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ABC Heywire 2021 Competition Now Open

21 August 2020
Children and Schooling Culture and Capability
30 young adults are standing in two rows in front of Australian parliament house wearing black t-shirts and smiling. There are 9 young people in the back row holding up the large green letters H E Y W I R E.

The ABC is calling on people aged 16-22 to share their experiences of life in regional Australia, for the opportunity to be featured on the ABC.

The ABC is calling on people aged 16-22 to share their experiences of life in regional Australia, for the opportunity to be featured on the ABC.

Young Australians with a story to tell about life outside of the big cities are encouraged to enter, with entries of any medium accepted, including text, video, audio and photography.

Forty winners from all over regional Australia work with ABC producers to see their stories featured across ABC platforms including ABC TV, Radio National, Local Radio, triple j and iview.

Winners will have the opportunity to come together to discuss how life could be improved for young people in their communities. Past winners have used Heywire as a springboard to make positive change, by exploring issues around disengaged young people, access to medical services, youth mental health, careers in agriculture, access to education, environmental care and knowledge of all cultures.

2019 Heywire winner Mitchell Agnew from Glenview in Queensland believes, “Being able to use our voices, share our stories and create change was incredibly valuable and rewarding.”

“Heywire is one of the best things I have done and I am excited to see more passionate young people join this community.”

The Hon David Littleproud MP, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management encourages young people to get involved and share their stories.

“Heywire has given young country people a voice that is heard all over the nation.”

“In telling their stories, they bring to light the leadership that is within the next generation of rural Australia.”  

ABC Director of Regional & Local, Judith Whelan said “the Heywire competition is an important platform for young people living outside of the big cities to have their voices heard.”

“We’re proud to celebrate the stories of a new generation of Australian storytellers.”

Get your entries in via the Heywire website by 16th of September 2020.

Find out more

Heywire acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; the Department of Education, Skills and Employment; the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications; the Department of Health; and AgriFutures Australia.

Visit ABC Heywire for more information.