Yesterday I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to hear 19-year-old Dayna Duncan speak at the Western Sydney University youth Agvocate forum at the Sydney Royal Easter Show
I stood there with my mouth open as this young girl drew me into her world with one of the most polished and inspirational presentations I have ever witnessed.
Dayna’s background and a lot of what she had to say can be found here
A former South Australian Young Citizen of the Year and listed as one of the most 50 Influential Women in SA, Dayna has moved to Sydney to do a degree in medicine at UNSW. I spoke to her afterwards and she said to me that her special passion going forward was rural mental health
I have heard a lot of people speak and I can’t remember ever been so impressed with not only how Dayna moved and inspired me to take action but the techniques she used to do it
Dayna Duncan Source
Dayna is a graduate of both the Heywire and Foundation for Young Australianss’ Nation Building programs. I have seen firsthand how Heywire works and met other graduates of the Foundation for Young Australians Social Pioneers program and wow are they on a winning formula of a pathway of engaging and nurturing a new generation of Movers and Shakers and Future Influencers
Inspired by Harvey Milk’s quote “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” here is the background behind Dayna’s ‘Breaking Down the Door Day’ initiative which promotes understanding, acceptance, equality and diversity in rural and regional areas.
Dayna was funded to attend the national summit for young change makers entitled, ‘Unleashed’, on 9-10 November 2013, at the Sydney Opera House. While there, she recorded her video ‘Breaking Down the Door’ for the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) program. Please take the time to watch it
Dayna’s take home message yesterday was
“You don’t have to change the world but you can change some-one’s world”
Kudos also to Western Sydney University Education & Engagement Coordinators, Christopher Vella and April Browne. who run the Youth AGvocate forum where Year 10 students over 3 days experience university life and get behind the scenes at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The students then take up the challenge to design and pitch a strategy to the Royal Agricultural Society’s (RAS) Youth Group.
Over the past two years Young Farming Champions Ben Egan and Felicity Taylor have had the opportunity to speak to and inspire the students and work with them on their pitches
This year I attended with Young Farming Champion Keiley O’Brien as an observer/mentor. We timed our arrival to catch the presentation by Dayna and what a smart move that was
Keiley O’Brien, Chris Vella and Dayna Duncan
