ADJOURNMENT

Ms SITOU (Reid) (19:35): One of the great privileges of representing Reid is hearing directly from the young people who call our community home. Through the Raise Our Voice campaign, young Australians have the opportunity to tell parliament about the issues that matter to them and the future they want to see. This year, I'm proud to share the voices of two young people in Reid, Stephanie and Veronica.

They have chosen different issues, but there is a common thread: young people want the tools and opportunities to shape their own future. Sixteen-year-old student Stephanie is passionate about providing young people with vital opportunities for the future, and this is her speech: Cost of living. 3 words that linger in the minds of young Australians. A world many are afraid to enter.

Why is this especially hard for young people? A lack of career preparation, an extremely competitive job market, and scarce experience opportunities render students—our future leaders—unable to fathom the world they're about to enter. So, what can we do about it?

The government can integrate work education and experience into school curriculums, providing both workplace theory and practical experience. The work experience program can have students spaced across the year, with flexible timings from schools; introducing the program in year 9 to give students the most time to find work experiences early in year 10. Why will this work?

Students are eager to prepare for their futures, with more than half of young people actively applying for work. Careers advisors aren't as overwhelmed by the number of work placements. And employers aren't overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants, giving them the security they need to host students one at a time.

A rapidly increasing cost of living leaves young people more affected than anyone. If not addressed now, when? Stephanie's contribution is a reminder that young people are thinking seriously about the challenges ahead and bringing forward practical ideas about how we can better prepare them.

Veronica takes that same determination and applies it to another question shaping her generation: how we build sustainable and resilient communities. Here is her speech: One of the biggest issues shaping my future is whether we can build communities that are sustainable, resilient, and designed for the generations who will inherit them. As a young person, I have seen how much potential exists when communities are allowed to take action.

Young Australians are not simply concerned about the future; we are actively working to shape it. From creating local environmental initiatives to advocating for more sustainable practices, young people are demonstrating that meaningful change can begin at the community level. However, young people need more than a seat at the table.

We need genuine partnerships with decision-makers. I call on Parliament to strengthen support for youth-led sustainability initiatives and invest in programs that allow young people to contribute to building more connected communities. This includes supporting community projects, increasing opportunities for environmental education, and ensuring that young voices are included in decisions about the future of our neighbourhoods.

The challenges ahead are significant, but so is the opportunity. Decisions made today will define the world my generation grows up in. I hope Parliament chooses to empower young people not just as future leaders, but as leaders today.

I want to thank Stephanie and Veronica for sharing their ideas with us. Too often, we talk about young Australians only in terms of their future, but, as these contributions show, young people already have ideas worth listening to and a real stake in the decisions we make here. Our responsibility is not simply to tell young people that their voices matter; it is to listen when they use them.