Over a decade of impact and putting young people’s voices first earns statewide recognition.
Big smiles and a lot of pride filled the TRACTION offices this week, as we were named winner of the Education Award, at the Children’s Week Awards ceremony in Brisbane.
This award, sponsored by Creative Outpost, celebrates organisations finding creative and inclusive ways to bring children’s rights to life. This year’s finalists were recognised for creating spaces where children feel informed, included, listened to and empowered to use their voices.
“We’re thrilled to be the winners of this award, which recognises the extraordinary relationships our mentors build with young people every day.” said TRACTION CEO, Annabel Prescott. “In many ways this award also belongs to every young person who has turned up on a day when life felt hard.”
A morning to be proud of who you are
Children’s Rights Queensland convenes Children’s Week, and the 2026 national theme is based on Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: every child’s right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practice their religion.
The ceremony reflected that theme from the first moment, opening with a beautiful Acknowledgement of Country by Bellbird State School. Two young people took charge as MCs, with music from the incredible Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra.
“Seeing young people leading the room, from the welcome and throughout the day, was exactly what Children’s Week is about,” said Annabel.
Children’s rights in action
For more than a decade, TRACTION has run mentoring programs for young people aged 10 to 17 who are experiencing disengagement, disadvantage or barriers to taking part in school and community life.
These middle years are when the pressures of transition, rigid systems and narrowing pathways start to shape a young person's relationship with school. But this stage too often falls between the cracks.
Our awards submission highlighted how we’ve reached more than 3,600 young Australians, delivered close to 150,000 hours of professional mentoring and given away nearly 2,700 bikes to the young people who built them.
The judges also saw how we put children’s rights into practice. Our practical workshops give young people something tangible to be proud of, and a way to express themselves and be understood. And unique programs like “Building Deadly. Riding Deadly”, co-designed with First Nations Elders and community partners, help First Nations young people connect with culture and community as they take part.
Taking young voices to decision-makers
What the win recognises, is that listening to young people and advocating for their voice doesn't just stop at the workshop door. They are actively carried to funders, decision-makers and governments – all part of our wider strategy.
A recent example is Ryder, a workshop participant who gave visiting state MPs and the Minister for Youth Justice an unscripted tour of TRACTION’s Alexandra Hills workshop. He spoke as the expert in his own experience, and his name and experience later made it into Queensland’s parliamentary record.
More recently, our leadership team and mentors spent two days at Parliament House in Canberra, where young people’s voices were central to the message delivered to federal government.
“Our young people are the experts in their own lives,” said Annabel. “When they’re trusted, heard and have opportunities intentionally created for them to lead, young people thrive. Disengagement is not a personal failing, it’s a systems failure, and these young people are showing us exactly how the system can do better.”
A big thank you!
Our teams want to extend gratitude to Dan Marais, Luke Twyford and the team at Children’s Rights Queensland for an inspiring celebration, as well as the event sponsors and fellow finalists.
Annabel also had a message for the people behind TRACTION. “To our mentors, partners, supporters and young people who put their trust in us every day - thank you. We’ll keep building, and we’ll keep making sure young people are at the centre of everything we do.”