East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to support a major youth initiative that will see hundreds of local secondary students come together for a day of inspiration, motivation, and future-focused learning.

Taking place on Wednesday, 23 July, Amp It Up is a free youth conference designed to empower young people with the tools they need to build resilience, explore career pathways, and develop a confident mindset. The event has been developed by life skills education provider Happow, with funding support from the Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program (Gippsland) and East Gippsland Shire Council.

Council is committed to investing in opportunities that support young people to thrive, and the sold-out conference will welcome students from across the region. It features a powerhouse line-up of speakers and role models, including:

Matt Runnalls – Mental health advocate and founder of Mindfull Aus, who shares his personal journey with audiences around the world.

Chloe Chang – Space Mechanical Engineer at Lunar Outpost Oceania, demonstrating the exciting possibilities of STEM careers.

Eric Agyeman – Award-winning mentor and founder of Legacy Empowerment Group, whose story of overcoming adversity continues to inspire young Australians.

A local career pathways panel will highlight East Gippsland’s own emerging leaders, including:

Jaime Savory, Director at Gippsland Finance Solutions

Tayla Chippindall, Youth Engagement Project Officer at East Gippsland Shire Council

Will Morgan, Latrobe City Council’s 2023 Young Citizen of the Year

With catering and transport provided at no cost to schools, the event removes key barriers to participation and ensures access for all students. One of the event’s standout moments will be a presentation featuring Roo-ver, Australia’s first lunar rover, which will appear on stage with Chloe Chang offering a rare glimpse into the future of Australian space exploration.

East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to help bring Amp It Up to life and thanks its partners and participating schools for supporting this vital investment in our region’s future leaders.

‍