When Young People Lead: Ryder's Skills Reached the Rooms Where Decisions Get Made

Recently, we welcomed the Honourable Laura Gerber MP, Minister for Youth Justice, Russell Field MP, Member for Capalaba, Rebecca Young MP, Member for Redlands and Amanda Stoker MP, Member for Oodgeroo, to our Alexandra Hills workshop.

We didn't give them a scripted tour. Instead, Ryder, one of our young participants, stepped up as tour guide.

Taking a strengths-based approach, our mentors knew that Ryder has the skills and capacity to thrive in this moment. He guided them through the workshop. Showed them his bike build. Spoke openly about what TRACTION meant to him, how his confidence had grown, and what he was working toward next.

No filters. No scripts. Just a young person showing what he's capable of when he's given real responsibility and backed to lead.

What Happened Next

Not long after, Russell Field MP stood up in Queensland Parliament and spoke about what he saw:

Read Russel Field’s full speech in Hansard: Queensland Parliament Hansard, 26 March 2026

"It was particularly great to be able to show the Minister what a big impact TRACTION is already making on young lives and how their programs help towards preventing the cycle of crime before it can begin... One of TRACTION's participants, Ryder, was kind enough to act as our tour guide for the visit. It was wonderful to hear the passion with which he spoke about his project."

Ryder's name is now in Hansard - the official parliamentary record.

That's proof that when young people are given the chance to speak for themselves, decision-makers listen.

As our founder Sandy Murdoch said:

“Young people don’t need more lectures, they need opportunities, connection, and a reason to believe in what’s next”. This funding helps us do more of what already works: backing young people to back themselves.

This Is What We Mean When We Say Young People Lead at TRACTION

We don't talk about young people. We create the conditions for them to speak for themselves.

Ryder didn't need us to speak for him. He showed up, backed himself, and made an impression that travelled all the way to the parliamentary floor.

That's the point of TRACTION. Not to "fix" young people, but to build the confidence, competence, and momentum they already have inside them.

What This Means

Russell Field also announced that TRACTION has been awarded a $250,000 Kickstarter Grant as part of the Queensland Government's $115 million investment in early intervention.

Field described TRACTION as gold standard early intervention that seeks to enhance engagement in education.

This 12-month grant for our Redlands programs matters as it means we can reach more young people earlier, before disengagement becomes entrenched.

But beyond the dollars, what this really shows is that our approach works.

When we centre young people's voices, not just in our programs, but in how we engage with government, people pay attention. And when they pay attention, they invest.

Field put it clearly in Parliament:

"We know that often young people just need the confidence to recognise that somebody's backing them and will support them all the way to create a better future for themselves. That is exactly what TRACTION offers."

He's right. And Ryder proved it.

What's Next

This $250,000 will help us:

• Reach more young people earlier in the Redlands, before they become disengaged.

• Strengthen the relationships that keep them engaged at school and in the community

• Deliver more hands-on, practical learning that builds confidence and real-world skills

• Create clearer pathways into training, education, and employment

TRACTION CEO Dr Annabel Prescott shared:

“We’ve already started delivery under this grant and we’re looking forward to deepening our partnerships with schools and maintaining strong relationships with the government to ensure we sustain our engagement in the community.”

To the Hon. Laura Gerber, Russell Field, Rebecca Young and Amanda Stoker and everyone backing early intervention: Thank you for listening. And more importantly, thank you for hearing what Ryder had to say.

To Ryder: You led that tour with confidence, clarity, and passion. You represented TRACTION and yourself brilliantly. We're proud of you, and we can't wait to see where you go next.

And to every young person who's walked through our doors: this is your space. Your voice matters. And when you're ready to lead, TRACTION will back you all the way