Are you 16-22 years old? Are you living of working in regional Australia? Do you have a tale to tell? If you do then ABC Radio’s Heywire initiative, now in its 5th year, will be of interest to you.

Heywire 2002 will be launched next week. Throughout the week, ABC Local Radio in each state will broadcast programs focusing on youth issues to officially open Heywire 2002.

The Local Radio broadcasts will take place from a variety of regional locations across Australia. In New South Wales, Heywire will be launched statewide from Canoblas Rural Technical High School, Orange on Tuesday 30 July. ABC Local Radio’s Georgia Bateman will broadcast live across New South Wales during the Breakfast program and later in the Country Hour. Both broadcasts will go out live from the high school in front of an audience of students and teachers.

The programs will feature Heywire winners from the past years, a selection of winning stories and interviews about the issues facing local communities in promoting a positive future for young people.

ABC National Rural Editor, Shane Mahony told AMT: “Heywire has given regional youth a unique opportunity to have their stories heard beyond their communities through national radio exposure. I encourage everyone who is eligible to take part in this exciting program.”

Heywire is an award scheme for regional and rural youth who are invited to submit an engaging story for radio about the things that matter to them. One winner is chosen from each of 40 ABC regional radio locations around Australia.

The winning stories are produced by the ABC and broadcast on ABC Local Radio, Triple J, Radio National, Radio Australia and published on the Heywire website. Each winner is then invited to take part in the Heywire Youth Issues Forum in Canberra with all expenses paid.

Entries close at the end of August. For details call the Heywire hotline – 1800 262 646 – or hit the website.