Record Breaking 2026 Orana Youth Forum

Brewarrina Shire Council staff at the Orana Youth Forum — Cameron Sweetman, Subash Tripathi and HR Manager Tara Byrnes. Photo OYF

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana has celebrated its biggest Orana Youth Forum, with the event tripling in size in just twelve months and attracting an extraordinary 685 people to Dubbo’s Charles Sturt University.

Students from across the region joined 40 exhibitors and 24 speakers last Thursday 20 August for a full day of hands on learning, industry immersion and pathways into local careers, training and tertiary education.

This year’s Forum delivered its strongest program yet, headlined by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM, whose high energy keynote address encouraged students to question, explore and imagine what’s possible across a range of topics including AI, climate change, medical science and innovation. His appearance was complemented by a sellout public performance at the Dubbo Regional Theatre on Wednesday 19 August, where more than 450 tickets were snapped up by families and educators. […]

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