MEDIA RELEASE
18-YEAR-OLD GIVES TALK ON EDUCATION SYSTEM AS SYSTEM FAILS TO KEEP UP WITH STUDENT WELLBEING
18-year-old founder of UrVoice Australia, Jayden Delbridge, has given his first TEDx talk today, Saturday, 19 August 2023, at TEDx Croydon Youth.
The talk, entitled “How Schools Can Contribute to a Teenager’s Becoming” describes the current inadequacies in the education system, and how that disincentivises students from seeking support.
He will use the opportunity to describe the feelings of disempowerment and voicelessness some young people feel and the urgent need for a quality education system focused on wellbeing as a remedy.
“It comes at a time where teachers are doing it tough, and unable to effectively support students whilst also drowning in administrative burden,” Jayden said.
Jayden, who has been passionate advocate and a member of multiple advisory panels including the NSW Youth Advisory Council, says the education system needs to invest more time educating young people on wellbeing.
“As a recent graduate, I have seen first-hand how the current educational system makes students feel like a burden and disempowered to speak up.
“Our education system needs to evolve beyond Shakespeare and Calculus. It needs to recognise that students are in a critical phase of development and should be supported – both academically but also in their wellbeing.
"It’s time that the education system should invest meaningful time to prioritise student wellbeing.”
Jayden says he will continue to fight for reform and build an environment where young people feel supported.
“I’m passionate about cultivating an environment where every student feels empowered to stand up and voice wellbeing concerns, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.
The full TEDx Speech to be delivered can be found here.
END
SATURDAY, 19 AUGUST 2023
MEDIA ENQUIRIES: enquiries@urvoice.com.au or 02 4314 6201.
Bio: UrVoice Australia
UrVoice Australia is a non-profit focused on improving wellbeing in schools. They feel it’s time for students to be able to speak out against the issues they are facing in life, and that everyone should have a platform to speak up and speak out. UrVoice Australia aims to support schools and help them manage mental health and wellbeing issues. They do this by helping students speak up, and voice concerns about their own wellbeing, as well as their peers. UrVoice Australia is a registered auspice of the Iris Foundation.
Bio: Jayden Delbridge
Jayden is an 18-year-old mental health advocate working within the educational wellbeing sector. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Social Science degree at the University of Newcastle.
Jayden is the founder of UrVoice Australia, a non-for-profit organisation that aims to help students with early intervention and education in mental health awareness and suicide prevention. In 2019, Jayden worked with Council to introduce a suicide prevention report for the Central Coast, the first for the region.
Jayden has been a member of the NSW Youth Advisory Council, Central Coast Y4Y and Central Coast headspace Youth Reference Group. In 2022, Jayden was the recipient of the Central Coast Youth Leadership of the Year Award for making significant contributions to the community.
Jayden is passionate about ensuring that all young people have the effective resources to speak up about mental health issues. Losing a close family member to suicide, he understands all too well how important early intervention is in mitigating and identifying mental health issues.