Raise Our Voice in Parliament
I'm happy to once again participate in the Raise Our Voice campaign. Young people's voices on the record in Parliament, helping shape Australia's future. And today I have the speech of a 16-year-old from the Perth electorate. It goes as such:
“My name is Alexandra. Last year I spoke in my state's Legislative Assembly about the mental health crisis affecting young people.
This year, I stood in that same room and gave voice to this issue again.
Right before our eyes a national emergency is unfolding, and it's shaping the future of my generation.
39 per cent of young Australians, aged 16 to 24, are experiencing a mental health condition.
That is nearly two out of every five young Australians.
It is time to realise the traditional system is not just failing to cure the problem, it is incapable of understanding it.
Meaningful solutions start with a fundamental shift in power.
Solutions made by youth—'”
A division called in the House of Representatives – Federation Chamber suspended.
Thank you, Deputy Speaker.
Before I was democratically interrupted, I was saying:
“Meaningful solutions start with a fundamental shift in power.
Solutions made by youth for the issues they face.
We don't just need more institutions; we need programs designed and driven by the very students who live with the daily pressure of life in our modern age.
Youth advocacy is vital and the missing link, but simply listening to us inside this room is no longer enough.
I call on this Parliament to mandate that all future youth mental health legislation and funding require a co-design strategy, directly led by young people.
Let us turn our struggles into solutions and finally heal the heartbeat of this nation.”
They were the words of Alexandra. Thank you very much to Alexandra, who I recently met at a Fogarty Futures leadership forum. And what struck me was her determination to stand up for young people and give them a seat at the table.
It's a message we hear again and again. I heard it at my Youth Leaders Policy Dialogue that I hosted alongside the Social Services Minister, the Minister for Youth, and Senator Whiteaker. We heard directly from young people about everything from mental health, housing, artificial intelligence, education, gender equality and the environment. And those students didn't just bring concerns; they brought forward practical ideas. They challenged assumptions about the way the world is and the way the world could be, and have a high expectation of turning their input into action.
And finally, as I'm doing Raise our Voice Australia’s speech for 2026, I want to say a big thank you to the team who make all of this happen. An incredible bunch of volunteers, led by CEO and founder Ashleigh Streeter-Jones and a bunch of her team, including Nuria Olive, Declan Davidson. And school teachers across this country, who are embracing this program as a practical way to teach the next generation about how to engage in our civic institutions and make sure that we do indeed listen to the voice of young Australians. Thank you very much.