Across five cities, 11,500 young leaders discovered they don’t need a title, a badge or permission to lead. This is the record of what they experienced, what they learned, and what they did next.
These weren’t passive audiences. They were rooms full of young leaders ready to take what they learned back to their schools and communities, ready to turn a single day into something that lasts.
Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) is Australia’s for-youth, by-youth school leadership provider: a youth-led, registered not-for-profit and DGR-registered charity. We deliver national conferences, tailor-made in-school programs, and youth work with councils and government. We design with young leaders, not just for them, and we build change that lasts well after the day ends.
65,000 young leaders. 1,500 schools.
Since 2018, YLAA has positively impacted 65,000 young leaders and supported 1,500 primary and secondary schools across Australia. In 2026 we delivered our biggest National Tour to date.
In 2026 YLAA delivered its biggest National Tour yet, reaching young leaders across five major Australian cities. Reach has never been the point on its own. What matters is the individual student who walks out of the room ready to lead. But reach tells us how many got that chance, and this year it was more than ever.
97.4%
of students felt more prepared to lead.
96.2%
of students felt more able to create change.
96.3%
of students felt more prepared for the future.
How students rated the experience
What students valued most
What they said
Students discovered they have the power to create change regardless of age, with many sharing that the event was the first time they truly believed their voice and actions could make a difference in their school and community.
Students consistently reflected that leadership is not about titles, badges or positions but about actions, values, empathy and the courage to step up even when it is hard.
Confidence and self-belief emerged as the most common personal breakthrough, with students leaving feeling more assured in themselves and their capacity to lead.
The idea that imperfect action is better than perfect inaction resonated powerfully, with students recognising they had been holding themselves back waiting for the perfect moment.
Students valued being encouraged to embrace who they are, with many writing that the event gave them permission to lead in their own way rather than conforming to a stereotype of what a leader looks like.
Confidence, impact and experience ratings from the 2026 National Tour, in the scores and words of the teachers who brought their students.
94.0%
of teachers felt more confident in their students’ leadership.
94.4%
said their students are more equipped to create change.
How teachers rated the tour
In their words
Across five cities and hundreds of responses, the same four themes kept surfacing. They weren’t prompted and they weren’t ranked. They simply came up again and again in what teachers chose to tell us.
Real-world stories from speakers who had walked similar paths left a lasting impression, helping students feel seen and think about their own journeys.
Moments where students could participate, not just listen, gave them ownership of their experience and built confidence in young leaders.
Teachers valued how upbeat and enthusiastic the facilitators and speakers were. That energy kept attention and excitement high throughout the day.
Activities that got students moving and talking with others were a standout, consolidating learning in a way that was easy to take back to school.
In their words
The 48-hour challenge we set at the end of every YLAA event isn’t just an activity, it’s a launchpad. Here’s what three schools did with it.
Iramoo Primary School, VIC
The Grade 6 leadership team left the Dream and Lead conference and went straight back to school to find out what mattered most to their peers. The answer was clear: students feeling lonely or left out at playtime. So they built a dedicated space, running three days a week, where students from different year levels could meet new people, discover shared interests and feel like they belonged. Complete with activity videos, posters, a flash-mob assembly and a community mural, Iramoo didn’t just spot a problem, they listened, acted and turned an idea into something their whole school could be part of.
LeaderUp 2026 WinnerXavier Catholic College, NSW
The Xavier student leadership team turned one of their core school values into something students could see every single day. Each of the school’s eight Houses designed a mural showing what respect looked like in action, displayed in locker areas and bathrooms as daily reminders. With the Principal and Leader of Student Wellbeing on board from day one, what started as a leadership team idea became a whole-school movement.
LeaderUp 2026 Runner-upSilkwood School, QLD
The Silkwood leadership team identified low motivation and student disconnection as the challenge they wanted to tackle. Their solution was simple and powerful: create more opportunities for students and teachers to get involved, have fun and break the disconnect. Through posters, a trivia challenge with prizes and a tournament-style activity afternoon, they brought different year levels together and built connection through something everyone could get behind.
This is what happens when young leaders are given the tools, the belief and the permission to lead.
At YLAA we believe the best events don’t just deliver, they listen. Every piece of feedback we receive is treated as a gift, and every year we use it to raise the bar. The following five priorities aren’t shortcomings, they’re our commitments. They reflect where our school community is telling us the greatest opportunity for growth exists, and where we’ll be focusing our energy in 2027.
The top request from teachers and students alike was what happens after the room empties. We are doubling down on post-event tools and the YLAA Digital Resource Hub so the conference becomes a launchpad.
More peer stories, Q and A and co-led moments. In 2027 we will expand student roles, peer panels and student-led segments across all cities.
A more intentional speaker selection process that prioritises lived-experience diversity, so students from regional, culturally diverse and lower-SES backgrounds see their stories on stage.
Music, brain breaks, games and high-energy hosting are credited as the reason students absorbed the content. A genuine competitive advantage worth protecting and growing.
Students consistently asked for more structured chances to connect and collaborate with other schools. Clearly an appetite for this to be a much bigger part of the day in 2027.
We aim to achieve this by equipping the next generation with essential leadership skills through experiential learning, empowerment and education.
Thank you.