Last week, I visited Canberra, the centre of national decision-making, to directly hear from young people and services supporting them. What stood out to me immediately was the contrast of seeing the Federal Parliament whilst simultaneously hearing stories of struggle; a clear indication that proximity to power does not mean access it. 

Across my conversations with young people, the cost of living came up everywhere. At the UN Youth ACT State Conference and in meetings with the Youth Coalition of the ACT, young people spoke about inflation, housing affordability, and the growing sense that stability is slipping further out of reach. In a city often seen as privileged, youth homelessness remains a major and visible challenge. Services are stretched, expectations are high, and there are simply not enough resources to meet demand. 

At Woden Youth Service, this pressure was clear. With limited housing options and only a small number of providers, young people experiencing homelessness have few pathways forward. Staff described a system under strain, where block funding limits flexibility and demand continues to grow. For trans young people, even accessing correct identification was flagged as a barrier to stability and safety.

Workplace rights and economic security were another major focus. Through my discussions with the Young Workers Advice Service, I heard how young people are navigating insecure work, visa restrictions, and rising living costs, all while being expected to understand complex systems with little support. Many young workers know they are being underpaid but feel they lack the power or knowledge to challenge it. At the same time, there is a strong appetite for collective action. Young people want to understand their rights, and they want to fight for them.

Across legal and frontline services, the gaps in protection are becoming more complex. At Legal Aid ACT, concerns were raised about coercive control and the use of emerging technologies in abuse, areas where legislation and enforcement are struggling to keep up. Young people already facing mental health challenges or involvement in the care system are particularly vulnerable, often caught between systems that are not designed to support them holistically. Some described negative interactions with police, including feeling targeted or unfairly treated by the very systems that should be protecting us.

Mental health came through not just as a service issue, but as a systems issue. Conversations with headspace and the ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Alliance highlighted how difficult it is for young people to navigate support. Mental health is not something that can simply be “treated and resolved,” it requires ongoing care, yet systems are not built for that reality. High costs for lifesaving prescription medication and low bulk billing rates create additional barriers.

There are also emerging challenges that services are struggling to reach. In discussions with ARACY and the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, the influence of the “manosphere” and the isolation of young men were raised as growing concerns. These are complex, often hidden issues, and current approaches are not effectively engaging those most at risk. Early intervention, education, and new ways of reaching young people are urgently needed.

Education, particularly around rights, participation, and civic engagement, was another significant gap. Young people are informed, but many feel disengaged from formal political processes. As one theme that came through strongly, there is a difference between understanding the system and being able to influence it. Politicians, young people said, often “talk a big game” about youth voice, but meaningful participation remains limited.

At the Australian National University, conversations extended beyond local issues to global ones. Students spoke about the erosion of international law, restrictions on protest, and the need for Australia to take a stronger values-based approach both domestically and internationally. There was a clear call for moral consistency, including meaningful reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a foundation for broader national integrity.

Climate change also remained front of mind. Through discussions with Global Shapers, it was clear that young people are thinking globally while acting locally. From international climate negotiations to everyday issues like inadequate public transport and rising temperatures, they are navigating both the big picture and its immediate impacts on their lives.

Across every conversation, one thing was consistent, that young people in Canberra are pushing against systems that are difficult to access, slow to respond, and often not built with them in mind.

Canberra challenged the idea that being close to power leads to better outcomes. Instead, it showed that without genuine inclusion, even the most engaged and informed young people can feel locked out.

Young people are not asking to be consulted as an afterthought. They are asking to be trusted, resourced, and included in decisions from the beginning.