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The Active Citizenship Convention is an annual event that brings students and educators across all schooling sectors together with experts, government officials and community stakeholders in the interests of democracy.
Register for the 2026 Active Citizenship Convention
Give your year 10 students the opportunity to connect with inspiring leaders, explore real-world issues and discover how their voice can make a difference.
Places are limited and registrations are closing soon.
About the convention
The 2026 Active Citizenship Convention is a one-day learning opportunity for year 10 students from across South Australia, held at Adelaide Oval across 3 days.
Choose one of the following event dates:
- Tuesday 25 August
- Wednesday 26 August
- Thursday 27 August
The Convention provides students with the opportunity to
- explore democracy and active citizenship
- consider different perspectives
- engage with community and youth leaders through a range of interactive learning experiences.
Who can attend
Schools can register for one or more tables for their year 10 students to attend.
Student names are not required at the time of registration and will be collected at a later stage.
Schools are encouraged to prioritise students who have had fewer opportunities to participate in leadership experiences or who would benefit from building confidence, connections and new perspectives.
Why attend
The Convention helps students develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to become informed, respectful and engaged members of their communities.
Following the 2025 Convention, teachers reported students returning to school with:
- greater confidence
- stronger participation in class discussions
- a renewed interest in civic engagement.
In 2026 we are building on that momentum with an expanded program.
Program highlights
Hosted by Tony Armstrong, students will experience a dynamic and interactive program featuring:
- presentations on democracy, youth voice and civic participation
- interactive sessions exploring AI, misinformation and disinformation, and how to navigate today's information landscape
- youth-led workshops focused on respectful dialogue, collaboration and deliberative decision-making through scenario-based activities
- the opportunity to vote in an election experience supported by the Electoral Commission of South Australian, using a formal preferential ballot
- Lunch with Legends and Leaders, where students connect with inspiring Australians from politics, media, the arts, sport and community life
- a live music performance by DEM MOB co-design with students from the day, celebrating youth voice and active participation.
The convention was first announced by the Premier, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, in August 2024 and is part of the government's nation-leading Safeguarding Democracy reforms in civics and citizenship education aimed at strengthening students’ understanding, hope and trust in our democratic system.
Registering to attend
Invitations to register for this year's convention were emailed to school leaders in term 2. If your school has not received an invitation, contact Safeguarding Democracy team.
Places are limited and registrations are closing soon. Register now to secure your preferred date and ensure your students don’t miss this opportunity.
2025 Active Citizenship Convention
The Active Citizenship Convention was announced by the Premier, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, in August 2024 as part of the government's Safeguarding Democracy reforms. The initiative aims to strengthen students’ understanding of civics and citizenship, while building trust, hope and confidence in our democratic system.
The first Active Citizenship Convention 'Our voice. Our impact.' was held from 18 to 20 August 2025 at Adelaide Oval.
Almost 1,000 year 10 students from across South Australia attended the event over 3 days. Students heard from the Governor, Premier and Opposition Leader, participated in a mock ballot supported by the Electoral Commission of South Australia, and were guided by youth facilitators.
Through workshops, discussions and media panels, students explored the importance of civics and democracy and shared their perspectives on issues that matter to them.
Past event insights
The Active Citizenship Convention Front of Mind 2025 report captures the key themes, priorities, and recommendations shared by students participating who participated in the 2025 Convention.
Reflecting the collective voice of young people from across the South Australia highlights the issues they care about most and their perspectives on active citizenship.
Read the Active Citizenship Convention 2025 report (PDF 25 MB)
Our voice. Our impact.
Hear what students had to say about their experience at the Active Citizenship Convention:
