ABC Heywire

Winners

Heywire winners reveal 'brave and authentic' stories of regional Australia

Thirty-eight young people have been named 2025 ABC Heywire winners for their resilience, courage and desire to create change. Here's where you can find their stories.

A young woman with dark hair wearing a traditional red headwrap and belt. Iraq village in background

I'm working tirelessly to put all my efforts into becoming an AFLW player

Delphina from Weipa, Qld, Alngith, Peppan, Thanakwithi and Wathyn Country.

A young Black woman with black hair wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans smiles at the camera, behind her are green trees

Duration: 3 minutes 41 seconds

Pursuing a career as a world-class classical music trumpet player from outback Queensland isn't easy

Malcolm from Longreach, QLD, Iningai Country.

A young man with black glasses and black tshirt holding a trumpet. Outbacks plains in background

Duration: 3 minutes 15 seconds

I've turned my passion for baking into a thriving business with support from my community

Niena from Christmas Island, WA.

A young woman with dark hair wearing a traditional black headwrap. Large bush with pink flowers in background.

Duration: 3 minutes 23 seconds

When we fled the war in Ukraine I thought we would be back in a few weeks. That was nearly three years ago

Kira from Ulladulla, NSW, Yuin Country.

A young woman with long bronde hair, wearing a beige outfit, sitting on a wood fence with snow and mountains in background

Duration: 3 minutes 8 seconds

Trailblazers

Meet the 2025 Trailblazers innovating and inspiring regional Australia

The ABC is proud to announce these emerging leaders from across the country as participants of the 2025 Trailblazers program!

Trailblazers share 'incredible' experiences and encourage others to apply

The ABC is calling on individuals or groups of up to three, aged 18-28, who have started social, educational, environmental, and economic development projects in their regional communities.

How many basic life skills do you have? Try our pop quiz to find out

Think you've mastered adulthood? Alyssia Moolenschot, who runs a program that helps young people navigate life after school, wants to put your practical knowledge to the test.

A photo of Alyssia with her blonde hair in a bun, wearing black glasses. She's holding a notebook and pen.

Bee hunter saving native species, one 'hotel' at a time

A 23-year-old ecologist known as "The Bee Man" is on a mission to conserve solitary pollinators by building them structures where they can nest — and he's urging others to do the same.

A photo of Clancy Lester holding a net. He's standing alongside three Indigenous rangers who are also holding nets.

Want to make a change in your community but don't know where to start? Five Trailblazers tell you how

Every project starts with an idea and the drive to make a change. But how do you even start? Five young people give advice on how to get started and how to turn an idea into reality.

Creative composite with a forest background and the images of five young people cut out in front of it.

Grants

Heywire grants on offer to help make 'incredible' regional ideas real

The ABC is calling on community organisations to help bring inspiring ideas developed by young people at this year's Heywire Regional Youth Summit to life.

Seven young people each holding a different giant foam letter to make up Heywire, jump in front of Parliament House.

Youth Ignite: Local events run by young people, for young people

Empowering young people to take responsibility for their town through regular youth-led multifunctional community events is what Youth Ignite is all about.

Three young men and one young woman with white skin stand next to each other outside, smiling at the camera

Community: Finding unity in diversity

A project led by young people challenges discrimination and disconnection by opening up to others' experiences.

Seven young people stand in a row, smiling at the camera, outside among trees

Community food pantries providing locally sourced, personalised grocery boxes

A group of young people envision a place where young people can go without stigma to collect free grocery boxes in regional communities.

Five young people stand smiling, arms around each others shoulders, among trees

Showcasing regional career options and the pathways to get there

After struggling to find information about their desired careers, these young people want to create a resource to inform young people about job opportunities in their home towns.

Four young people stand next to each other smiling, among trees

How To Adult: Teaching young people the life skills school didn't

A group of young people say they feel disempowered because they lack life skills, so they came up with an idea to create a social media education campaign help others.

Young people stand together, smiling, among trees

Wellness Wagon: Improving health literacy in regional Australia through education

These regional young people are "sick and tired" of navigating the health system by travelling long distances to find doctors who will take them seriously.

A group of young people, some standing some kneeling, smile at the camera among trees

ABC Heywire

Storytelling Competition

Trailblazers

Grants

Winners

Heywire winners reveal 'brave and authentic' stories of regional Australia

I'm working tirelessly to put all my efforts into becoming an AFLW player

Pursuing a career as a world-class classical music trumpet player from outback Queensland isn't easy

I've turned my passion for baking into a thriving business with support from my community

When we fled the war in Ukraine I thought we would be back in a few weeks. That was nearly three years ago

Connect with ABC Heywire

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Trailblazers

Meet the 2025 Trailblazers innovating and inspiring regional Australia

Trailblazers share 'incredible' experiences and encourage others to apply

How many basic life skills do you have? Try our pop quiz to find out

Bee hunter saving native species, one 'hotel' at a time

Want to make a change in your community but don't know where to start? Five Trailblazers tell you how

Grants

Heywire grants on offer to help make 'incredible' regional ideas real

Youth Ignite: Local events run by young people, for young people

Community: Finding unity in diversity

Community food pantries providing locally sourced, personalised grocery boxes

Showcasing regional career options and the pathways to get there

How To Adult: Teaching young people the life skills school didn't

Wellness Wagon: Improving health literacy in regional Australia through education

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