Raise Our Voice in Parliament is back for 2026
Politicians speak on the behalf of us. Now, they’re speaking our words.
We asked federal politicians if they would amplify the voices of young people from their electorates by reading their vision for the future in our Federal Parliament.
Your representatives want to hear from you in 2026 - what do you want them to know?
Submit your speech below answering the question “What is one big issue shaping your future, and what is a meaningful action you want Parliament to take on it?”
“What is one big issue shaping your future, and what is a meaningful action you want Parliament to take on it?”
From 12-15 October, your representatives have signed up to amplify your voice and your ideas in Parliament and online during Youth Voice in Parliament week. That’s right - politicians across the country have committed to read a speech written by a young person aged 25 or under in their state, territory or electorate.
This is your opportunity to raise the issues that matter most to you, in your words. So, we want to hear from you…
“What is one big issue shaping your future, and what is a meaningful action you want Parliament to take on it?”
Where do I start?
We know writing a speech can feel daunting - let alone trying to capture what is important to you, while keeping it to 90 seconds! Here are our top tips from the hundreds of speeches we’ve received through previous campaign:
Aim for 200 words. This will translate to about 90 seconds, which is allocated time.
Highlight one issue, talk about why it’s important and what you want the future to be.
Don’t focus on the politics of the issue, focus on the end goal of what you’d like to see.
Explain why the issue is important and why people should care.
Use simple language which most people would be able to understand.
Shorter sentences are best, and sound more impactful when read out loud. If you can break a sentence into two, go for it.
Which politicians will amplify your voice?
Australian Capital Territory
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Members of the Legislative Assembly
COMING SOON
New South Wales
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Northern Territory
COMING SOON
Queensland
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
South Australia
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Tasmania
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Victoria
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Western Australia
Senators
COMING SOON
Federal MPs
COMING SOON
Where our politicians are located
Our impact
To date, the campaign has received over 2 200 speeches and has amplified 506 voices through 453 speeches. WOW!
We are so proud of all our young speech writers - check out their speeches on our YouTube channel below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
The campaign is open to all young people in Australia aged 25 or under - you do not need to be an Australian citizen to submit a speech.
What are the campaign dates?
Speech submissions are open until 7 August.
How will I know if my speech is chosen?
If your speech is selected by your MP, you’ll receive an email in early September. If your speech is not selected, your speech will be passed to the participating Senators. If your speech is selected by a Senator, you’ll hear from us around mid September. Youth Voice in Parliament week is 12-15 October.
How do I know which electorate I’m in?
To participate in the campaign, it’s important that you select your federal electorate. If you’re unsure of your federal electorate, you can head to the Australian Electoral Commission website here and look it up using your suburb or postcode.
Why do I need to provide my mobile number?
We understand that email isn’t for everyone. If your speech is selected and we can’t contact you via email, we still need to tell you the good news! We might also get in touch to discuss media opportunities, if you’ve given consent for us to do so.
Why are some participating politicians reading speeches on their social media?
Participating Ministers and Assistant Ministers don’t get 90 second speaking slots in Parliament. If your local MP or Senator is a Minister, they will read your speech on social media instead.
How do I write a speech?
Great question! There are lots of ways to write a speech, and there’s no wrong way. But, we know this is tricky and we’re happy to help! You can access a speech template here.
What data is shared?
Your name, age and speech will be provided to your local MP and Senator. Your data may to universities or other research bodies for research purposes but only in a de-identified format.
Where can I find the campaign participation statement?
You can find the participation statement here.
Where can I find the Privacy Policy?
You can find the Privacy Policy here.
Where can I find the speeches from last year?
All of the speeches that were delivered have been uploaded to our YouTube channel, and can be viewed here.