By Dr. Annabel Prescott

I’ve been sitting with the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, and one theme keeps surfacing: insularity.

This year’s findings point to a growing reluctance to engage with difference, and a shift in trust away from institutions towards “people like me”.

We can all see the forces driving this. But as a CEO of a not for profit supporting young people, it lands heavily.

Last week, our founder Sandy Murdoch joined leaders across philanthropy and other frontline organisations at the launch of Tanck and Perpetual Limited’s whitepaper: From Fragmentation to Influence.

The message was clear: transformation doesn't come from isolated efforts or short-term funding. It comes from trust, alignment, and long-term partnerships.

Sandy brought TRACTION's on-the-ground perspective, reinforcing that frontline organisations aren't just service providers, we're partners in reform.

Read more about Sandy's contribution and what it means for TRACTION's strategy.

If we want different outcomes for young people, we need to listen to them and take what they say seriously.

At TRACTION, we hear from young people every day. Not in theory, but in practice. Through our programs, they tell us what’s working, what matters, and what helps them move forward.

This is what they’ve been telling us.

This leadership appointment comes at a pivotal time as we deliver our 2026 to 2031 strategy and strengthen the partnerships that help scale our impact for young people.

Doreen brings more than two decades of leadership experience across large educational organisations, where she has built transformational partnerships aligned with meaningful social impact.

Youth justice doesn’t start in the courtroom. It starts years earlier - when a young person stops turning up to school, feels disconnected from learning, or falls through the cracks.

TRACTION submitted to the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System, calling for early prevention to sit at the centre of reform.

This appointment is a key step in delivering our 2026–2031 strategy. As we sharpen our focus on systems influence, this role is central to how we turn evidence into action and action into lasting change for young people.

👉 Learn more about Samantha and what this role means for TRACTION’s next chapter.

When young people disengage, it doesn’t just affect schools - it affects all of society, socially and economically. We’re tackling this crisis head-on with a bold new chapter.

High school is a turning point. It can lay the groundwork for confident, engaged young people, or it can quietly mark the start of withdrawal. Data tells us too many are struggling, and that prevention works best when it happens early. Getting the transition right is one of the smartest investments we can make for young people and our communities.

Built in Term 4: 2025

Across IGNITE and BUILD, Term 4 demonstrated what’s possible when young people are given structured opportunities to experience success, strengthen relationships and build practical skills. Feedback from young people, families and schools highlights measurable shifts in confidence, communication, participation and attendance - indicators that matter deeply at this stage of the school journey. 

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new-look website - an exciting milestone that brings together months of brand development, content strategy and design work, as we step confidently into our next chapter.

For years, one damaging myth has shaped how we talk about young people who leave school before Year 12: that they lack ambition, commitment, or the drive to succeed. It’s a myth reinforced in many staffrooms, living rooms and across Australia.

Discover more about TRACTION by watching our new video.

Coined by Junior Finau and introduced to TRACTION through Michael, Real Models gave a name to the mentoring style of our team - mentors who lead through honesty and vulnerability, not perfection. Discover the story behind Real Models.

“I didn't back myself. TRACTION helped me build confidence and think differently about my potential.”

When Sandy, TRACTION’s founder, sat down with alumni Will Johanessen, it didn’t take long for the conversation to drift back to the workshop where it all began.

‘TRACTION4DEADLYPEOPLE’ created for TRACTION represents community, strength and story as well as paying respect to and acknowledging Country and the people within it.

This artwork was created by Ambrose Killian | Amiwarre and gifted to TRACTION. We are so fortunate to have Ambrose on board as a Real Model Mentor in our programs.

We’re grateful to Grant Thornton’s The Remarkables Podcast for hosting our Founder, Sandy Murdoch, in a powerful conversation about the importance of early intervention and prevention for young people.

Tune in.

Built this term: T3,2025

This term we were grateful to learn how much our participants valued and benefited from the unique way TRACTION creates safe, welcoming environments where young people can engage, learn, and build meaningful connections.

We’re disappointed, yet not surprised, to learn that Australia is losing over $20 billion a year because this country continues to delay critical support for children and young people's early developmental, education and health needs.

We firmly believe that early intervention is foundational - both for children and young people’s long-term outcomes and for societal sustainability.

Sean joins as Project Lead for our Toowoomba Region. With 15 years’ experience in youth development, outdoor education, and community programs, he brings both local knowledge and expertise. His background in experiential learning gives him a deep appreciation for the power of practical engagement - perfectly aligned with TRACTION’s approach.

Showcasing Impact - The skills and confidence built this term.

At the end of each term, we have the privilege to talk to parents/guardians of some of our participants about the outcomes they experience in their child after the completion of a TRACTION program. This term we spoke with 21 parents/guardians and 95% agreed that their child had increased confidence, felt more positive about themselves and had discovered strengths.