The voices of youth

MORE than 3,500 young people from the Geelong region have spoken up in the City of Greater Geelong’s latest Youth Survey.

It’s the largest response we’ve ever received and it tells a story that’s both hopeful and challenging.

The survey was aimed at young people aged 12-25, as well as parents, those working in education and community members.

In total 3,790 submissions were received. Bellarine Secondary College, Belmont High School, Clonard College and North Geelong Secondary College all had more than 200 students complete the survey.

Our Youth Development team is now filtering and analysing the data, with an engagement report to be released in the coming months.

Preliminary analysis suggests that the top three issues of concern that young people reported were school and study pressures, mental health and wellbeing and cost of living or financial stress.

Once the data has been analysed it will help Council better support young community members, informing how we plan programs, services and infrastructure.

One deeply satisfying part of my role as a Councillor is working with the City of Greater Geelong’s Youth Council.

These are students from across the region who step up to learn about local government, get involved in decisions that affect their lives and advocate for their peers.

I’ve had the chance to sit down with them and hear their ideas. I have to say, they’re brave, they’re enthusiastic and they’re prepared to push the envelope for what they believe in.

Youth Councillors are supported through the Councillor Connect Mentoring Program which connects them to experienced Councillors to guide, support and champion their growth as leaders.

This work matters, not just because it gives young people a seat at the table, but because it teaches something deeper: what it means to be informed, active and responsible citizens of Australia.

Re-engaging young people with civics is a challenge our whole nation needs to face.

That’s something the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, spoke about recently when she addressed the Australian Local Government Association General Assembly in Canberra.

She shared a deeply worrying statistic – only 25 per cent of Year 10 students have a working understanding of civics.

That’s not just an education issue. It’s a democracy issue.

Because when people don’t understand how our system works and they’re not actively participating in our democracy, they’re vulnerable to disinformation, division and disengagement.

And as Her Excellency rightly said, the solution starts at the local level.

Councils, like ours, are in a unique position to show young people how democracy really works – up close, in their own backyard.

Through the Youth Council, through surveys, youth spaces, support programs and leadership pathways, we’re doing just that.

I am deeply passionate about how we can better involve young people in politics and hear young voices when planning for the future.

We’ve got brilliant young people in Greater Geelong and I want to thank every single person who took the time to tell us what matters to them in this survey.

Let’s support our young people. Let’s teach them how to lead and most importantly, let’s listen when they speak about their future and ensure we act on what they’re telling us.

Cr Rowan Story
Murradoc Ward, City of Greater Geelong

Cr Rowan Story

Murradoc Ward, City of Greater Geelong