Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Young Voices Award (YVA), brought to you by Australian Catholic University. Almost 500 young people across the YVA’s Junior, Intermediate and Senior sections used their voices to call for change in how we treat each other, and the environment.
The entries spotlighted homelessness, public transport, volunteering, education, social justice, health, bullying, body image, food production, Indigenous issues, animal rights and the environment.
In selecting the winners, judges considered execution, content, message and creativity to find entries they felt had the strongest impact. Congratulations to the winning stories, photos and digital media entries for some excellent storytelling, insight and engaging subject matter.
Thanks also to our judging panel: Michael McVeigh (Jesuit Communications head of publishing), Michele Frankeni (Australian Catholics editor), Laura Kings (Australian Catholics assistant editor – education and youth), Fr Andrew Hamilton (Jesuit Communications editorial consultant), and Julian Butler SJ (Jesuit Communications staff).
The winners were:
JUNIOR (Years 5 and 6)
Articles
Winner: Rose Hartcher, ‘How the sea dies’, Year 6, St Therese’s New Lambton, NSW.
Highly commended: Miranda Ton-Nu, ‘A change for school’, St John the Apostle, Florey ACT; Barnabee Diep-Dubois, ‘The axe’s kiss’, St Mary’s PS, Williamstown Vic; Alice Bolthouse, ‘We all have a voice. Why not use it?’, St Thomas Aquinas, Springwood NSW; Annabel Lizzio, ‘Because humans came’, Annabelle Arthur, ‘Climate for change’ and Maeve Malone, ‘Education without borders’, Loreto Kirribilli, NSW; Sofia Halverson, ‘Ozharvest makes change’, Louis Berry, ‘Surf life saving for a community’, Hannah Webber, ‘Conserving our environment’, Rosa Leonard, ‘Helping the homeless’, Chloe Webber, ‘Meals on Wheels’, St Joseph’s, Merewether NSW.
Photograph
Winner: Calista Battaglia, ‘Human rights for the homeless’, Year 5, Loreto Kirribilli, NSW.
Special mention: Toby Boettcher, ‘Duck for cover’, St Therese’s, New Lambton, NSW.
Highly commended: Maia Perez, ‘What are you looking at?’, St Joseph’s PS, Narrabeen NSW; Madeline Manchee, ‘Cleaner Beaches’, Loreto Kiribilli, NSW; Meeval George ‘Two-faced’, Our Lady’s PS, Craigieburn Vic; Matilda Burrup, ‘Wasted world’, St Joseph’s, Kilaben Bay NSW; Sunni Reese ‘Another life saved’, St Joseph’s, Woodburn NSW, Pyper Green, ‘Bullying is wrong’, Stephie Rossetto, ‘Body Dysmorphia’, Trinity PS, Kemps Creek, NSW.
Digital
Winner: Jacob Flynn, ‘Can a person really make a change in society?’, Year 6, St Joseph’s, Merewether NSW.
Special mention: Hamish Lawrence, ‘Volunteers. Just do it!, Year 6, St Therese’s, New Lambton NSW.
Highly commended: Emmy Whatford, ‘Learning on Country’, Leschenault PS, Australind WA; Oscar Kelly, ‘Race of a Rose: A journey through cystic fibrosis’, St Therese’s, New Lambton NSW; Chanelle Leon Gularte, ‘Ways on how to bee sustainable’, Loreto, Kirribilli NSW; Hannah Cook, ‘I play like a girl! Try to keep up’, Orana PS, Willetton WA; Phillipa, ‘People in poverty and on the streets’, St Joseph’s, Woodburn NSW; William Zeng, ‘Turn off the heat!’, St Mary’s PS, Concord NSW; Olivia Wilson, ‘Sports daily’, Gabriel Dobson, ‘Eucalyptus warriors’, Alex, ‘Brother nature’, Olivia Nikolarakos, ‘Save the trees – save the planet!’, St Joseph’s, Brunswick West Vic.
INTERMEDIATE (Years 7-9)
Articles
Winner: Kiera Short, ‘Winds of heaven’, Year 9, Loreto Normanhurst NSW.
Highly commended: Harmony Smithwick, ‘Forgotten Land’, Thomas Carr College, Tarneit Vic; Clodagh Murtagh, ‘This must cease’, Nina Burns, ‘Someone else’s problem’, Bianca Allen, ‘On a wing and a prayer – flying to freedom’, St Pius X HS, Adamstown NSW; Tegan Stagg, ‘Creating a better world’, Mia Crosby, ‘Busy on the ramps’, Imogen Taylor, ‘Teachers, more than you think’, Sayuni Heva Ramanayakage, ‘Species loss’, Lewis Collyer, ‘Foster family’, Cabra Dominican College, Cumberland Park SA.
Photograph
Winner: Frankie Blaisdell, ‘Where should I sleep tonight?’, Year 7, St Aloysius College North Melbourne, Vic.
Highly commended: Charlotte Bull, ‘Oh, love grows where my daisy goes!’ Loreto College, Ballarat Vic, Mylea Abood ‘One use’, Stephanie Knox, ‘Process of fast fashion’, Loreto Normanhurst NSW, Jessica Garrett, ‘My personal experiences with the environment’, Corey Proksa, ‘Nature’s splendour’, Joshua Russo ‘It’s our problem!’, Sebastien Hall, ‘How public transport can help our future’, St Aloysius College North Melbourne Vic; Ruby Seiver, ‘Did you chop this tree down? – The Lorax’, Saniya Shaji, ‘The gentle heart of God’s Creation continues to beat, slowly fading into silence. Only then will we remember the vibrant memory of itself’, St Pius X HS, Adamstown NSW; Ria Konidena, ‘Light pollution’, Leah Rego, ‘In the wake of flooding’, Isabelle Moureau, ‘Plastic the silent killer’, Reiza Bajador, ‘The fading light’, Rachael Glowacki ‘Wildlife suffers from climate change’, Thomas Carr College, Tarneit Vic.
Digital
Winner: Busolami Bello, ‘How Climate Change Affects Developing Countries’, Year 9, Thomas Carr College Tarneit Vic.
Highly commended: Ellah Hodgetts, ‘Plastic not so fantastic!’, Shalom College, Bundaberg Qld; Meka Legg, ‘Save earth today to survive tomorrow’, St Francis Xavier College, Berwick Vic; Matilda O’Mahoney, ‘Tilly talks!’, St Aloysius College, North Melbourne Vic; Isla Bower, ‘Exposure: This is me’, Elliot Guest, ‘Welcome here . . .’, Emily Watson, ‘The last straw’, St Pius X HS, Adamstown NSW; Tara Noronha, ‘Being you’, Gavin Thien, ‘Cars or bikes?’, Anthony Schiava, ‘Stop water pollution’, Eden Ackaire, ‘Better mindset, better life’, Chelsea McLean, ‘Are you celebrating your uniqueness?’, Olivia Tiver, ‘Food for thought’, Frankie Clarke ‘Booktok’, Jasmine Juanta, ‘The melody of mental health’, Sydney Reemst, ‘Girls can do it too!’, Cabra Dominican College, Cumberland Park SA.
SENIOR (Years 10-11)
Articles
Winner: Taylah Cowley, ‘Neurodivergence in the Blue Mountains: inclusivity and obstacles’, Year 10, St Columba’s Catholic College Springwood NSW.
Highly commended: Matilda Angel, ‘Creative Misogyny’, Irene McCormack College, Butler WA; Imogen Ash, ‘Cut the plastic!’, Kolbe College, Rockingham WA; Ezekiel Munoz Ramirez, ‘Human trafficking survivors’, Natalie Byrne, ‘Indigenous education program’; Maddie Buxton, ‘Kauai o o’s omen’, St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield Vic.
Photograph
Winner: Charlotte Brookes, ‘Sustainability Club’, Year 10, Loyola College, Watsonia Vic.
Highly commended: Grace Endres-Blakeney, ‘Seeds of Hope to Tree of Life’, St Mary’s College, Woree Qld; Alexandra Martin, ‘Our world’, Jayke Mackay, ‘Drug use in youth’, St Francis Xavier College, Vic; Jericho Mores, ‘Sister Nelia’, Isabel Papadopoulos, ‘Our Indigenous garden’, Loyola College, Watsonia Vic; Kiara Davis, ‘Journeys through inhabited spaces’, St Joseph’s College, Banora Point NSW.
Digital
Winner: Thea George, ‘Little Better Than Today’, Year 12, St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield Vic.
Special mention: Riley Cunningham, ‘Nagle VS Bosco Rap’, Year 11, St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield Vic.
Highly commended: Ka Yan Ng, ‘Take a moment to pause’, Our Lady of The Sacred Heart (OLSH), Enfield SA; Angel Simpson-Braden, ‘Benefits of a religious community’, St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield Vic; Leila Gomes, ‘Why littering is bad!’, St Clare’s, Griffith ACT; Summer Carr, ‘Plastic pollution’, Piper Del Bello, ‘Melting ice caps and sea levels rising’, Emily Gray, ‘We need to reduce plastic pollution’, Kolbe College, Rockingham WA.
Find the 2023 winning articles HERE
Find the 2023 winning photographs HERE
Find the 2023 winning digital entries HERE