Students put their priorities on the political agenda at Warringah Youth Voices Forum
Young people from across Warringah have helped shape a new Youth Charter and civics education program for the electorate, putting forward priorities including housing affordability, AI regulation, domestic violence prevention and better mental health care.
Federal Member for Warringah Zali Steggall hosted the Youth Voices workshop at Redlands on Thursday August 27, bringing together 56 students from 14 schools.
Steggall said the youth-led event aimed to empower young people - helping them to communicate their views and ensure they are represented in Parliament.
“Young people aren't just leaders of the future - they are active contributors today. When they speak up, their voices should be heard and acted on,” she said.
Steggall congratulated the students for helping to shape their own futures. “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” she said. “You can’t just sit on the sidelines – you’ve got to get involved, because it matters.”
The students began the workshop by forming their own political parties, with names such as Manly Warringah Youngens, Kids for Australia and One Youth Rise.
They then developed policies which will help inform the Warringah Youth Charter - a document created by young people to capture their priorities and communicate those to decision-makers.
Among the Charter statements participants put forward were that students and young people should:
- Have access to basic needs such as safe housing
- Be taught in schools about domestic violence prevention, sex, consent and reproductive rights
- Be taught about AI opportunities, drawbacks and potential misuse
- Have equal access to opportunities in education and arts
- Be viewed as valued members of society who have an equal voice
- Be respectful to others regardless of cultural background or identity, and be respected in return
- Have access to free personal hygiene products
- Experience a stable childhood.
The Charter will be finalised in close consultation with young people over the next six months, then published alongside a commitment from Steggall to report back on how she has advocated for Warringah’s youth.
Students also provided feedback on a draft civics education module Steggall is developing for schools across Warringah. The module aims to ensure young people are better informed about how democracy works and can more confidently advocate on what matters to them.
The students suggested the module include information such as how to fill out a ballot paper, what political parties and representatives stand for, and how to navigate misinformation, understand political lobbying and contact elected representatives.
The participants’ feedback will directly shape the final civics education program, which will be further refined and tested with schools and young people.
The Youth Voices event was designed and facilitated by Zali Steggall’s Youth Advisory Committee.
Warringah Youth Voices 2026. Photo supplied