Budget like a Boss with Michelle Cundy

The day kicked off with 10 interactive quizzes covering budgeting, online shopping safety, and financial abuse. The participants were engaged and curious, learning what to expect when managing money. 

We then played a hands-on board game using Australian currency, Pocket Money. This helped players develop their skills to calculate, save, spend wisely, and even donate to charity. The room was filled with lots of laughter and conversations. We overheard comments like “there are consequences for that action,” “it’s too expensive, I’m not going to buy,” and “How much interest do I get?”.

Glow Up Goals with Kari Sutton

Kari shared powerful insights on emotional regulation and mental fitness. We learned that generally we have 60,000-80,000 thoughts a day, and up to 75% can be negative. She explained the concept of negativity bias using the metaphor of Velcro; negative experiences can stick to you for years, whereas a positive experience might behave more like Teflon, sliding away as quickly as it happens.  

To build mental fitness, we need to practice positive self-talk. Kari used the analogy of two people tossing a string back and forth. Each toss strengthens the connection, just like repeated positive thoughts strengthen resilience.  

To keep the young people engaged we also played two fun games to explore emotional awareness!

University Tour with QUT Student Ambassadors

After lunchtime, one of the QUT ambassadors, Blessing, shared her journey of becoming a university student, inspiring the young people. Afterwards, the group went on a campus tour. They were excited and full of questions, eager to explore the beautiful university grounds and imagine their future possibilities.  

Panel Discussion with Sami Rose and Tom Gilbert

The day ended on a high with a panel discussion featuring Sami Rose and Tom Gilbert. Sami encouraged participants to focus on progress rather than trying to be the best.

She said, “being the best isn’t the only option, I’m trying to be better than I was yesterday”. She also shared her experience with online fame and how she handles negative comments with grace. Tom spoke about resilience reflecting on his three-year injury and his role as captain of a new NRL team. He emphasised the importance of choosing the right people to surround yourself with because when things get tough, you can lean on them and lift you up. 

The first Teen Life Skills Youth Forum laid the foundation for young people in our program on how to confidently transition to independence. Young people felt inspired and the day made going to university seem more achievable, all while learning many important life lessons.

Thank you, QUT, for giving us a wonderful venue to facilitate this event, and huge shoutout to our special guests Michelle Cundy, Kari Sutton, Sami Rose, Tom Gilbert, and QUT student ambassadors for giving such an inspirational experience for young people in care.