2025 NexGen Graduation Celebrates Youth Leadership
The future of inclusive services for the next generation
On Wednesday 16 July 2025, Mai-Wel proudly celebrated the graduation of a cohort of its NexGen Youth Advisory Group.
The NexGen team are a group of passionate young people who have spent their time helping shape how Mai-Wel works with and for youth in our community. As part of the program, they also completed a business certificate with ATWEA with a goal to build skills to support their leadership and career goals.
NexGen was established to encourage youth leadership and ensure that the voices of young people are heard and acted upon. This cohort of seven young adults have been advising, creating, and innovating alongside Mai-Wel teams to influence programs, content, and initiatives that reflect the real experiences and needs of young people.
Celebrating the NexGen Youth Advisory Team
At the graduation luncheon, held at the Belmore in Maitland, key members of the Mai-Wel team came together to recognise the achievements of the graduates and thank them for their insight and leadership.
“At Mai-Wel, I feel heard and valued,” said Natasha, one of the NexGen graduates. “They genuinely ask for my input and want to know how they can improve things for me and other young people. It’s an amazing feeling to be part of something that listens and acts on our voices.”
The impact of youth leadership through NexGen
The impact of NexGen goes beyond Mai-Wel’s walls. By elevating youth voices, the group helps shape more responsive and inclusive services, creating lasting benefits for the wider community.
Their contributions have informed real change, ensuring that supports are not only accessible, but meaningful and empowering for young people navigating life’s challenges.
“The NexGen Youth Advisory Group gives young people a platform to share their experiences and influence the way we shape our services and support,” said Jaime Canavan, Mai-Wel’s Community Engagement Specialist.
“The graduates we celebrate today are some of the most inspiring, resilient, and insightful individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with. We’re incredibly proud of their achievements and excited for what lies ahead,” She continued.
“They are living proof that ‘full of possible’ becomes reality when young people are empowered with the right tools, support, and belief in their potential.”
Full of possible
This graduation is an exciting milestone in Mai-Wel’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable members of our community.
By partnering with people and truly listening to their lived experiences, Mai-Wel is working to build a future where every person, regardless of their age, ability or background, has the opportunity to achieve their full of possible.
Congratulations to our NexGen graduates. Your voices are helping shape a more inclusive tomorrow!
