Youth Voice in Parliament Week
16 - 19 October, 2023
We don’t feel there are enough youth voices represented in Parliament and at the policy-making table. It doesn’t help that a lot of the time, we leave school with absolutely no idea how the whole system works (so how would we know how to effectively use our voice anyway?!).
We’ve asked every Federal politician in Australia if they would listen to young people from their electorate this October.
So, what do you want Australia to look like in 20 years?
We’ve asked politicians to read 90-second speeches written by people under 21 from their electorate. Successful applicants will not only have their speech delivered in Parliament House (and therefore written into the Hansard record forever!), but will be invited to participate in a workshop on the Australian political system, run by Raise Our Voice Australia.
Below, you can find the list of participating politicians. 90 seconds is approximately 200 words, so you don’t have much to work with! Click the submit button below when you’ve drafted one up in Word and are ready to copy and paste.
Once your speech has been submitted, the Raise Our Voice Australia team will the submissions to the MP or Senator’s office. The MP or Senator then selects the speech, with the speeches to be read in the week of 16 October 2021.
Submissions close 21 September!
Participating Parliamentarians
Our campaign partners
Our Partners are united by the belief that the youth voice is powerful and deserves to be heard. As a collective, we believe that we need more young people in Parliament.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my speech isn’t chosen?
Thank you for submitting your speech! There are a number of reasons why your speech may not be chosen. Some Politicians may be overwhelmed by submissions, others may select those which align best to their ideologies. Either way, we will do what we can to stress the importance of every voice.
My MP or Senator isn’t participating, can I still participate?
Unfortunately, the campaign relies on politicians to sign up to read the speeches in Parliament - but please stay in touch. Raise Our Voice Australia will have other opportunities for you to get involved in our programs.
I’m not sure how to write a speech, where can I get help?
Not to worry, Raise Our Voice Australia will run a number of drop-in sessions where you can speak with a volunteer and seek some help for your draft speech. Just be sure to follow us on social media.
I’m worried that my local politician won’t agree with my perspective on an issue, what can I do?
We encourage you to focus on the topic, where you’d like Australia to be in 20 years, and focus on the issue as opposed to the politics behind it.
I’ve submitted my speech, when can I expect to hear back?
We’ll let you know when we’ve sent your speech to the politician. The politician may reach out directly, or we will, to let you know what will happen next.