The Fogarty Futures Leadership Conference is an annual leadership camp and program for Western Australian students in year 10 and 11. The program is designed and run by students for students and our aim is to create a community of young people who are passionate about making a difference and equip them with the tools to discover their unique leadership style.
The conference is held at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp (in Hillarys, Perth) and will run for four days, from the 3rd to the 6th of October. It is a fully residential camp, where students connect with peers from across the state and develop lasting networks. The cost is around $100 but we hold a strong commitment to equity and accessibility, so travel grants are available for students from regional and remote areas, and financial assistance is offered to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation.
At the camp, many activities and workshops will be run to help support the key values behind our program. Some examples from last year’s camp include a UN Youth Interactive Problem Solving workshop, a Young Leaders Panel, the Boxing Project activity and a public speaking skills workshop, as well as fun activities including salsa dancing, the Amazing Race, and a bonfire night.
The central theme of this year’s conference is “Discovering Your Leadership”, which reframes leadership as a personal and evolving, rather than a fixed set of skills or a formal title. This theme seeks to help students to approach leadership through authenticity and ground themselves in personal values and experiences.
There are also two sub themes for this year – “Challenging Perspectives” and “Momentum Begins Small”. The first sub-theme – “challenging perspectives” – emphasises the importance of seeking different viewpoints with respect and a willingness to learn and developing skills to navigate complexity. The second theme, “momentum begins small” highlights that leadership is about building sustainable impact over time, and that consistency is really important in making change.
Applications will be open to any student in year 10 or 11, regardless of previous leadership experience or opportunity. We encourage everyone to apply, so lease don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Applications are online, and will open on the 1st of June 2026, so keep an eye out for them by following our social media or head to our website. We hope to see you at Futures 2026!
Important information for the camp:
- Prior experience needed: none!
- Cost: around $100 but free participation is available for students upon contacting us so cost is not a barrier to participation.
- Travel to Perth: if you are a regional or remote student, we use travel grants to make sure you can come to Perth for the camp.
- Accessibility: please let us know of any accommodations and we’ll work with families to make sure the camp is accessible.
