying for next year’s Trailblazers program to fill out the Expression of Interest form.
This way we can contact you when applications officially open (mid-April)
What is Trailblazers?
Trailblazers can be individuals or groups of up to three, aged between 18-28, who have started a social, educational, environmental, or economic development project in their regional communities. They receive an amazing package of support including a leadership intensive at the Heywire Regional Youth Summit, designed to empower the Trailblazers to share their stories with the nation.
Through Heywire and Trailblazers being an initiative led by the ABC, it means that participants are given a national platform for their voices and projects to be heard. Last year alone the ABC dedicated over 165 National TV broadcast slots to Heywire stories, and the stories being regularly played on Landline, News Breakfast, BTN, ABC 7.30, Radio National, ABC iView and triple j.
For more information about the Trailblazers program, check out our website: https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/trailblazers
For any specific questions about the program, please contact Imogen Archer (Trailblazers Program Producer) – archer.imogen@abc.net.au.