2026 Young Australian of the Year (VIC) | Youth justice researcher, community builder, and grassroots leader
Abraham Kuol is the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for Victoria — recognised for his work in community safety, youth empowerment, and social change. A 2025 Westpac Social Change Fellow, he is completing a PhD in Criminology at Deakin University, where his research is informing real-world policy and practice around youth justice and community-led interventions.
What sets Abraham apart is the credibility that comes from lived experience combined with rigorous academic grounding. He draws on deep knowledge of Victoria's police and justice systems to mentor young people, run sports-based programs, and build community connections. He co-founded the Black Rhinos — a soccer and basketball club offering positive pathways for at-risk youth — and serves as a director at Sandown Lions Football Club, creating sporting and leadership opportunities for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. He has helped secure more than $3.5 million in funding for programs supporting African-Australian families and justice-involved youth.
Abraham is a regular commentator on ABC, SBS, 9News, and 7News, offering evidence-based perspectives on youth justice and belonging. Audiences at leadership, community, and government conferences will find his keynotes — rooted in authenticity and lived experience — particularly valuable for organisations grappling with questions of inclusion, trust, and the practical potential of grassroots innovation.
Abraham Kuol is a keynote speaker based in Victoria who speaks on diversity & inclusion, education and government & policy. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
A deeply personal, inspiring keynote on the importance of identity, belonging, and storytelling in unlocking human potential. Abraham takes audiences on a journey from refugee migration and settlement to community leadership and national recognition as Young Australian of the Year (VIC). He shows how owning your story, and using it boldly, can transform confidence, opportunity, and leadership. Perfect for youth audiences, corporate teams, and community events.
An uplifting leadership keynote centered on courage, authenticity, and purpose. Abraham shares lessons from mentoring young people, running sports-based programs, studying leadership through his Westpac Fellowship, and navigating national recognition. Perfect for leaders seeking to build strong cultures, improve team cohesion, and inspire people through authenticity rather than authority.
Drawing from his research, community work, and national media commentary, Abraham challenges the myths surrounding youth crime and offers a real-world, evidence-based view of what works, and what doesn’t. This keynote highlights the power of prevention, early intervention, and culturally informed support. It equips leaders, educators, and policymakers with new ways of thinking about young people, harm, accountability, and pathways to change.
Sport is more than a game, it is a pathway to belonging, resilience, and transformation. In this keynote, Abraham explores how sport-based programs create protective environments for young people, strengthen communities, and reduce pathways to offending. Drawing on his experience working with migrant and refugee communities, he shows how structured mentoring, teamwork, and positive identity-building through sport can change lives and open new opportunities.
Community-led solutions are often more trusted, more relevant, and more sustainable than traditional top-down approaches. In this keynote, Abraham explores how grassroots initiatives strengthen connection, build belonging, and create real pathways for change. Through stories from his work across youth programs, community organisations, and justice-focused projects, he shows how authentic partnership with communities can reshape systems and improve outcomes.
This keynote is ideal for leaders in government, education, social services, and organisations seeking to build meaningful, culturally-informed collaborations.
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