Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Mathew HILAKARI (Point Cook) (10:01): I know our future is in safe hands after attending the TEDx youth event at Saltwater P–9 College. All were articulate, passionate and on point. Niyanth Iyengar explored the crisis of attention in school and expanded on his ‘engage, empower and elevate’ method – a very relevant topic to some in this place. Naivedhya Patan reflected on the complexities of friendship and judgement, and on kindness, empathy and understanding to build community. Muhammad Aaraiz pondered a colourless world bleached by design – different from his Pakistani heritage – and how colour brings connection. Mikayla Madu focused on casual racism – as she says, ‘She is more than her melanin’ – and reflected on working towards a culture of respect and equality. Ahmad Monsoor asked about the future of AI in schools, saying AI made learning feel like a dialogue – something for legislators to reflect on. Lora Ma opened up about her journey through confidence and public speaking. Everyone has stories worth sharing. Thank you, Lora, for sharing yours. We were laughing with you as the microphone failed. Chrisma Adjetey refused to be silenced and sought to create spaces where people belong in opposition to microaggressions. Lastly, Ayaana Bhardwaj talked through the mask that we use and said, ‘Once I found my values, I stopped feeling so lost.’ (Time expired)