In "Labour of Love," 16 year old Shirine Nehme reflects on her birth story and the impact of her Child Studies class, which sparked her interest in pursuing a medical career. She shares her mother's challenging experiences during childbirth in Griffith, highlighting systemic issues in rural healthcare, such as understaffing and long wait times. Nehme discusses the ongoing challenges for rural students aspiring to enter medical fields, including the competitive application process. She emphasizes the importance of community conversations to address these issues and advocates for continued support and reform in rural healthcare, aiming to become an OBGYN to help improve maternal care in her community. Born and raised in Griffith, Shirine has always loved the diverse and rich culture in the region. Shirine is a member of Griffith Youth Advisory Group, aiding in organising and volunteering at events and workshops targeted to local youth.Shirine is also passionate about spreading awareness on issues prevalent within the region. In 2022, she won the NSW Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award and represented the state in the national final. Her speech was about the inadequate treatment of mothers in regional hospitals.In 2024, Shirine was a semi-finalist in the Plain English Speaking Awards with her speech on Indigenous Men and Farmer’s Mental Health. She continues to talk about inequalities within rural Australia, advocating for her community on a range of issues, attending a NSW Youth Advisory Council event in Sydney this year.After completing her secondary school education, she plans on going to medical school and returning to serve in her regional community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Jayne Christian, a Baramadagal woman, emphasizes the urgent need for creating spaces and conversations rooted in Aboriginal knowledge and practices. With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples comprising only 3% of Australia’s population, she highlights the ongoing colonial impacts and the struggle for cultural identity. Christian reflects on her journey towards healing, which involves weaving—a revival of cultural practice that fosters connection and understanding. In today’s challenging times, she calls for communal connection and unapologetic expression of identity to foster broader healing A Baramadagal woman of the Dharug-speaking peoples (Aboriginal land now known as Parramatta / Western Sydney area), Jayne grew up on the unceded lands of the Wiradjuri people.A lawyer and mediator, Jayne possesses a strong sense of social justice, which saw her dedicate a decade of her career practicing in the family, care and civil law jurisdictions in both metropolitan and regional and remote communities.Jayne also enjoys the practices of weaving and bush-dying in the communities she belongs and has hosted weaving circles aimed at facilitating dialogue in Australia and overseas.Jayne was selected as an inaugural recipient of the Galang Residency, an initiative of Powerhouse Museum Parramatta and the Cite Internationale Des Arts, through which she spent three months working on Djiriyay & Révolution, an exhibition that tells stories of Sovereignty, Resistance and Solidarity grounded in her community experience and connection with stories abroad. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In 2017, Kristy Wallace's son, Paddy, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, leading to severe health challenges, including blindness. After a painful period of feeling like a victim, Kristy found inspiration in a quote by Viktor Frankl, which motivated her to shift her narrative toward gratitude. She began recognizing small blessings during hospital stays, eventually leading to the “Patrick Wallace Gratitude Project,” a film celebrating their journey and the support they received. By fostering high expectations for Paddy, Kristy aims to change societal narratives about disabilities, demonstrating that positive narratives can transform lives and promote inclusivity and understanding A high school teacher of Society and Culture and French, Kristy has a background in International Relations and worked for several years as a Refugee Resettlement Case Worker in Wagga Wagga.Kristy is a passionate educator with a commitment to social inclusion and wellbeing. With the support of Murrumbidgee Health grants she coordinated the first ‘Braille Bombing’ event in regional Australia to promote awareness and inclusion for people with vision impairment in her community. She has also created and facilitated resilience and wellbeing workshops for adolescents and their parents in the Riverina.Kristy enjoys raising her three children in the peace and quiet of the family farm and spending time up the paddock soaking in the beauty of nature and making memories. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Clara aborda a importância do exercício físico para a saúde mental e como ele pode prevenir diversas doenças, como ansiedade, depressão e hipertensão. Ela compartilha sua experiência pessoal, destacando como o exercício foi essencial para a recuperação de sua avó e como ela mesma se beneficiou ao praticar diferentes atividades. Para ela, é importante encontrar prazer no que está fazendo. Clara tem 11 anos e sua atividade física favorita é o ballet. Também faz dança contemporânea, jazz, tênis e natação, aproveitando todos os benefícios dos exercícios para sua saúde física e mental. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Duda ficou muito impressionada com a cultura indígena, após ter conhecido um pouco mais em uma feira. Ela compartilha seu encantamento com o talento e o cuidado dos indígenas na criação de artesanatos, seus hábitos alimentares e sua forma de viver, reconhecendo a riqueza e a importância da diversidade cultural. Duda tem 10 anos, adora falar em público e sua matéria favorita é ciências, principalmente os estudos sobre cadeira alimentar. É fã de esportes, em especial vôlei, e gosta muito de aprender coisas novas. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx