Connected Voices is an innovative, creative wellbeing and digital literacy pilot designed to support young people navigating the complexities of life online. In response to rising youth anxiety, digital overload, and the evolving landscape shaped by the Social Media Minimum Age Act (SMMA).
Through creative practice, dialogue, and youth-led collaboration, Connected Voices builds emotional resilience, critical thinking and authentic self-expression. The pilot aims to generate meaningful insights, scalable models and real-world impact – positioning young people not just as participants, but as active contributors to their own healthier digital futures.
The program is currently being piloted in-school as part of the curriculum at Maryborough State High School, QLD, where student cohorts are participating in The Listening Lab and StorySafe programs. This rollout provides a vital opportunity to test, refine and evaluate the model in a real-world school environment, ensuring the program is responsive, effective, and grounded in young people’s lived experiences. Connected Voices centres four key e-safety themes: Digital Literacy, Digital Safety, Digital Resilience and Digital Citizenship.
Connected Voices (pilot) is the recipient of the 2024-25 Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant supported by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.