2022 Luminosity Youth Festival, Port Macquarie, NSW

Charles Sturt University celebrated its 10th year as Foundation sponsor of the Luminosity Youth Summit in 2022. Held annually in Port Macquarie, NSW, the Luminosity Youth Summit is a dynamic three-day national forum igniting creativity, excellence and entrepreneurship among young people aged 15 to 25 years.

Charles Sturt’s partnership with the event is led by summit co-founder and Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement (Port Macquarie) Ms Kate Wood-Foye.

“The University is keen to provide this unique opportunity to link regional communities to the talents of students, lecturers, researchers and industry partners who will be guest speakers and facilitators at the event, among 25 other thought leaders from various fields around the globe,” said Ms Wood-Foye.

Ms Wood-Foye said Charles Sturt has a long commitment to supporting its regional communities through sponsorship, industry partnerships and in-kind assistance and support of high impact events.

The summit is volunteer powered and held in partnership with more than 70 regional businesses and leading organisations enabling the high quality programming and experience that is regularly provided in a capital city, but often inaccessible to regional youth.

Luminosity supports young people from all walks of life and abilities to remove the road-blocks of regional and rural life and empower them on their journey to realise their full potential. More than 3,500 young people have experienced the summit over its first decade, with another 450 joining the summit in 2023.

“One speaker who has made a tremendous impact on me was Nadine Champion. As a young person who has struggled with self-doubt, her demonstration on the power of 10-seconds of courage is something that I’ll carry with me forever… she has made me - and by extension, every other young person in the audience - remember that we are capable of so much more than we think.

“Attending the Luminosity Youth Summit, has inspired me to think of the myriad of ways I can add value to and uplift others outside of my future role as a clinician. I have left the Luminosity Youth Summit with an increased passion for community service and a heightened interest in entrepreneurship.”

John Palencia, 2022 Luminosity All Stars Attendee