Lumen Spring Summer 2023 - Flipbook - Page 10
A passion for change
By Sienna Sulicich
Alexandra Bruhn, known to everyone as
Alex, this year won the Commendation
Award for South Australia’s Young Citizen
of the Year.
Presented by the Australia Day Council of
South Australia, the award celebrates and
recognises individuals and organisations
who have made a noteworthy contribution.
In Alex’s case, she was honoured for her
work as a Community Builder at Youth Inc.,
and Curator of Global Shapers Adelaide (an
initiative of the World Economic Forum).
Her award noted: “Alex focuses on ushering
in innovative programs which address some
of our most challenging and prevalent
systemic issues. Alex seeks to represent the
unique voices of the young people she serves
in these discussions.”
This honour followed receiving the City of
Adelaide’s Young Citizen of the Year Award
in 2022, and being named one of The
Advertiser’s “26 most inspiring women”.
As a student at the University of Adelaide –
studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
- her focus and the fire that drove her were
inequity and youth.
“I always found myself angry and frustrated
with the educational injustice of the world,”
she says.
“I never thought I would be capable of
taming that fury into something good, but
now my work is shaped around helping
others, and trying to make change.
“It was truly gratifying to receive Young
Citizen of the Year in 2022 from the City of
Adelaide, followed by the Commendation
for South Australia’s Young Citizen of the
Year in 2023.
Alex speaking at the _SOUTHSTART ODYSSEY event in March
“My passion now, and current research,
focuses on utilising fourth-wave technology
like AI and virtual realities to mitigate
the danger of economic exclusion faced
by young people, especially those who
experience the compounding effects of
educational disengagement and low literacy.
“Such recognition not only affirms the
significance of my endeavours, but also
serves as a powerful affirmation of the
tangible impact they are making.”
“Employed under the right circumstances,
AI has the ability to democratise education,
providing those in remote areas access
to active learning, and engaging students
through the immersive digital world.
Alex, 29, decided to step back from her
studies this year due to her increasing work
pressures but says: “My time engaging with
the University really propelled me forward –
I’m a big believer in lifelong learning.
“Integrating AI and digital realms into
education is vital to ensure the skills young
people are learning are relevant to their
future and mitigate further economic
exclusion.”
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
These efforts are part of the ethos of Youth
Inc. Enterprise Academy where Alex works.
Youth Inc. is described as “Adelaide’s newest
learning alternative” and is designed for
young people who are looking for something
a bit different.
“We describe ourselves as a studio school,
deliberately small and entrepreneurial.
We have a different ethos and approach to
mainstream schools, with a stronger focus
on practical learning, enterprise skills, work,
resilience and wellbeing.
