Listen Louder: children’s voices take centre stage in Tasmania
Children from the Derwent Valley, Southern Midlands, Brighton and Central Highlands regions of Southern Tasmania have been sharing their stories through art, photography and film as part of The Salvation Army Communities for Children ‘Listen Louder’ project.
Working alongside community artists David Adams and Evi van der Niet, children explored what matters most to them through large-scale portraits, short films and visual storytelling.
The resulting exhibitions provided communities with a unique opportunity to engage with children’s perspectives, experiences and ideas.
Children and artists were supported throughout the project by The Salvation Army Communities for Children South East Tasmania Community Engagement Lead Katrina Higgins, and Community Partner organisations, Kids and Teens in the Valley and Hobart City Mission's Oatlands Hub. Their strong local connections helped create welcoming and inclusive spaces where children felt safe to participate and share their stories.
Grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Listen Louder highlighted children’s rights to express their views (Article 12), seek and share information and ideas (Article 13), and participate freely in cultural and artistic life (Article 31).
Liana Harding, Manager of Communities for Children South East Tasmania, said these rights are central to the initiative and the way Communities for Children works alongside local communities.
“At Communities for Children, listening to children and valuing their perspectives is central to how we work,” she said. “Our place-based approach recognises that children are experts in their own lives and communities. Projects like Listen Louder create meaningful opportunities for children to contribute their ideas, share their experiences and help shape the communities in which they live, learn and grow.”
As participant Ava explained: “Adults should listen to children because they have a lot of important things to say and should be listened to.”
The project served as a powerful reminder that when children are given meaningful opportunities to share their ideas, they offer valuable insights into their communities, relationships and the places where they live, learn and grow.
Listen Louder was supported through Communities for Children South East Tasmania, which is facilitated by The Salvation Army. To learn more and view the children's artwork and films, visit the Communities for Children South East Tasmania website.
