A burst of creativity and colour lit up Shepparton this week as nine local students joined renowned Shepparton artist Tank for a full-day street art workshop, proudly hosted by The Bridge Youth Service as part of Youth Fest 2025.

Eight students from Greater Shepparton Secondary College and one from All Saints created large-scale street-art letters, which came together to form the powerful phrase “Hear Our Voice.”

The artwork reflects the Youth Fest theme Your vibe. Your voice. Your Youth Fest while also echoing The Bridge Youth Service’s vision to ensure young people are resilient, connected and celebrated.

The finished piece will be displayed later this year at the open day for The Bridge Youth Service’s new St Georges Road premises, with each student also receiving a replica of their individual letter.

Tank said it was inspiring to see the students’ creativity and collaboration come to life.

“I had a fantastic time working with the students,” Tank said.

“The energy was incredible, the creativity was flowing, and it was inspiring to see each young person bring their own ideas to life.

“We ended up with some amazing artworks — and had plenty of fun along the way.”

Greater Shepparton Secondary College art teacher, Carly MacDonald, said the workshops were an invaluable experience for her students.

“It was such a rewarding day,” Mrs MacDonald said.

“The students had a wonderful time, learned new skills, and were supported every step of the way by Tank.

“I really hope this experience inspires them to keep exploring their creativity, whether at school or at home.”

The Bridge Youth Service CEO Melinda Lawley said the artwork demonstrated the power of youth voice and creative expression.

“At The Bridge Youth Service we are committed to amplifying young people’s voices, and this project is a perfect example of that,” Ms Lawley said.

“The ‘Hear Our Voice’ artwork is not only a celebration of creativity, but also a reflection of our vision to help young people feel resilient, connected and celebrated.

“We have recently begun exploring art therapy through our Early Intervention Program, and we are excited to expand opportunities for young people to engage in art-based activities as a way to support their wellbeing and self-expression.”

The project was made possible through a Victorian Government Youth Fest grant, which provided funding to deliver the series of workshops. Support from Greater Shepparton Secondary College and local partners also ensured the success of the event.

The Bridge Youth Service thanked all the students, Tank, GSSC staff, and South Shepparton Community Church for hosting the workshop in their hall and facilities.