- Flourishing students
- Beyond the classroom
- Secondary school
29 Sep 2026
Hidden assumptions, overlooked perspectives, and ideas with the power to inspire change took centre stage at the fifth annual TEDx St Mary’s College Youth event on 25 August.
Bringing together more than 100 students from St Mary’s Primary School and St Mary’s College, Maryborough the event explored the theme Unseen Truths, encouraging young people to examine the hidden beliefs, biases, and perspectives that shape how we see ourselves and others.
Through a series of collaborative workshops, primary and secondary students worked side by side to challenge assumptions, share ideas, and develop creative solutions to real-world issues, before nine St Mary’s College students took to the TEDx stage to deliver thought provoking talks.
The event also featured guest speaker Dr Leon Stensholm, whose presentation explored the importance of human connection in an increasingly connected world. Learn more about Dr Leon Stensholm here.
Student voices
St Mary’s College Year 8 student Laura said, “I wanted to challenge people's assumptions that niceness is enough and that we don't need to make an effort to be kind.”
St Mary’s College Year 12 student Maya said, "I wanted to challenge the gender stereotypes that shape career choices and encourage people to broaden the opportunities they present to young people."
St Mary’s College Year 12 student Eshanika said, “one thing I hope people take away from my talk is to not wait for life to begin, take advantage of every opportunity while you can.”
St Mary’s College Year 10 student Hamish said, “one thing I hope people take away from my talk is to not take art for granted.”
The nine student talks will be published on the official TEDx Talks YouTube channel in the coming weeks, with Year 12 St Mary’s College student Maya’s presentation already available for viewing. See below:
Ideas with impact
St Mary’s College Technology Lead and TEDx organiser Kirsty Patterson said students demonstrated the power to shape conversations, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.
“The ideas they presented demonstrated remarkable creativity and encouraged audiences to think differently about the world around them,” she said.
"The event gives students a genuine platform to explore important issues, think critically about the world around them, and communicate their ideas with confidence.
"The growth we see in students throughout the TEDx journey is remarkable. They leave with greater confidence, stronger communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them."
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More about TEDx St Mary's College Youth 2026
Each year, TEDx St Mary's College Youth challenges students to explore an idea that matters to them and share it with an audience. In 2026, students examined the theme Unseen Truths, encouraging audiences to look beyond what is immediately visible and consider deeper alternatives.
Image caption: The 2026 TEDx student speakers celebrate after challenging audiences to look beyond assumptions and discover the unseen truths that shape our world. ©Brisbane Catholic Education, St Mary's College, Maryborough (2026).
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