Talya Valenti has just about been boodjarak (everywhere), working as a recording and touring session drummer with Stella Donnelly and playing gigs across the globe. Come and chat with her about making friends abroad, enviro-conscious travel, and the things you take or leave behind when you move from place to place. If you like, share a photo of someone you met on your travels and tell us about how you met them or what you learned from them!

An exploration of how people can find a sense of personal freedom by letting go of plans. It is a response to the Noongar word 'Boodjarak' meaning 'everywhere' and draws on my experiences of touring, where taking that extra step has often been rewarding. This song is an appreciation of the intricate web of people I have met on my travels. Every movement counts.

Join the Youth Week WA Ambassadors from 2019 and 2020 for a conversation about what’s important to young people today. Each year, the Department of Communities invites nominations from young people aged 18-25 from across Western Australia, to represent their peers as Youth Ambassador for Youth Week WA. Hear from this year’s ambassadors - Haseeb Riaz and Zahra Al Hilaly - and last year’s ambassadors - Bella Ndayikeze and Zal Kanga-Parabia - and ask questions about what’s important to you.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Friday 29 May is Boodjarak - Everywhere, and Joshua Eggington will be the day’s theme-setter. It’s all about travel, migrating, and learning from different places. Join Joshua for his response and introduction to this particular theme.

As a poor, spoonie, neurodivergent creative, I’ve practiced the art of guiltily doing “nothing” for quite some time. Let’s talk about what “nothing” can look like in a time where many activities, assemblies and wage labour are restricted to the confines of one’s own home. But also, what “nothing” can look like when these restrictions are lifted; and when employment and funding in the arts is still scarce. Can we move past the guilt of arbitrary standards of productivity by criticising what it actually means to be productive?

Ever wanted to write a song? Ever wanted to dedicate it to that sourdough loaf you just baked in quarantine? Join local food enthusiast and folk songwriter Jack Davies as he delves into the delicious, dark, and mysterious depths of songwriting providing an intimate insight into his writing techniques, and invites you to create, collaborate and share songs within a safe space of like-minded music lovers.  

Learn some tips and tricks for developing your own environmentally conscious wardrobe. Genevieve Burke aims to bring people together through creative expression. Her passion is to inspire people to be creative while making use of the things they have, through clever upcycling, repurposing, and mending. In this video, Genevieve will share shares some advice on how you can make something new and creative out of your old clothing.

Join internationally acclaimed photographer and Propel alumnus Jarrad Seng as he leads an informative panel discussion with leading young artists from Australia’s photography industry. Featuring Charli Burrowes, Michelle Grace Hunder, and Demas Rusli.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Thursday 28 May is Dookatj - Clever, and Maddie Godfrey will be the day’s theme-setter. Think about craft and creativity, working in the arts, and making things by hand. Join Maddie for their response and introduction to this particular theme.

How do you keep a good sleep schedule if you work on shows that finish late at night? How do you balance irregular art gigs with the routines of studying and other work? Keeping well in the arts is hard, so of course we have to look out for each other. Bellamore Ndayikeze, a leader in the community, artist and mental health advocate, guides this discussion about finding support networks and looking after yourself - bring along any tips and tricks you've found that have helped you though stressful times.

A lot of the time we use the terms "mental health" and "mental illness" interchangeably. This video will attempt to simplify and explain the difference between mental illness and mental health, and offer some resources for where we can look for support in times of distancing and financial hardship. We’ll also offer some coping strategies to support your wellbeing during times of stress.

In this short but sweet video, Rachel Moody offers some simple practices which remind you to connect with your breath and, through that connection, to ground into mindfulness. This video is aimed at all levels of ability and the focus will be on maintaining evenness, effortlessness, and a slow pace.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Wednesday 27 May is Waarlang - Healthy, and Eden McCombe will be the day’s theme-setter. Mental health, mindfulness, positive habits and self care. Join Eden for their response and introduction to this particular theme.

Let's talk about knowledge and learning with Sabrina Hafid, an Australian-Algerian interdisciplinary performer, playwright, disability support worker and high school teacher. As creatives, our influences come from hugely diverse sources - we learn from our friends, peers, favourite artists, teachers and mentors. This Hangout is a safe space for you to share a work in progress or something totally new and unseen, to get feedback and/or talk about the people who influence your art and life.

We’ve gathered the Directors of four of WA’s biggest festivals. Hear from these inspirational leaders in this panel discussion about the craft behind putting festivals together. Joining us will be Iain Grandage (Perth Festival), Amber Hasler (FRINGE WORLD), Stuart MacLeod (Fairbridge Festival), and Jenny Simpson (AWESOME Arts).

In this online workshop, found-object poet and artist Prema Arasu will guide you through the process of finding your own voice through destruction, experimentation, and re-creation. We will combine several 'found object' artforms including blackout poetry, and collage, and shared online platforms to remake pre-existing textual and visual material into new pieces. You may choose to work digitally, on paper, or both.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Tuesday 26 May is Kadajiny - Knowledge, and Georgie Carey will be the day’s theme-setter. It’s all about learning from each other, DIY tutorials, and finding mentors in our lives. Join Georgie for her response and introduction to this particular theme.

WA is made up of lots of different cultures that overlap and intermingle - and chances are your playlists are no different! This hangout is a chance to chat with expert performer / composer Pavan Kumar Hari and explore the cultural influences on your favourite beats. 

Tune in for an online bush tucker treat, where Marissa Verma from Bindi Bindi Dreaming will run an online cooking tutorial and share her knowledge about herbs and spices from the land, and teach you how to use these in your everyday cooking.

Join Shaun Nannup and Zal Kanga-Parabia as they create a space to connect and learn about our role to care for everything. Find a comfy space, rest and listen, through story, to a rhythm that lies beyond the surface, that beats amongst the noise we are inundated with daily. You can hear it if you listen.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Monday 25 May is Malayin - Culture, and Indigo Ellis will be the day’s theme-setter. Think of all the different cultures around Perth, all of the different music and languages and art influences. Join Indigo for her response and introduction to this particular theme.

Over the last year as a writer and photographer, Patrick has been exploring a lot of what it means to be and know home, particularly within his personal contexts as a queer person of faith, disabled young person, and survivor of domestic violence. In this hangout, he invites you to string together the many brilliant and contradicting parts of yourself and manifest a place where they can all be welcomed.

The Acknowledgement of Country is now a common introduction to speeches, concerts, and events all over Australia. The Koorlong team is here to help you write an acknowledgment that is meaningful and unique, which you can use whenever you need to!

Walyalup Walking is a love letter to the place we now know as Fremantle, from the perspectives of four young artists who live there. Sit back as Matthew Bracknell, Carla Geneve, Anastasia Beasley, and Jack Davies take you on a personal tour of the places in Fremantle that are important to them. Hear personal anecdotes, discussion of previous uses of different places, check out some hidden urban art, and find out what makes Walyalup so special.

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Sunday 24 May is Maya - Home, and Joel Davis will be the day’s theme-setter. What makes a place significant? How are we connected to the spaces we inhabit? Join Joel for their response and introduction to this particular theme.

This quiz is for those ready to test their knowledge, come together, and feel the brain-burn that comes from a well-written quiz. Pub-Quiz style, you'll be writing down and submitting answers to Quiz Maestro Geordie Crawley, who will then score you against your fellow players. Mini-Games, funky tunes, and feel good vibes come together to form a night of community bonding and competition. Pencils at the ready, players!

Each day of KickstART Virtual has a specific theme, as decided upon by the Youth Week WA Planning Committee and our Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison. The theme for Saturday 23 May is Dandjoo - Together, and Emily Burton will be the day’s theme-setter. How are we together given the circumstances? Why do we need to be together and how do we serve that need?

This is a rare opportunity for young people in Western Australia to get a glimpse into the creative process of a world-renowned Grammy-winning musical virtuoso. Whether you are a budding musician, bedroom producer, or just want some inspiration for your artistic ventures outside of music, we guarantee there will be something in Jacob’s masterclass for you!

Kobi Arthur Morrison and the Propel Team introduce KickstART Virtual and provide tips on how to get the most out of the week. Please join us as we will reveal and discuss all of the KickstART Virtual events that will take place during the week. The Propel Team will also elaborate on the different online aspects of this festival and address any technical questions, to help ensure participants get the most out of their experience during the week ahead.