Young Australians Build Change in Regional Communities

When Jayden Wright struggled with depression as a teenager in the Hunter Valley, he felt alone and unheard. Today, the proud Dunghutti man is leading Gurru Collective, a program that helps Aboriginal youth heal through culture and community.

Jayden is one of six 2026 Trailblazer winners announced today, each creating real change in regional Australia. From Tasmania to Far North Queensland, these young leaders saw gaps in their communities and decided to fill them.

In Tasmania, Noah Etherington and Tyler Hall noticed young people glued to screens while living in one of the world's most beautiful natural environments. They launched Abels Run to break screen addiction by reconnecting youth with the island's wilderness through outdoor programs and family education.

Emily Hoang and Ebony Faichney discovered that horticulture had no professional network for young people, unlike other agricultural sectors. They co-founded Young Horties, now connecting isolated workers across the country through in-person and online events, with representatives in every state.

Logan DeRuyter-Barnett and Jasmyn Smith spent years as electricians working on sites without basic hygiene facilities. They created The GO Company and designed The GO Bag, a portable hygiene pack that makes worksites safer and more inclusive for women and gender-diverse workers.

In the Bega Valley, Jack Gray saw talented young people with big ideas struggle to navigate funding and project management. His business ECHO Projects now helps regional communities turn concepts into reality through grant writing and practical support.

Indianna Tillett, a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from Cairns, founded Empower 2 Empower to help young people build leadership through cultural connection and physical health programs.

The Ripple Effect

These six projects share a common thread: young people who experienced challenges firsthand and chose to build solutions instead of waiting for change. They're creating networks where isolation existed, providing resources where gaps persisted, and offering hope where it felt scarce.

Their work reaches beyond individual lives. When Aboriginal youth reconnect with culture, entire communities grow stronger. When young horticulturalists network across state lines, Australia's food security improves. When worksites become inclusive, whole industries transform.

Regional Australia often faces unique challenges, from limited mental health services to geographic isolation. These trailblazers prove that distance from major cities doesn't mean distance from innovation.

Young leaders in small communities are building the future their regions deserve.