Find your tribe; raise your voice

Using his voice is something Kane Stewart is determined to do.

As a member of the 2022 Regional Youth Taskforce, Kane represents young people from the Riverina Murray and provides advice directly to the Minister for Regional Youth on issues that matter to regional young people.

“Volunteering is a core part of who I am. I have volunteered in youth groups, spiritual organisations and community committees throughout my life and was privileged to be selected for the NSW Government’s Regional Youth Taskforce and speak on behalf of regional youth who often have worse outcomes than our city counterparts.

“There are many of my friends and my community who don’t have the opportunity to voice the struggles they have. How dare I not voice their struggles if I can? I have the ability to speak, and I’m going to use it.”

Growing up in Tumbarumba, Kane describes his schooling as a “mixed bag” – where he was bullied for standing out in the crowd but also where he found a strong and supportive network.

“Throughout primary school, I was often bullied for being the girly kid or for dancing and doing the things that I found enjoyable. As I got into senior school, I found that the bullying continued but shifted to about ‘you're gay’ and things like that. It resulted in a lot of negative self-talk. I’ve seen myself as less than or not valuable at a lot of times. I’ve become anxious and quite sad where I just want to isolate myself because at least at home it was safer.

“The bullying really brought me down a lot of the time. But also, in those moments, I found some of the most amazing people who have supported me right through until now; people who would stand up for me when I wasn't able to stand up for myself.”

In challenging times, Kane has drawn on his faith to get him through, despite facing challenges from within the Church.

“I found my safety net within my spiritual community when I was about 11. They were the people that accepted me as I was and being me was perfectly fine. As I got older, the messaging started to change.it felt like I couldn't be in relationship with God and with my sexuality, like I had to choose between my left hand and my right hand, two key parts of me.

“But through that journey, there were some key people who supported me and accepted my sexuality and my spirituality in unison. I didn’t have to choose and without them, I don’t think I’d be here, sharing my story.                                     

“My faith gives me strength. It gives me my understanding of the world and my optimistic view. I see everyone as an amazingly created and perfected human being, with equal value. When I get into those deep, horrible spaces, I can look up and realise that humanity at its core is good. I use my faith in a way that is uplifting. It allows me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even in the darkest moments of my life.”

Paying it forward

Having been a student of Tumbarumba High School, Kane has returned to the place he knows so well as a Chaplain offering peer support to students and providing the type of care he counts himself lucky to find when he was in school.

“Peer support roles like mine, where you’re on the ground with these kids, are critical. It catches issues before they become unbearable. It helps kids to find the correct support networks and services, which is particularly important in a small community like mine.

“I check in with the students to see how things are at home and to ask if they’ve eaten and slept. I can see slight changes in a student’s behaviour and see them on their down days as much as celebrate with them on their amazing days.

“I think being a similar age to these kids helps them to open up. Often, it’s the first time that they’re disclosing some of the biggest situations they’re going through. By being there through the highs and lows of everyday life, it allows people to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to look up to see the best in everything to come.”

While Kane’s lived experience both drives and informs his work, Kane is also a firm believer that showing up for young people will make the world better a place.

“Dealing with the struggles in my life has been a really long journey that I continue to this day. Mental health is an ongoing thing and my faith, my support network and being able to speak to professionals to get help when I’ve needed it is key.”

“I encourage every single person to ensure they support the young people around them. One of the biggest things I've learn through volunteering and now working in a high school, is that young people are powerful.

“Young people's power to change the world is amplified in our modern world. They've got the ability to get on their phone to speak to the entire world and use their words to make serious change.”

That’s why Kane’s words of wisdom to young people going through difficult times comes with a call to something bigger.

“My advice to young people is find your tribe. Find the people around you who are going to accept you for who you are. Those are the people that will make you the strongest you can be. And once you find that tribe, speak up for those around you. Start using your voice to impact people’s lives for the better.”

The Australian Government resource Head to Health has digital mental health and wellbeing resources, for yourself or for someone you care about – visit headtohealth.gov.au.

 Anyone who is experiencing a mental health emergency (themselves or others) should call Mental Health Line 1800 011 511, Lifeline 13 11 14 or call 000.