why do you do it why are you stressing yourself out over this why are you
yourself out over this why are you
yourself out over this why are you prematurely aging yourself why do you do
prematurely aging yourself why do you do
prematurely aging yourself why do you do it I grew up in the country on a farm
it I grew up in the country on a farm
it I grew up in the country on a farm and when I was about 13 years of age my
and when I was about 13 years of age my
and when I was about 13 years of age my mom and I went off to our local capital
mom and I went off to our local capital
mom and I went off to our local capital city for a few days but why we were
city for a few days but why we were
city for a few days but why we were there she got a phone call that changed
there she got a phone call that changed
there she got a phone call that changed our lives forever I remember her
our lives forever I remember her
our lives forever I remember her answering the phone and immediately her
answering the phone and immediately her
answering the phone and immediately her jaw just dropped her eyes opened wide
jaw just dropped her eyes opened wide
jaw just dropped her eyes opened wide and then they turned to glass we stay in
and then they turned to glass we stay in
and then they turned to glass we stay in the city for a couple more days to deal
the city for a couple more days to deal
the city for a couple more days to deal with the fallout and after what felt
with the fallout and after what felt
with the fallout and after what felt like an eternity we started making the
like an eternity we started making the
like an eternity we started making the journey back home down the winding dirt
journey back home down the winding dirt
journey back home down the winding dirt roads the green paddocks blurring past
roads the green paddocks blurring past
roads the green paddocks blurring past us outside of the car window closer and
us outside of the car window closer and
us outside of the car window closer and closer we got until finally we arrived
closer we got until finally we arrived
closer we got until finally we arrived and there it was a pile of rubble you
and there it was a pile of rubble you
and there it was a pile of rubble you see my beautiful family home had been
see my beautiful family home had been
see my beautiful family home had been taken by the elements and turned into a
taken by the elements and turned into a
taken by the elements and turned into a mountain of ash in bricks I could no
mountain of ash in bricks I could no
mountain of ash in bricks I could no longer see the room where my sisters and
longer see the room where my sisters and
longer see the room where my sisters and I performed amazing Spice Girls dance
I performed amazing Spice Girls dance
I performed amazing Spice Girls dance concerts I could no longer see my mom’s
concerts I could no longer see my mom’s
concerts I could no longer see my mom’s wedding dress I no longer had any photos
wedding dress I no longer had any photos
wedding dress I no longer had any photos of myself as a baby I got out of the car
of myself as a baby I got out of the car
of myself as a baby I got out of the car and immediately I was suffocated by this
and immediately I was suffocated by this
and immediately I was suffocated by this thick stench a smell that I used to
thick stench a smell that I used to
thick stench a smell that I used to associate with a fun bonfire and now I
associate with a fun bonfire and now I
associate with a fun bonfire and now I just wanted it to go away i inched
just wanted it to go away i inched
just wanted it to go away i inched closer and closer to where my bedroom
closer and closer to where my bedroom
closer and closer to where my bedroom used to be and I finally got to this
used to be and I finally got to this
used to be and I finally got to this wall this invisible wall and walked
wall this invisible wall and walked
wall this invisible wall and walked through and stood atop the rubble where
through and stood atop the rubble where
through and stood atop the rubble where my bed used to be in this moment I felt
my bed used to be in this moment I felt
my bed used to be in this moment I felt hopeless my hands just dropped my head
hopeless my hands just dropped my head
hopeless my hands just dropped my head it blurred and my heart was overwhelmed
it blurred and my heart was overwhelmed
it blurred and my heart was overwhelmed but just as i was about to let self-pity
but just as i was about to let self-pity
but just as i was about to let self-pity defeat me my parents called out and they
defeat me my parents called out and they
defeat me my parents called out and they told me about what had happened the day
told me about what had happened the day
told me about what had happened the day before you see it turns out that my
before you see it turns out that my
before you see it turns out that my childhood best friend who had kind of
childhood best friend who had kind of
childhood best friend who had kind of started drifting away from as we went to
started drifting away from as we went to
started drifting away from as we went to high school had come out to visit the
high school had come out to visit the
high school had come out to visit the wreckage and apparently he spent hours
wreckage and apparently he spent hours
wreckage and apparently he spent hours on his hands and knees digging through
on his hands and knees digging through
on his hands and knees digging through the bricks digging through the ash
the bricks digging through the ash
the bricks digging through the ash trying to find something that was mine
trying to find something that was mine
trying to find something that was mine that was left intact something that
that was left intact something that
that was left intact something that would bring a smile to my face and this
would bring a smile to my face and this
would bring a smile to my face and this actors compassion and generosity spun me
actors compassion and generosity spun me
actors compassion and generosity spun me out of any sense of self despair and the
out of any sense of self despair and the
out of any sense of self despair and the generosity it didn’t stop with my friend
generosity it didn’t stop with my friend
generosity it didn’t stop with my friend our entire town of just 300 people
our entire town of just 300 people
our entire town of just 300 people rallied around us I’ve never seen
rallied around us I’ve never seen
rallied around us I’ve never seen anything like it strangers were dropping
anything like it strangers were dropping
anything like it strangers were dropping off food people were offering us their
off food people were offering us their
off food people were offering us their houses to stay in it was unlike anything
houses to stay in it was unlike anything
houses to stay in it was unlike anything and when I look back yes with you this
and when I look back yes with you this
and when I look back yes with you this was the moment that I realized what was
was the moment that I realized what was
was the moment that I realized what was important in hopefully many years when
important in hopefully many years when
important in hopefully many years when I’m on my death bed I’m not going to
I’m on my death bed I’m not going to
I’m on my death bed I’m not going to worry about the clothes that I’m wearing
worry about the clothes that I’m wearing
worry about the clothes that I’m wearing or the car that I Drive what is going to
or the car that I Drive what is going to
or the car that I Drive what is going to matter to me are the experiences I had
matter to me are the experiences I had
matter to me are the experiences I had the relationships that I formed the
the relationships that I formed the
the relationships that I formed the community around me and what I did to
community around me and what I did to
community around me and what I did to make it better what I did to give back
make it better what I did to give back
make it better what I did to give back the way that people gave back to me I
the way that people gave back to me I
the way that people gave back to me I love thinking about people who do so
love thinking about people who do so
love thinking about people who do so much to benefit their community take
much to benefit their community take
much to benefit their community take Fred Hollows for example a man who saw
Fred Hollows for example a man who saw
Fred Hollows for example a man who saw so many indigenous australians suffering
so many indigenous australians suffering
so many indigenous australians suffering from preventable blindness that he
from preventable blindness that he
from preventable blindness that he dedicated his life to tirelessly
dedicated his life to tirelessly
dedicated his life to tirelessly restoring their site or malala yousufzai
restoring their site or malala yousufzai
restoring their site or malala yousufzai a young woman so dedicated to young
a young woman so dedicated to young
a young woman so dedicated to young woman’s education she was willing to die
woman’s education she was willing to die
woman’s education she was willing to die for it shot in the head but still
for it shot in the head but still
for it shot in the head but still working to achieve equal rights for
working to achieve equal rights for
working to achieve equal rights for young women in Pakistan but why do they
young women in Pakistan but why do they
young women in Pakistan but why do they do it why do you do it and how do we get
do it why do you do it and how do we get
do it why do you do it and how do we get more people to rally around and give
more people to rally around and give
more people to rally around and give back to their communities well for me it
back to their communities well for me it
back to their communities well for me it was those relationships it was the
was those relationships it was the
was those relationships it was the people but I saw two major issues that
people but I saw two major issues that
people but I saw two major issues that impacting my community the first four
impacting my community the first four
impacting my community the first four geographical barriers distance time and
geographical barriers distance time and
geographical barriers distance time and funding barriers were impacting young
funding barriers were impacting young
funding barriers were impacting young rural students education did you know
rural students education did you know
rural students education did you know that the more remote a student gets in
that the more remote a student gets in
that the more remote a student gets in Australia the worst year 12 completion
Australia the worst year 12 completion
Australia the worst year 12 completion rates are the worst attitudes to
rates are the worst attitudes to
rates are the worst attitudes to schooling is often youth unemployment is
schooling is often youth unemployment is
schooling is often youth unemployment is worth in rural areas and sadly for young
worth in rural areas and sadly for young
worth in rural areas and sadly for young women they often feel as though they
women they often feel as though they
women they often feel as though they have to make this choice this choice
have to make this choice this choice
have to make this choice this choice between the city in the country if they
between the city in the country if they
between the city in the country if they want the career the education the
want the career the education the
want the career the education the mentorship opportunities that they need
mentorship opportunities that they need
mentorship opportunities that they need to succeed and the second issue that I
to succeed and the second issue that I
to succeed and the second issue that I saw impacting my community was gender
saw impacting my community was gender
saw impacting my community was gender inequality so when I was at University I
inequality so when I was at University I
inequality so when I was at University I wanted to be a journalist and I’ve got a
wanted to be a journalist and I’ve got a
wanted to be a journalist and I’ve got a job in a newsroom it just so happened to
job in a newsroom it just so happened to
job in a newsroom it just so happened to be during the time of Australia’s first
be during the time of Australia’s first
be during the time of Australia’s first female Prime Minister should have been
female Prime Minister should have been
female Prime Minister should have been awesome right well day in day out the
awesome right well day in day out the
awesome right well day in day out the most sexist stories rolled through the
most sexist stories rolled through the
most sexist stories rolled through the newsroom whether it was her hair her
newsroom whether it was her hair her
newsroom whether it was her hair her clothes her boyfriend the Prime
clothes her boyfriend the Prime
clothes her boyfriend the Prime Minister’s leadership capabilities were
Minister’s leadership capabilities were
Minister’s leadership capabilities were being delete old it was awful and no
being delete old it was awful and no
being delete old it was awful and no matter where you sit on the political
matter where you sit on the political
matter where you sit on the political spectrum or even if you don’t care about
spectrum or even if you don’t care about
spectrum or even if you don’t care about politics he’s got to admit it wasn’t
politics he’s got to admit it wasn’t
politics he’s got to admit it wasn’t cool and the impact that this type of
cool and the impact that this type of
cool and the impact that this type of public behavior has on young women is
public behavior has on young women is
public behavior has on young women is startling study after study shows that
startling study after study shows that
startling study after study shows that young women rely on positive leadership
young women rely on positive leadership
young women rely on positive leadership role models and study after study shows
role models and study after study shows
role models and study after study shows that young women start losing their
that young women start losing their
that young women start losing their self-confidence as they enter their
self-confidence as they enter their
self-confidence as they enter their teenage years and did you know that a
teenage years and did you know that a
teenage years and did you know that a third of young women in a recent survey
third of young women in a recent survey
third of young women in a recent survey thought that it would be easier for them
thought that it would be easier for them
thought that it would be easier for them to score their dream job in Australia if
to score their dream job in Australia if
to score their dream job in Australia if they were a male and when you kind of
they were a male and when you kind of
they were a male and when you kind of add this together and pair it with
add this together and pair it with
add this together and pair it with economic insecurity LGBTIQ issues racial
economic insecurity LGBTIQ issues racial
economic insecurity LGBTIQ issues racial discrimination these are looking pretty
discrimination these are looking pretty
discrimination these are looking pretty tough and so I started thinking well
tough and so I started thinking well
tough and so I started thinking well what type of impact is this having
what type of impact is this having
what type of impact is this having long-term they look at the number of
long-term they look at the number of
long-term they look at the number of females sitting in Parliament at the
females sitting in Parliament at the
females sitting in Parliament at the moment
moment
moment it’s just thirty percent half of our
it’s just thirty percent half of our
it’s just thirty percent half of our population are women so why is it just
population are women so why is it just
population are women so why is it just thirty percent and why do we have more
thirty percent and why do we have more
thirty percent and why do we have more men called Peter running our ASX 200
men called Peter running our ASX 200
men called Peter running our ASX 200 companies than women altogether it was
companies than women altogether it was
companies than women altogether it was baffling to me and this gender equality
baffling to me and this gender equality
baffling to me and this gender equality revolution had been going on for decades
revolution had been going on for decades
revolution had been going on for decades so why I got pretty fired up and I just
so why I got pretty fired up and I just
so why I got pretty fired up and I just wanted to join in I wanted to help the
wanted to join in I wanted to help the
wanted to join in I wanted to help the amazing men and women who had been doing
amazing men and women who had been doing
amazing men and women who had been doing all of this work and I saw this nice
all of this work and I saw this nice
all of this work and I saw this nice group of young women when you add these
group of young women when you add these
group of young women when you add these gender and geographical issues together
gender and geographical issues together
gender and geographical issues together I thought you know what I want to do
I thought you know what I want to do
I thought you know what I want to do something I want to take action and then
something I want to take action and then
something I want to take action and then I had an idea and that idea is called
I had an idea and that idea is called
I had an idea and that idea is called country to canberra country to Canberra
country to canberra country to Canberra
country to canberra country to Canberra is a nationwide not-for-profit that I
is a nationwide not-for-profit that I
is a nationwide not-for-profit that I founded that empowers young rural and
founded that empowers young rural and
founded that empowers young rural and remote women to reach their leadership
remote women to reach their leadership
remote women to reach their leadership potential we run a massive leadership
potential we run a massive leadership
potential we run a massive leadership competition and a power trip out to
competition and a power trip out to
competition and a power trip out to Australia’s capital city to connect
Australia’s capital city to connect
Australia’s capital city to connect young women with political and business
young women with political and business
young women with political and business leaders and mentors we run a blogger
leaders and mentors we run a blogger
leaders and mentors we run a blogger team that connects isolated girls to one
team that connects isolated girls to one
team that connects isolated girls to one another mentorship programs online
another mentorship programs online
another mentorship programs online networks and this year we’re going out
networks and this year we’re going out
networks and this year we’re going out into rural communities to run leadership
into rural communities to run leadership
into rural communities to run leadership workshops so that every girl no matter
workshops so that every girl no matter
workshops so that every girl no matter where she is no matter what her
where she is no matter what her
where she is no matter what her background is has the opportunity to
background is has the opportunity to
background is has the opportunity to succeed but at the beginning country to
succeed but at the beginning country to
succeed but at the beginning country to canberra it was just me i had two
canberra it was just me i had two
canberra it was just me i had two thousand dollars and I was in a brand
thousand dollars and I was in a brand
thousand dollars and I was in a brand new city and I had absolutely no
new city and I had absolutely no
new city and I had absolutely no connections it felt like this
connections it felt like this
connections it felt like this insurmountable challenge but I realized
insurmountable challenge but I realized
insurmountable challenge but I realized it to be a change maker it was actually
it to be a change maker it was actually
it to be a change maker it was actually pretty simple I could do it you can do
pretty simple I could do it you can do
pretty simple I could do it you can do it everyone in this room can be a change
it everyone in this room can be a change
it everyone in this room can be a change maker you just made three things you
maker you just made three things you
maker you just made three things you need your hands you need your head and
need your hands you need your head and
need your hands you need your head and you need your heart so what do I mean by
you need your heart so what do I mean by
you need your heart so what do I mean by that what do I mean by using your hands
that what do I mean by using your hands
that what do I mean by using your hands well I mean get out there and create
well I mean get out there and create
well I mean get out there and create action
action
action every individual no matter who you are
every individual no matter who you are
every individual no matter who you are has the ability to create influence I
has the ability to create influence I
has the ability to create influence I think sometimes as young people we feel
think sometimes as young people we feel
think sometimes as young people we feel as though there are these huge
as though there are these huge
as though there are these huge institutions and it’s really hard to get
institutions and it’s really hard to get
institutions and it’s really hard to get in there and actually create meaningful
in there and actually create meaningful
in there and actually create meaningful change or we’re young so we might not
change or we’re young so we might not
change or we’re young so we might not have the financial experience or the
have the financial experience or the
have the financial experience or the kind of governance acumen that you need
kind of governance acumen that you need
kind of governance acumen that you need to create change let me tell you when i
to create change let me tell you when i
to create change let me tell you when i started country camera i didn’t have any
started country camera i didn’t have any
started country camera i didn’t have any not-for-profit experience honestly but I
not-for-profit experience honestly but I
not-for-profit experience honestly but I learned I learned how to create a
learned I learned how to create a
learned I learned how to create a website I learned how to do accounting
website I learned how to do accounting
website I learned how to do accounting that wasn’t fun but I did it anyway and
that wasn’t fun but I did it anyway and
that wasn’t fun but I did it anyway and I remember this one day i cold-called 30
I remember this one day i cold-called 30
I remember this one day i cold-called 30 businesses in a day trying to get their
businesses in a day trying to get their
businesses in a day trying to get their sponsorship I got rejected 30 times in
sponsorship I got rejected 30 times in
sponsorship I got rejected 30 times in eight hours it was painful but I
eight hours it was painful but I
eight hours it was painful but I persisted and I kept going and we got
persisted and I kept going and we got
persisted and I kept going and we got traction we now have this big team of
traction we now have this big team of
traction we now have this big team of volunteers amazing volunteers we have
volunteers amazing volunteers we have
volunteers amazing volunteers we have multiple programs and we’ve had everyone
multiple programs and we’ve had everyone
multiple programs and we’ve had everyone from the Foreign Minister of Australia
from the Foreign Minister of Australia
from the Foreign Minister of Australia Julie Bishop to the highest woman in the
Julie Bishop to the highest woman in the
Julie Bishop to the highest woman in the Australian Labor Party Tanya Plibersek
Australian Labor Party Tanya Plibersek
Australian Labor Party Tanya Plibersek coming along and mentor and girls at our
coming along and mentor and girls at our
coming along and mentor and girls at our events so every individual has the
events so every individual has the
events so every individual has the ability to create change every person
ability to create change every person
ability to create change every person has the ability to move mountains with
has the ability to move mountains with
has the ability to move mountains with their bare hands and the next thing you
their bare hands and the next thing you
their bare hands and the next thing you need you need your head everyone is a
need you need your head everyone is a
need you need your head everyone is a genius in something everyone has a
genius in something everyone has a
genius in something everyone has a strength that you can hone in on and use
strength that you can hone in on and use
strength that you can hone in on and use and your weaknesses you can get other
and your weaknesses you can get other
and your weaknesses you can get other people to support you with that and they
people to support you with that and they
people to support you with that and they can be unorthodox it can be everything
can be unorthodox it can be everything
can be unorthodox it can be everything from social media to networking to
from social media to networking to
from social media to networking to engineering to design find what you’re
engineering to design find what you’re
engineering to design find what you’re good at and use it use it to start so
good at and use it use it to start so
good at and use it use it to start so what am I good at I think other than
what am I good at I think other than
what am I good at I think other than drinking incredibly dangerous amounts of
drinking incredibly dangerous amounts of
drinking incredibly dangerous amounts of coke zero I would be good probably
coke zero I would be good probably
coke zero I would be good probably networking is where my skill set liars
networking is where my skill set liars
networking is where my skill set liars networking and maybe empathy and then
networking and maybe empathy and then
networking and maybe empathy and then there are things I’m really bad at for
there are things I’m really bad at for
there are things I’m really bad at for example back to the website right before
example back to the website right before
example back to the website right before our country to Canberra um leadership
our country to Canberra um leadership
our country to Canberra um leadership competitions where our winners were
competitions where our winners were
competitions where our winners were announced last year I crashed our entire
announced last year I crashed our entire
announced last year I crashed our entire website actually left it open to a major
website actually left it open to a major
website actually left it open to a major hacking incident
hacking incident
hacking incident which as CEO isn’t ideal but you know
which as CEO isn’t ideal but you know
which as CEO isn’t ideal but you know what had amazing volunteers I had people
what had amazing volunteers I had people
what had amazing volunteers I had people that could fill those gaps and so where
that could fill those gaps and so where
that could fill those gaps and so where does something like networking help me
does something like networking help me
does something like networking help me well I remember at the start of country
well I remember at the start of country
well I remember at the start of country to Canberra we didn’t even have a logo
to Canberra we didn’t even have a logo
to Canberra we didn’t even have a logo yet we didn’t have a business card but I
yet we didn’t have a business card but I
yet we didn’t have a business card but I saw this awesome local politician out
saw this awesome local politician out
saw this awesome local politician out and about and I thought you know what
and about and I thought you know what
and about and I thought you know what she’d be great to come along and mentor
she’d be great to come along and mentor
she’d be great to come along and mentor girls at our events so I summoned the
girls at our events so I summoned the
girls at our events so I summoned the courage and I kind of fought past about
courage and I kind of fought past about
courage and I kind of fought past about 10 other people to get to the front of
10 other people to get to the front of
10 other people to get to the front of the line where she was and I used my
the line where she was and I used my
the line where she was and I used my skills i sold my vision to her and lo
skills i sold my vision to her and lo
skills i sold my vision to her and lo and behold she accepted my invitation
and behold she accepted my invitation
and behold she accepted my invitation and she has been at every major event
and she has been at every major event
and she has been at every major event with held since and the last thing you
with held since and the last thing you
with held since and the last thing you need to be a change maker is your heart
need to be a change maker is your heart
need to be a change maker is your heart you need to be clear about why you do
you need to be clear about why you do
you need to be clear about why you do what you do what is your vision what are
what you do what is your vision what are
what you do what is your vision what are your values and when you know what they
your values and when you know what they
your values and when you know what they are when you’re really clear about what
are when you’re really clear about what
are when you’re really clear about what your passion is and why you’re doing
your passion is and why you’re doing
your passion is and why you’re doing what you’re doing every step every hard
what you’re doing every step every hard
what you’re doing every step every hard decision every late night is worth it
decision every late night is worth it
decision every late night is worth it for me I’m actually such a nerd that I
for me I’m actually such a nerd that I
for me I’m actually such a nerd that I wrote out my life vision with one of my
wrote out my life vision with one of my
wrote out my life vision with one of my mentors and this was the beginning of it
mentors and this was the beginning of it
mentors and this was the beginning of it this mentor also believes that I’m going
this mentor also believes that I’m going
this mentor also believes that I’m going to live to 120 so that’s pretty great
to live to 120 so that’s pretty great
to live to 120 so that’s pretty great but essentially this was the beginning
but essentially this was the beginning
but essentially this was the beginning and it’s developed a bit since then but
and it’s developed a bit since then but
and it’s developed a bit since then but ultimately my vision is to empower young
ultimately my vision is to empower young
ultimately my vision is to empower young women and girls and my values lie in
women and girls and my values lie in
women and girls and my values lie in community and they line equality and yes
community and they line equality and yes
community and they line equality and yes they’re a late night yes it can be hard
they’re a late night yes it can be hard
they’re a late night yes it can be hard yes I have a slight soft drink addiction
yes I have a slight soft drink addiction
yes I have a slight soft drink addiction and yes i’m partial to the occasional
and yes i’m partial to the occasional
and yes i’m partial to the occasional cry fest but when people ask me why do
cry fest but when people ask me why do
cry fest but when people ask me why do you do it why are you stressing yourself
you do it why are you stressing yourself
you do it why are you stressing yourself out over this why are you prematurely
out over this why are you prematurely
out over this why are you prematurely aging yourself i can go back to this
aging yourself i can go back to this
aging yourself i can go back to this vision back to these values and then i
vision back to these values and then i
vision back to these values and then i can tell them stories like this so this
can tell them stories like this so this
can tell them stories like this so this is Alicia she was one of our power trip
is Alicia she was one of our power trip
is Alicia she was one of our power trip winners and when she came out on the
winners and when she came out on the
winners and when she came out on the program she was incredibly shy and
program she was incredibly shy and
program she was incredibly shy and nervous but as the program went on she
nervous but as the program went on she
nervous but as the program went on she blossomed and when we went to the
blossomed and when we went to the
blossomed and when we went to the airport to drop her off she broke down
airport to drop her off she broke down
airport to drop her off she broke down in tears
in tears
in tears and she told me that no one had ever
and she told me that no one had ever
and she told me that no one had ever believed in her the way that we did she
believed in her the way that we did she
believed in her the way that we did she went back to her community she became
went back to her community she became
went back to her community she became head girl and she’s still doing
head girl and she’s still doing
head girl and she’s still doing phenomenal things I do it because I love
phenomenal things I do it because I love
phenomenal things I do it because I love my community I want to make it better so
my community I want to make it better so
my community I want to make it better so I urge everyone think about what you’re
I urge everyone think about what you’re
I urge everyone think about what you’re passionate about think about what change
passionate about think about what change
passionate about think about what change you want to make in your community it
you want to make in your community it
you want to make in your community it doesn’t have to be big it can be big but
doesn’t have to be big it can be big but
doesn’t have to be big it can be big but it can be small and use your hands use
it can be small and use your hands use
it can be small and use your hands use your head use your heart and join me in
your head use your heart and join me in
your head use your heart and join me in creating a better community for us all
creating a better community for us all
creating a better community for us all thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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