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Participate

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Duration 00:02:35 |

[Music]

[Speaker 1] What does it mean to participate?

[Speaker 2] To me, to participate means that we're ensuring that young Queenslanders have the right and the ability to feel welcomed and included in all aspects of government and community life. And I think that starts from having it set up that young people feel welcomed and invited into a space. Yeah exactly, I mean for a very long time young people have been felt shunned from these systems that play but I think that's all taking a turn now with this new youth strategy.

[Speaker 1] Yeah, and when we're participating what are those things that we need to see that keeps us coming back and using those opportunities to be involved in our communities?

[Speaker 2] I think that support, that genuine participation and that genuine inclusion not just that sort of tokenistic representation that we sometimes see ... um ... powers at play do. But it's more about genuinely involving people people into, into all aspects of the design for whatever ... um ... project or or plan that we're running.

[Speaker 1] Specifically, as a young person developing and becoming a leader in the community or even just an active participant in the community, what do you think the benefit of having those opportunities to be involved and treated like a leader and respected can do for a young person?

[Speaker 2] Yeah, I think it all comes back down to what I what I mentioned at the start, you know, how young people, we've been shunned away from these sort of opportunities and these um ... choices and, and, and plans for our own lives. I think now that that's sort of becoming a norm of the past. We're seeing a lot more inclusion we're seeing a lot more activity and interest with our young people and that's something I can really get behind.

[Speaker 1] And I guess, for me as well, I find it very empowering when I have the opportunity to have my voice heard or to speak to someone in power and show them that I am intelligent, I'm passionate, I'm capable about contributing to the place that I live in. To making sure that the people who come after me get even more ... that they get better than I do so, if we can continue to empower young people into the future, we can set them up to be leaders at an even younger age and to be genuinely deserving of taking control of this place that we call home.

[Speaker 2] That's it and that's why we want every young person out there to really push themselves to really be involved with this sort of initiative because, like you mentioned, you are a future.

[Speaker 1] Yeah.

[Speaker 2] Amazing.

[Music]

Taking part in the decisions that influence the world around us helps us feel included, heard, and respected by our community and peers, giving us a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives.

Inviting young people to explore and genuinely participate in the various systems around them makes them feel valued and opens pathways for them, enabling them to drive enduring impacts on our communities and engage in shaping the future of our state for generations to come.

Beyond this, when young people are meaningfully engaged throughout the design and implementation of policy and programs, they provide crucial, creative, and innovative insights back to us that can address the intricate needs of their cohort.

The Young Queenslanders Strategy provides increased opportunities for young people to collaborate with us in the ways that work for them, ensuring every young Queenslander continues to be afforded the fundamental right to take part in public life and our communities. Our model is built on the mutual exchange of value, connecting with young people from all walks of life, storytelling, and curiosity for the collaborative ‘next’.

We will strengthen our commitment to the Truth and Treaty process by providing young people with the knowledge they need to actively participate in truth telling. Their voices will be respected, valued, and meaningfully actioned, allowing them to play a significant role in the collective journey toward healing and reconciliation.

We recognise the diverse perspectives of young people and invite them to join us to create dynamic and collaborative solutions to the issues that impact them now and into the future.

Young people have identified key themes that will guide our actions under this pathway:

Responsive government
Educational programs
Genuine participation, co-design and influence

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Official portrait of Amelia Shaw
Portrait of Amelia Shaw

Amelia Shaw exemplifies the transformative power of engaging young people in government processes and educational programs. The Queensland Government supports YMCA’s Queensland Youth Parliament, which provides a mock parliamentary process to develop leadership and communications skills in young people representing all constituencies across Queensland.

Amelia’s journey began in 2008 when she participated in Queensland Youth Parliament, becoming a Youth Member for Townsville. Over the years, her involvement has grown, culminating in her appointment as a director of the National Board in 2020 and is currently serving as the Vice President of Y Queensland. In 2023, Amelia took her passion for youth engagement global with appointment to YMCA of Asia Pacific Board as Vice President.

Taking part in this program scaffolded Amelia to create enduring impacts on her community and ignited Amelia’s passion for promoting young voices and ensuring their representation in conversations about Queensland’s future. In 2012, Amelia helped found the National Indigenous Youth Parliament which saw 50 young Indigenous Australians from across the country come together to write and present pieces of legislation to Federal Parliament.

Embodying the belief that “leadership isn’t about being somebody, it’s about doing something”, Amelia’s journey underscores the critical importance of young people participating in government processes and educational programs. Through her involvement in Youth Parliament, she has demonstrated that empowering young voices leads to informed and inclusive decision-making.

Amelia’s commitment to supporting new young voices, advocating for inclusivity, and collaborating with government and communities underscores the importance of empowering the next generation of leaders. This, in turn, contributes to fostering an ongoing cycle of empowerment.

As we celebrate Amelia’s achievements, we recognise the capability of every young person to drive meaningful change when our communities provide them with the opportunities and the support they need.

Cody is a writer studying marketing and writing at UQ. He enjoys writing Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy, with a creative mission to create more fiction for young people by young people. He works as Queensland Writers Centre's Community Officer, where he looks after membership, the Writing Friday program, and other community-focused programs and events.

“For my piece, I considered participation in both public life and personal life. I feel that having a say is just as much about taking control of your personal life as putting your voice out there. That's why I wanted to write about the person who, to me, has always represented both sides of that.”

Every day

I used to think life was something that happened to you.

It was a lot easier that way. Go to school five days a week, watch YouTube seven nights, and let the bigger picture sort itself out. When you’re young, it usually does. Then one day you find yourself in a McDonald’s drive-thru on the worst day of your life asking mum to order a cheeseburger.

My nana Claudia Hargreaves was an anomaly of a woman. Never before has there been someone with such a drive for kindness, but such rigidity as a piano teacher. I was her last student, when she was 86 years old. And while she had a heart that rivalled the power supplied by splitting the atom, she left no wriggle room for missing practice. When I was her student, I had to practise every day. Just like she used to play the piano every day.

We saw her death coming from long away. First her memories started slipping. Then any kind of conversation became impossible. There was the day she was moved into hospital. But it was the day I came to visit her and saw what she’d become – saw how delicate she was now – that it sunk in. It was only once I was sitting in the McDonald’s drive-thru that night, waiting for a cheeseburger, that I realised who she really was.

She was the woman who danced in the street at the end of the Second World War. She was the woman who became a piano teacher when women weren’t supposed to be working. Who kept teaching music till she was 86 years old. She raised three kids, and lost her husband three decades too soon. And every day, she played the piano.

Life didn’t happen to Claudia Hargreaves. She made it happen. She made her future. And everything she touched, she made good. Just good.

That night in the McDonald’s drive-thru, I decided that a life where I was even half as good as her was the only life worth living. I decided that if I want to be a writer, I can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen. I have to make it happen.

I still play the piano every day I can. But it isn’t something that just happens to me anymore. It’s the best choice I make every day.

Young people participate in the world around them through exploration and positive influence.

Regardless of where they have come from or where they are going, young people should be provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in government decision making and to contribute to the development of their future through civic engagement.

This action plan seeks to provide multiple opportunities and mechanisms for young people to connect with government, contribute to civic life and learn about the formal systems which support them. These opportunities will be supported by building on the 2019 Youth Engagement Charter to co-design a best practice participation framework to ensure a consistent and responsive government approach.

Responsive government
Young people are meaningfully consulted – and their voices are heard, valued, and reflected in the design and implementation of our programs, policies and services

Action Responsible agency
Undertake targeted research on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young males’ engagement with online gambling to better inform the design and delivery of effective gambling harm minimisation interventions. DJAG
Engage young people through the LGBTQIA+ Alliance and the Pride in Our Communities LGBTQIA+ Strategy and Action Plan to lead and contribute to activities that promote and raise awareness of critical current and emerging issues for their communities. DTATSIPCA
Co-design a whole-of-government Youth Participation Framework and Code of Practice to ensure that young people's views are heard, influence government policies and programs, and support their meaningful participation in decision-making across Queensland. OfY
Enhance engagement with young people and align data collected through Speak OUT events with the strategic objectives of the Young Queenslanders Strategy, to facilitate more comprehensive and targeted information sharing across government to inform the development of youth policies, programs, and services. OfY
Engage with young people to explore food system solutions for improved food security in remote Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. HWQld (lead agency)
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OfY
Support cross-government engagement to amplify the voices of young Queenslanders in key regional, rural, and remote areas, promote youth participation in government processes and decision-making, and support leadership development. ORRQ (lead agency)
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OfY
Collect insights from young Queenslanders on their unique experiences with mental health to inform the development and implementation of Queensland’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and contribute to building a Queensland where everyone’s wellbeing is valued. HWQld (lead agency)
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OfY
Involve young people in testing risk assessment tools and approaches for young people impacted by or using violence. The tools will support practitioners who work with young people and complement the existing victim-survivor focused Domestic and Family Violence Common Risk and Safety Framework. DJAG (lead agency)
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OfY

Educational programs
Young people have opportunities to learn how the systems around them work in ways adaptive to their unique journey and lived experience

Action Responsible agency
Promote regional community engagements, programs, think-tanks, workshops, and forums, to young people to increase participation. DRDMW

Genuine participation, co-design and influence
Young people are provided opportunities to participate in the design and implementation of government processes and are supported to effect meaningful change on their terms

Action Responsible agency
Explore the development of a Young Archivist Program. QSA (lead agency)
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OfY
Establish a Students Advisory Group to provide advice on the design of services and programs. SLQ
Support and encourage the participation of young people in place-based change including through positions on Local Leadership Groups, which are locally defined groups carrying cultural and community authority, trust, and credibility, representing people who live and work in and for the community. DTATSIPCA

Young people participate in the world around them through exploration and influence.

Regardless of where they have come from or where they are going, young people should be provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in government decision making and to contribute to the development of their future through civic engagement.

The below existing government programs and activities as well as those committed in the Action Plan 2024-2026 seek to provide multiple opportunities and mechanisms for young people to connect with government, contribute to civic life and learn about the formal systems which support them. These opportunities will be supported by building on the 2019 Youth Engagement Charter to co-design a best practice participation framework to ensure a consistent and responsive government approach.

Responsive government
Young people are meaningfully consulted – and their voices are heard, valued, and reflected in the design and implementation of our programs, policies and services

Action Responsible agency
OfY supports the continued engagement of young Queenslanders to inform government policies, programs, and services that impact them. Working collaboratively across government, OfY creates and facilitates opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, their experiences acknowledged, and their ideas implemented. One engagement mechanism is Speak OUTs.

Speak OUTs are held across the state through a range of mediums, including activations at youth events such as Schoolies or University O-Weeks to gauge top issues generally, or can be more targeted in person or online discussions with involvement from other Queensland Government agencies, to inform the development of specific pieces of work.

Since their inception, 49 Speak OUT events have occurred, engaging over 3,200 young people. The feedback received is analysed and shared with government agencies to inform government policies, programs, and services. 		OfY
OfY has facilitated a range of opportunities for young people to be involved in the design and implementation of Queensland Government policies such as the Queensland Women and Girls Health Strategy 2032, the forthcoming First Nations Economic Strategy, the Australian Government’s youth engagement strategy Engage! and the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029. OfY
In October 2022, Towards ending homelessness for young Queenslanders 2022-2027 was released. The policy and framework were informed through engagement with young people with lived experience and the housing and homelessness sector including with over 80 young Queenslanders from across the state – a diverse group including young people with a lived experience of homelessness, experience with the youth justice and child protection systems, First Nations young peoples and LGBTIQA+ young people. DHLGPPW
The QFCC has undertaken engagements with First Nations children, young people, and families to inform the establishment of an independent community-led and managed consultative body (Queensland First Nations Early Childhood Education, Education and Training Consultative Body). The QFCC has captured the voices, perspectives and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and their families through culturally appropriate and authentic conversations. This project has been a positive and empowering experience that has provided the opportunity to shape the scope, functions and potentially the forward agenda of the consultative body. QFCC
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DoE

Educational programs
Young people have opportunities to learn how the systems around them work in ways adaptive to their unique journey and lived experience

Action Responsible agency
Support delivery of YMCA’s annual Queensland Youth Parliament, designed to give young people between the ages of 16-25 a chance to be heard at the highest levels of State Government on a wide range of issues relevant to young people’s lives through the opportunity to formulate, debate, and vote on bills which are then handed to relevant ministers. OfY
Deliver the Fight Fire Fascination program to support parents and guardians with their efforts to educate children and young people (3 to 17 years) about fire safety. QFD

Genuine participation, co-design and influence
Young people are provided opportunities to participate in the design and implementation of government processes and are supported to effect meaningful change on their terms

Action Responsible agency
The QFCC Child and Youth Participation Framework outlines how QFCC gives children and young people genuine opportunities to participate in decision making, to give full effect to the realisation of their rights. It demonstrates the QFCC's commitment to connecting with them, supporting them in sharing their views, amplifying what they tell us, and influencing decision makers with their ideas. It was co-designed with QFCC Youth Advocates who were instrumental in the establishment of the new child and youth participation approach, model, and elements.

QFCC continues to work with Youth Advocates and young staff members to create additional resources to support QFCC and other organisations with their approach to youth participation. 		QFCC
Through the Youth Advocate Program, QFCC employs Youth Advocates, aged 14 to 25, on a casual basis to support and inform QFCC projects, policies, and outcomes. QFCC also facilitates opportunities for

In 2023, the QFCC actively recruited to expand its Youth Advocate pool to 50 young people, with a focus on increasing membership and participation with specific cohorts of young people - First Nations, regional and remote, and young people with lived experiences of the child protection and youth justice systems.

Examples of government and non-government policy and initiatives that Youth Advocates contributed to in 2023 include the Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Strategy 2032; National Framework for Respectful Relationships Education; Education (General Provisions) Act 2006; and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill. 		QFCC
Last updated:
25 September 2024
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