Young people encouraged to have their voices heard in Parliament

Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain has committed to reading a speech written by a young local on the floor of Parliament and is encouraging people aged under 21 to get involved.

The campaign is an initiative of Raise Our Voice Australia, a social enterprise providing training, mentoring and opportunities in politics and policy for young, diverse female and non-binary Australians.

"When I was 18, I was passionate about educational and career opportunities for regional people, what our country's future looked like and social issues to provide a level playing field, but to be honest I didn't see people I identified with in politics and I definitely didn't feel heard by our policy makers," Ms McBain said.

"This is why I eagerly joined this campaign. I know Eden-Monaro's young people are already leaders, they're passionate and they are full of ideas.

"I want to let young people know that their voice is important, and it is being heard."

Young people have until September 21 to submit a short 90 second speech on the topic: What is your vision for Australia in 20 years?

"Raising their voice is about the issues that are important to our young people, especially those in regional areas who often have less opportunities to be heard than their city counterparts," Ms McBain said.

"I'm really looking forward to reading the submitted speeches and getting more of an understanding of what our young people care about, whether it be education, employment, mental health support, climate change or access to opportunities. Everything is on the table.

"More than anything, I hope this campaign encourages young people to learn about and get involved in politics and shaping our future."

Successful speeches will be presented to the Australian Parliament and public during the Youth Voice in Parliament week, which runs from October 18 to 21.

For further information, or to submit a speech, visit www.raiseourvoiceaustralia.com/youthvoice