MEET OUR NATIONAL YOUTH COLLECTIVE
PROJECT ROCKIT’s NATIONAL YOUTH COLLECTIVE is represented by 42 diverse young people from across Australia.
Interested in joining our movement?
Sign up to be part of the Collective Network.
WHO WE ARE
PROJECT ROCKIT’s NATIONAL YOUTH COLLECTIVE is represented by 32 diverse young people from across Australia. Aged 12 to 21 years, they act as advocates, creators, advisors and collaborators on work and projects with PROJECT ROCKIT and our partners to help build a world where kindness and respect thrive.
The COLLECTIVE holds us all accountable to remaining youth-driven and ensures that we understand the complex and nuanced experiences of young people today. Their lived experiences help us to better influence and shape the systems that govern their lives.
HOW IT IS DIFFERENT
The COLLECTIVE is the result of 18+ years of exploring how to best offer agency to young people and for us to be accountable to them for the vision PROJECT ROCKIT has for the world. Our point of difference is:
Deeply relational: Members are not replaced annually. They are an ongoing part of the Collective.
Fluid membership: Members opt-in and out of activities and can organise their participation around other life priorities.
Diverse age range: Members average age is 15 years. With members aged 12 - 21 years.
Non-hierarchical: The Collective is committed to sharing power and decision making with all members.
Execution matters: How we say we work, is also how we work. We invest a lot of time in how we do things and ensuring our principles and practices are lived authentically.
OUR MEMBERSHIP MODEL
The Core Members are a collection of 32 young people (aged 12-21 years) who take on different projects that help fulfill the vision and mission of PROJECT ROCKIT through different work.
CLIENT Project: A project from a PROJECT ROCKIT partner who are drawing on the Collective’s lived experience to produce work.
PROJECT ROCKIT Project: A project that is directly driven by the organisation’s key needs and supports the our work directly.
COLLECTIVE Project: A project that has been generated out of the Collective that they initiate and seek support for.
HOW WE WORK Project: A project that is about the policies, procedures and how the Collective evolves and works.
JUST DROPPED - YOUTH BLOG
Introducing OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE, a blog driven by the National Youth Collective. Designed by youth, for youth, sharing lived experiences and perspectives, and open monthly for submissions!
EXPLORE THE BLOGYouth Voices, Real Impact
At PROJECT ROCKIT, young people aren’t just part of the conversation—they’re leading it. Our Youth Participation Principles are built on respect, authenticity, and meaningful inclusion. We create spaces where youth voices are heard, valued, and empowered to drive real change. It’s not about tokenism; it’s about partnership, leadership, and making sure young people shape the decisions that affect their lives.
“We have a horizontal hierarchical structure, which gives us as young people a lot of autonomy around what we get to do and how we interact with the various projects.”
- Rhea, Collective Member, 19
Meet our Collective Members
Our Collective Members are group of young people (aged 12-21 years) who meet regularly, design projects and provide specific input and advice into all aspects of PROJECT ROCKIT’s work. They guide the COLLECTIVE and its work.
Abbey
Abbey, 18 (she/her) is passionate about advocating for social change and talking about relevant issues. She has tried many different hobbies, but currently is all about reading and jewellery making.
Aditya (Adi)
Adi, 15 (he/him) is passionate about soccer, gym, technology, AI, teaching people, and engineering. He owns an AI Automation Agency and is currently doing a daily challenge where I am inventing an AI Chatbot for Based Body Works
Adriel
Adriel, 18 (he/him) is passionate about youth empowerment especially for multicultural people.His YouTube watch later playlist is over 2000 videos long and doesn't look like it's getting smaller anytime soon
Anju
Anju, 18 (she/her) is passionate about South Asian representation in TV shows, refugee rights, and finding the perfect iced matcha latte. For Anju, Airports are her happy place.
Ayush
Ayush, 16 (he/him) is passionate about navigating online safety. Ayush also says he is a tech nerd with too many hobbies and not enough time!
Caitlin
Caitlin, 18 (she/her) is passionate about equity for people with disability! Fun fact, Caitlin LOVES pineapple, and has subtle pineapple decorations everywhere!
Chloe
Chloe, 13 (she/her) is passionate about equality and fairness. Fun fact, Chloe has been dancing for 8 years now.
Chloe
Chloe, 18 (she/her) is passionate about investigating how modern technology and critical minerals can help us reach net-zero. She loves to cook, with sausage rolls being the fan favourite on Footy Fridays!
Chris
Chris, 17 (He/Him), is passionate about amplifying and empowering young people, particularly those who are invisibally disadvantaged. Fun fact, Chris' camera roll is flooded with nature shots, landscapes, and other cool things!
Ciri
Ciri, 19 (she/they) is passionate about advocating for social justice and equity, particularly for disabled and LGBTQIA+ people. Their very cool side hustle is as a professional glitter artist.
Darcey
Darcey, 13 (she/they) is passionate about challenging bullying. Darcey also plays hockey and loves acting. Fun fact, she also I can make their eyeballs quiver!
Dhishana
Dhishana, 17 (she/her) is passionate about LGBTQ+ equality and student voice in schools. Dhishana also loves making her own clothes and creating miniatures!
Dominik
Dominik, 18 (he/him) is passionate about working on youth health prevention. Fun fact, Dominik went to school in 3 different countries and a number of languages.
Emily
Emily, 15 (she/her) is passionate about challenging sexism. Fun fact, Emily plays ukulele, guitar, trombone and french horn!
Emma
Emma, 18 (she/her) is passionate about youth wellbeing and mental health, especially in the performing arts. She is a musical theatre performer who loves debating and public speaking! Emma is a huge sweet tooth - caramel slices are her favourite food.
Hansika
Hansika, 15 (she/her) is passionate about improving education and breaking stigma around mental health and self harm. Fun fact, Hansika enjoys running and drawing!
Harrison
Harrison, 13 (he/him) is passionate about tackling cyberbullying. Fun fact, Harrison can also swim in the ocean during winter without a wetsuit!
Jolie
Jolie, 14 (she/her) is passionate about tackling bullying. Jolie also loves to play guitar and is very passionate about music!
Joshua
Joshua, 17 (he/him) is passionate about improving education and life outcomes of disadvantaged youth. He experiments with environmentally-friendly energy sources (ask about the stalactites in his garage).
Kanishka
Kanishka, 16 (she/her) is passionate about the mental health and wellbeing of young people. And when is comes to fun, she just loves singing.
Konan
Konan, 18 (he/him) wants to empower young people and find solutions to climate change. Fun fact, Konan brushes his teeth before & after breakfast.
Lamisa
Lamisa, 20 (she/her) is passionate about bringing awareness to disability and racial discrimination within our wider society. Lamisa enjoys baking deserts (usually as a way of procrastinating!)
Lucia
Lucia, 21 (she/her) is passionate about ensuring young people of migrant and refugee backgrounds have the support they need to thrive and express themselves. Fun fact, Lucia loves trees (and kinda wishes she was one!)
Mannon
Mannon, 15 (he/him) is passionate about tackling bullying, and loves connecting and working with people.
Marlene
Marlene, 19 (she/her) is passionate about free press and media representation. Marlene believes Sunday nights are for wallowing, and there is no better way to do this than a movie and tea in hand!
Max
Max, 17 (she/they), is passionate about advocating for regional young people, the creative arts and equity in the media. Of all the things, their favourite part of each day is checking the mailbox.
Maxine
Maxine, 13 (she/her) is passionate about challenging the lack of representation of youth in government. Fun fact, Maxine plays field hockey!
Mehela
Mehela, 15 (she/her) is passionate about book censorship. Mehela says she can never decide what to read so she ends up reading three books at once!
Michael
Michael, 20 (he/him) is passionate about ethical issues, such as gene screening and human rights. Michael loves learning how the things around him work.
Mia
Mia, 18 (she/her) is passionate about challenging bullying for all ages. She also enjoys playing netball and staying fit.
Neerja
Neerja is passionate about promoting education equity and youth empowerment. She is a huge mango fan—anything with mango is an instant win.
Nicholas
Nicholas, 13 (he/him) is passionate about challenging bullying - bullying of others for being more different. He loves playing basketball.
Noa
Noa, 16 (she/her) is passionate about human rights (especially gender equity and immigration). Noa loves the cereal milk wayyyy more than the actual cereal.
Olivia
Olivia, 17 (she/her) cares deeply about disability advocacy, education reform, LGBTQIA+ equality, and religious tolerance and harmony. Above all, Olivia LOVES to read and write, and also bakes, debates, does archery and karate, and plays D&D.
Oscar
Oscar, 15 (he/him) is passionate about global warming, and likes to go mountain biking.
Raghu
Raghu, 16 (he/him) is super passionate about politics, making sure young people have a voice at the table, and loves reading crime novels! He also loves debating and is always prepared for a good discussion.
Rehan
Rehan, 12 (he/him) is concerned and wants to address how the cost of living crisis affects the youth. He loves playing soccer with his friends
Rhea
Rhea, 19 (she/her) is passionate about youth civic engagement, climate justice and disability justice. Rhea also loves to play tennis.
Rispah
Rispah, 17 (she/her) is passionate about student advocacy surrounding media and technology. She has been learning Japanese for 5 years!
Taihan
Taihan, 16 (he/him) is passionate about equitable education for young people and loves both playing and watching soccer!
Theo
Theo, 16 (she/they) is passionate about youth prevention work, and has memorised the 50 states of America and the 13 territories/provinces of Canada for fun!
Vedrana
Vedrana, 15 (she/her) is passionate about social justice and engaging youth in mental health education. Vedrana also loves to play the guitar and enjoys reading!
Victoria
Victoria, 17 (she/her) is passionate about body image and gender inequality. Fun fact - Victoria is a part time Barista! She can do latte art too (although, her hearts sometimes end up looking like butts.)
“We're in this together. We're trying to build something together. It means you are so much more willing to talk, even if you don't really like to talk. I'm very shy, but here it just feels safe to talk and share my thoughts because everyone here is just happy to be here.”
- Noa, Collective Member, 15
A YOUTH MANIFESTO FOR A KINDER WORLD
In 2024, the National Youth Collective came together for a series of Blue Sky Thinking Sessions, where young people shared their ideas and perspectives, inspired by PROJECT ROCKIT’s vision of a world where kindness and respect thrive, and bullying, hate, and prejudice are left behind.
During these sessions, the Collective explored what a world without bullying would look like - what does a kinder world really look like? This conversation led to the creation of a manifesto, which now guides our youth-driven movement.
And so, here it is - the manifesto.
A huge thank you to artist Fernando Lecuna for bringing this vision to life.
Interested in joining our movement?
The Collective operates under a fluid membership model, meaning members opt-in and out of activities and can organise their participation around other life priorities (because young people are busy!) Sign up to be part of the Collective Network.
JOIN THE COLLECTIVE NETWORK