Central Coast Grammar School student Janine Southwell is all about young people having a say in government policy decisions.
Janine, 15, was one of more than 90 young people who took a seat recently in the Legislative Assembly for a four-day sitting in State Parliament as part of the Y NSW Youth Parliament program.
The youngsters raised and debated important issues, preparing Youth Bills across a range of portfolios including Environment and Climate Change, Mental Health, Justice, Aboriginal Affairs, Education, Women’s Affairs, and Inclusion and Diversity.
As part of the Inclusion and Diversity committee, Janine worked with her colleagues on a bill to support immigrant and migrant support resources.
“It was an absolutely amazing experience,” she said.
“I met a bunch of new people while exploring my passions and finding my own voice in parliament.
“I am really passionate about making sure everyone feels included, specifically in terms of cultural diversity.
“I believe in advocating for different groups to make sure they feel seen and heard and want to make sure that people with invisible disabilities are getting support.
“Mental health is one of the main ones, but there are many other ‘invisible’ conditions.
“I believe in speaking for the people who don’t have a voice.”
Janine said the process began in April with a training camp, where participants met with their committees, talked about what form their bills would take and became familiar with the workings of parliament.
Then followed the preparation and amendment of the bills, which will be officially handed over in parliament in September.
“Our bill on immigrant and migrant support resources embraces such areas as education, housing, healthcare and cultural services,” Janine said.
“It aims to make sure these people are well supported at state level and can access translation, support services and education.
“I have been working specifically on education, also incorporating housing and healthcare.”
Janine said the Y NSW Youth Parliament program could really make a difference.
“Our debates were chaired by sitting MPs and when we hand over our bills they will be read,” she said.
“Politicians are starting to really understand that youth do have things to say – and I think they listen.”
As NSW’s premier youth empowerment program operating for more than 20 years, Youth Parliament offers young people the opportunity to debate in NSW Parliament, create Youth Bills on issues for change, and have their voices and recommendations heard by Members of Parliament.
It highlights the power of young people speaking on issues that are important to them and their local communities.
“Led by young people for young people, each year’s Youth Parliament cohort receives training from the Y NSW, youth volunteers, participants and external professional bodies,” Y NSW CEO Susannah Le Bron said.
“In the past ten years, approximately 1,000 young people have participated in the program and this year we have 93 participants from a diverse range of backgrounds including those from rural areas as well as First Nations young people, refugees and people living with a disability.”
As for Janine, she will continue to use the skills she has developed through the program and plans to develop them.
“I want to be a camp leader so these will be useful,” she said.
“I don’t think politics as a career is for me, but advocacy will always be in my future – I will continue speaking for youth who don’t get a voice.”
Terry Collins