Have Your Say Day 2026: Next Gen Speaks Up About What's Important to them
Now in its fifth year, the free, youth-led event initiated by the council’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG) and developed with a network of local school leaders known as the Beaches Leadership Team (BLT), allows young people to present their views on crucial issues affecting their peers.
Mayor Sue Heins said this gives local students a direct line to decision-makers on the issues affecting their lives.
“Have Your Say Day is a powerful reminder that our young people are leaders in our community, and they have clear ideas and real solutions right now, and Council is committed to listening.” Mayor Heins said
“With students from 9 schools presenting on 8 key topics shaped by survey results from more than 2300 young people, Have Your Say Day brings the voices of young people into the conversations that shape the northern beaches.” Mayor Heins said.
Covering everything from transport concerns and education to environmental sustainability and community connection, Have Your Say Day puts youth wellbeing and the future of our community front and centre.
To help build advocacy skills and empower and prepare presenters ahead of the event, the Office for Youth NSW, a key partner in the event, facilitate an advocacy workshop for the young leaders.
Community leaders and decision-makers including local Councillors, State and Federal MPs, teachers, parents, student support officers, youth services and local young people are all invited to the event to join the discussion and help turn young people’s ideas into positive local change.
All of them take up that invitation, and did so again this year.
Young people lead the event from start to finish as they research, write and deliver their presentations on the night informed by the youth survey and distribute the Have Your Say Day Youth Survey report following the event. They’ve also been meeting regularly with Northern Beaches Council staff providing support and resources throughout the process.
This year students from 9 schools present on 8 topics of importance raised in the survey.
Wakehurst MP Michael Regan praised the presenters in the NSW Parliament this past week, stating on Thursday May 28:
'Too often we hear that young people are disengaged, but after attending that event, one would have to say the exact opposite. We saw thoughtful, articulate, solutions‑focused leadership from young people who care deeply about their communities and want to help shape a better future.
This year the event reached more young people than ever before. Some 2,368 surveys were completed in 2026, which is up from 2,120 in 2025 and just 308 in the program's first year in 2023. That is huge. Some 57 per cent of participants were aged between 12 and 14, while 40 per cent were aged between 15 and 17. The event covered a broad range of issues affecting young people, including transport, addiction, mental health, cost‑of‑living pressures, education, the environment, third spaces and governance. Survey results showed that transport was the number one issue impacting young people in 2026, followed by mental health and the environment. That represents a significant shift from 2024, when mental health and cost of living dominated concerns, and from 2025, when social media emerged as the top issue.
On transport, students Ava, Georgia, Lily and Maya from Stella Maris spoke powerfully about unreliable bus services across the northern beaches. That is a passion we have in common. They highlighted overcrowding, cancellations, limited late‑night services and the impacts those issues have on safety, study, work and everyday life for young people. They also raised practical ideas around improving Opal engagement, expanding routes and addressing the shortage of bus drivers.
On addiction, Cooper and Grace from Davidson High School addressed the growing issue of youth addiction to vaping, drugs and alcohol. They spoke about the need for greater awareness of existing support services, stronger education in schools and more open conversations around addiction and mental health to reduce stigma and encourage early intervention.
On mental health, Akshita and Harrison from Manly Selective Campus gave a deeply thoughtful presentation on the anxiety faced by young people during senior school and the transition into adulthood. They discussed burnout, the pressure associated with the HSC and the lack of practical life skills education available to young people. They proposed wellbeing days for senior students, student‑run wellbeing teams and expanded life skills programs for young adults.
On the economy and cost of living, Cubby, Tyga, Kate and Mischa from the Balgowlah Boys and Mackellar Girls campuses spoke about the growing fear among young people that they will never be able to afford to remain on the northern beaches. They highlighted the impact that rising housing costs and living expenses are having on young people's wellbeing and proposed greater financial literacy education in schools and more affordable housing options for young adults.
On education, Callum, Haeum and Steffan from Killarney Heights High School raised concerns about worsening teacher shortages and the increasing reliance on substitute teachers. They spoke about the stress that places on students, particularly senior students preparing for the HSC, and proposed needs‑based staffing guarantees and stronger support programs for early career teachers.
On the environment, Flynn and Mira from Narrabeen Sports High School focused on microplastic pollution in local waterways and the growing sense of environmental anxiety among young people. They spoke about the importance of moving beyond awareness into action by creating stronger opportunities for youth participation in environmental initiatives through schools, councils and community groups.
Charlie from St Augustine's College delivered an incredibly moving contribution on the importance of third spaces—places outside of home, school and work where young people can connect, socialise and support one another. He reflected on the role sporting fields, skate parks, theatre productions and community spaces play in supporting mental health, particularly for young men, and called for greater investment in protecting and expanding those spaces.
Finally, Isaac from Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus spoke about youth engagement in governance and decision‑making. He challenged the idea that young people are disengaged from politics and instead argued that politics has become disengaged from young people. He spoke about the importance of civics education, genuine consultation and the creation of accessible pathways for young people to engage in democracy and public life.
What stood out most throughout the evening was not only the depth of understanding these young people have about the challenges facing their generation but also the quality of the solutions they propose. These students did not simply identify problems; they brought forward practical, constructive and community-minded ideas. They demonstrated empathy, leadership and an impressive understanding of policy and civic responsibility.
I congratulate Northern Beaches Council, the youth advisory group, and every participating school and student involved in making Have Your Say Day a success. Most importantly, I thank the young people who stood up to share their experiences and advocate for positive change. Their voices matter. Love your work!''
A report by Youth Advisory Group (YAG) member Mali Woods states these were the issues raised by the group:
Economy
Two schools united to discuss young people’s fear of the rising cost of living. Leaders underlined the anxiety related to not being able to continue to live on the Northern Beaches informing audience members of the median house price being $2.7-2.9 million.
With the need for more money the need to work has increased, limiting social and academic lives, providing stress as young people feel required to support families with finance, having financial burden at a young age.
To combat this, leaders proposed introducing financial lessons within both public and private schools so young people are armed with knowledgeable and feel prepared when faced with difficult emotions surrounding the cost of living and money-based decisions.
Third Spaces
The speaker on third spaces began by highlighting the ongoing stigma surrounding vulnerability, particularly among young men. He emphasised the importance of third spaces as safe environments that both support emotional expression and encourage physical activity, making them vital outlets for young people. However, he noted a key issue: being there are not enough of these spaces, and those that do exist are often underutilised.
The solutions brainstormed were to allocate funding to existing third spaces including host more community focused events such as the Northern Composure band competition, and have targeted surveys to young people related to the use of third spaces to better understand what is being used, what is wanted, and what is needed.
Governance
Students raised how young people feel left out of important initiatives, stating that the few consultations the government has with young people feel like a novelty, creating a sense of disconnection between decision makers and young people.
This is a problem as it causes the young people to become disengaged, meaning young people are undereducated in regard to politics and civic engagement.
Ideas suggested included making existing engagement opportunities catered to young people more visible and requiring civics education to be taught long before voting age.
Other issues
Other issues covered topics such as transport, addiction, mental health, environment, and education. All topics were further expanded on in the Q&A section, where audience members could inquire further, and leaders responded impromptu, providing mature and valuable insight on behalf of their peers.
The results of the 2026 Have Your Say Day survey and full transcripts of speeches are collated into the 2026 report and will be made available on Council’s website HERE
Younger citizens of this area can get details about events, programs, and opportunities for young people by subscribing to the KALOF monthly newsletter for young people and that news and updates will come to you.