Heywire 2021 – Great young people with great stories

There are countless stories in regional and remote Australia that need to be heard.

And that’s why every year the ABC runs the Heywire competition.

Starting in February this year, youth and young adults from those areas with the best stories will engage in a tailored, inaugural online Summit taking place over six weeks.

In the process, their confidence increases and their stories sharpen in focus.

During the program, winners will meet with Members of Parliament and community leaders to celebrate their stories.

The stories are about themselves and their journey with their town or community often playing a part of that journey.

Among the 35 winners in 2021 are 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Shakira, a proud young Jingili woman from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, is one of them.

‘I’m pretty excited - I’ve never had an opportunity like this before, to tell my story on the radio. It’s pretty big,’ she said.

‘Tennant Creek is pretty small with not many people and opportunities for young people. It’s exciting to tell people about my story and my place.’

‘I want people to know time is precious, don’t waste it. I want young people to know that they’ve gotta be there for their parents and grandparents and value their stories and knowledge.’

Shakira is looking forward to seeing more stories like hers out there.

This year’s Indigenous winners are:

We congratulate all the Heywire winners and wish them the best of luck as they share their personal stories of hardship, triumph and hope.