Takeover Program

Our Year 9 English students are learning to tell their experiences in professionally produced stories for radio and TV!  The ABC have selected GSSC and Shepparton for its Takeover program – helping young people relate their lived experiences of life in regional Australia. 

The ABC and VicHealth’s youth program Takeover, which gives young people a voice to tell their stories from their communities, is moving outside the city for the first time, with Shepparton in northern Victoria to host the event in May.

Takeover Shepparton will cover the Greater Shepparton area and will give young people a platform to share their experiences with their community and communities across Australia, through local and national ABC networks.

The project will work with high school students to give them the skills to develop stories about what it’s like to grow up in their region. At least 30 students will then be selected to have their story broadcast across the ABC and to take part in the Takeover Shepparton Youth Summit from 16 May 2022, where they will develop ideas to make their community an even better place for young people.

ABC Director, Regional and Local, Judith Whelan, said the expansion of the Takeover program into regional Australia was an important next step in giving young regional voices a platform to be heard.  “Shepparton is an ideal place for us to start our Regional Takeovers and I’m sure we’ll be hearing some inspiring and uplifting stories from the young people of the region on our digital sites and also on ABC Radio and triple j.” 

CEO of VicHealth, Dr Sandro Demaio, said: “It’s fantastic to see the successful Takeover program expand into regional Victoria for the first time, and we’re proud to support it.”

“We have seen Takeover Melbourne winners taking the lead on important issues, and I can’t wait to listen to the stories and ideas that young people in Shepparton put forward.”

The program has seen the ABC’s Youth Impact Team working in our classrooms to empower students to produce stories for a gala screen and sound presentation. Some of the stories will even feature on our national broadcaster’s radio and TV programs.