Can you imagine an Australia where every young person’s voice genuinely counts? Where sharing your ideas isn’t a once‑off token gesture, but something leaders expect, welcome and act on?
This isn’t just a distant hope for the future – it’s a reality we’re already beginning to see. There are more opportunities than ever for young people to speak up, take part, and help shape decisions. But there’s still a long way to go to ensure young people’s ideas and perspectives aren’t just heard, but truly taken seriously.
What is ‘youth engagement'?
Put simply, youth engagement means involving young people in decisions that directly affect their lives. But it’s not just about being invited to the table. It’s about young people feeling empowered, respected, and supported when they share their ideas and perspectives, and building systems and policies in genuine partnership with them.
It means shaping a nation where young Australians have a voice across all areas of their lives, from our federal, state, and local governments to organisations, schools, workplaces, and communities.
"Youth engagement to me means valuing young voices. It means listening to young people, instead of assuming their needs."
What does youth engagement look like?
Across Australia, more young people are stepping into roles where they can make change – whether that’s through politics, advisory groups, mentoring programs, or community projects.
A standout example was in the 2025 federal election, when 21‑year‑old Charlotte Walker became Australia’s youngest‑ever Senator. She is using her platform to give voice to issues affecting her generation, including climate change, the cost–of–living, and education.
No matter the role, good youth involvement usually follows a few key principles:
- Respect - Recognising young people as experts in their own experiences.
- Safe environments – Making sure young people feel supported to speak up.
- Closing the loop – Showing young people how their input is used and what changed because of it.
- Accessibility – Creating opportunities that are open to young people from all walks of life.
"Good youth engagement means giving young people a seat at the table because their voices truly matter, not because it ticks a box. It’s about meeting young people where they are and creating spaces where they can safely share their ideas. When it’s done well, youth feel heard, valued, and confident that their perspectives are shaping the decisions being made."
What can be improved?
Even though more young Australians are getting a chance to have their say, there is a lot of work to do to ensure their voices are valued and taken seriously. To do this, governments, organisations and communities need to consistently prioritise young people's ideas and be ready to reevaluate their current processes to better benefit the young people they are working with. Here’s what young people tell us needs to change:
- Offering compensation – Many youth advisory groups do not compensate participants for their time. While the ability to offer compensation varies across organisations, not all young people can afford to volunteer their time, meaning their contributions are left out.
- Meet young people where they are – Choosing youth‑friendly spaces or offering options like online sessions to make participation easier.
- Expanding outreach – Regional, rural and remote areas often miss out on opportunities to share their views, meaning we don’t have an accurate representation of what young people think and want to see.
- Better education and training – Young people want more support to build the skills they need, from learning how decisions get made, to speaking confidently with leaders and finding opportunities that match their interests.
"Youth engagement could be improved through more opportunities for co-design, rather than just consultation. Youth have so much to give and being brave enough to allow youth to dictate what and how they contribute to their communities holds so much potential for positive impact."
Are decision-makers actually listening to young people?
Even though there are more opportunities out there, many young Australians say their input still isn’t always valued or taken seriously. Just 15 per cent of U-Reporters we consulted think their voices were being genuinely listened to by decision-makers. One U-Reporter wrote, “Simply saying you listen to us isn't enough – show us.”
It’s safe to say that in Australia, there’s a long way to go for young people to feel that our leaders are properly hearing their voices. It’s time to show young people that they’re not just being included to tick a box, but that their voices are being listened to and acted upon.
"Young people know that decision-makers can now hear us, but we can see we still aren’t being genuinely listened to. We want our views to be engaged with and acted upon. We want our experience to be recognised as our expertise, rather than dismissed as naive."
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