Written by Jade Goudie
One of the most rewarding parts of university is discovering opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. Through my involvement with the Albury Wodonga Student Representative Council (AWSRC), I recently had the privilege of attending the Luminosity Youth Summit in Port Macquarie. It was an inspiring two-day event that brought together hundreds of young people from across Australia to hear from leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
Being part of the AWSRC has been an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing me to represent students while also opening doors to opportunities I never imagined when I first started at Charles Sturt Uni. Attending Luminosity was one of those experiences that reminded me of the value of stepping outside your comfort zone, saying yes to new opportunities and learning from people who are making a genuine difference in the world.
The summit featured an outstanding line-up of guest speakers, each with their own story of resilience, leadership, and purpose. Hearing such a diverse range of experiences challenged me to think differently about success, not as a destination, but as an opportunity to use your skills, passions and experiences to positively influence the lives of others.
One of the standout moments for me was hearing Jazz Thornton speak. Jazz shared her deeply personal journey with remarkable honesty, delivering a powerful message about hope, resilience and the importance of speaking openly about mental health. Her ability to turn some of life’s most difficult experiences into a platform that helps others was incredibly inspiring and left a lasting impression on everyone in the room.
What made the experience even more memorable was having the opportunity to meet Jazz after her presentation. Being able to thank her personally and have a conversation with someone whose work has impacted so many people was something I’ll always remember. It was a reminder that authentic leadership often comes from vulnerability, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others.
Another speaker who really resonated with me was Dr Daniel Nour, founder of Street Side Medics. As a junior doctor, Daniel recognised that many people experiencing homelessness faced significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Rather than waiting for people to come to a clinic, he created a service that brings healthcare directly to those who need it most.
His presentation highlighted that improving people’s lives often begins with removing the barriers that prevent them from accessing support. It reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are, listening to their individual circumstances, and recognising that meaningful change happens when services are designed around people’s real needs rather than expecting them to fit into existing systems.
I was equally inspired by Ronni Kahn AO, founder of OzHarvest, whose story demonstrated the incredible impact that one idea can have. What began as an initiative to rescue surplus food has grown into a national organisation that has provided millions of meals to Australians experiencing food insecurity while reducing food waste.
Listening to both Daniel and Ronni highlighted something that really stayed with me: caring for people extends beyond traditional healthcare. Access to nutritious food, safe housing, healthcare, education and community support are all interconnected. Their work reinforced the idea that improving someone’s wellbeing often starts with addressing the everyday barriers that many of us take for granted.
As someone studying Occupational Therapy, these messages resonated strongly because our profession takes a similarly holistic view of health and wellbeing. We learn that supporting people isn’t just about addressing a diagnosis; it’s about understanding the whole person, the environments in which they live and the opportunities they have to participate in meaningful daily life. Seeing these principles brought to life through organisations like Street Side Medics and OzHarvest was incredibly inspiring.
Beyond the keynote presentations, one of the best parts of the summit was connecting with other young people who are passionate about creating positive change in their own communities. It was encouraging to hear different perspectives, share ideas, and be surrounded by people who are all motivated to make a difference in their own ways.
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful that my involvement with the AWSRC made this opportunity possible. Experiences like Luminosity remind me that university is about so much more than earning a degree. It’s about building connections, developing leadership skills, broadening your perspective, and taking opportunities that help shape the person you want to become.
To any Charles Sturt student wondering whether to get involved in university life, I’d encourage you to take that first step. Whether it’s joining the AWSRC, volunteering, participating in student leadership or simply saying yes to opportunities that come your way, you never know where they might lead. Attending the Luminosity Youth Summit is an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time, and one that has inspired me to continue finding ways to contribute to my community both throughout my time at university and beyond.
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