The first leg of my Listening Tour in Victoria has been a powerful reminder of the clarity, conviction, and complexity with which young people view the world around them. Through consultations with a diverse range of schools, youth organisations, and advocacy groups, one thing was consistently clear: young people are not apathetic. They are politically aware, morally grounded, and deeply frustrated by systems that continue to fail them and their communities.

Speaking to the Naarm branch of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, the urgency of the climate crisis dominated discussion. Young people expressed not only concern for the environment but also anger at the inaction of governments and corporations. Their campaigns like Don’t Frack the NT and efforts to hold banks accountable for financing fossil fuels show a generation that is not only informed but mobilised. Their reflection—that “those on the front lines of the climate crisis are the least supported” – captures a profound sense of injustice felt by many, particularly those from First Nations and frontline communities.

In contrast, students from Melbourne Grammar and Melbourne Girls’ Grammar brought forward their perspectives on social inequity through the lens of education, mental health, and the justice system. They acknowledged their privilege but did not shy away from critiquing it. Their insights into the divide between public and private schooling, the inadequacy of mental health support, and the need for genuine Indigenous representation spoke to a deeper understanding that systemic change requires more than acknowledgment – it requires action.

From the Melbourne University Model United Nations Society, I heard a global framing of these challenges. They drew strong links between climate justice and post-colonial inequality, highlighting how international institutions often reinforce the status quo rather than challenge it. Their critiques of junior wage rates, climate policy, and foreign aid illustrated how domestic and international policies are interconnected, and how the language we use – such as framing climate change as a security issue—often reflects power, not equity.

At Cornish College, students offered reflections grounded in community and care. They highlighted the isolating effects of the cost-of-living crisis, especially for arts and migrant communities, and pointed to the importance of local connection and cross-cultural engagement. Their involvement in partnerships with communities in Timor Leste and Cambodia revealed a belief in the power of grassroots, reciprocal relationships to foster leadership and understanding.

The Centre for Multicultural Youth Victoria raised critical points around the intersection of mental health, culture, and stigma. For many young people from multicultural backgrounds, mental health struggles are exacerbated by community silence, intergenerational trauma, and the lack of culturally safe services. Their frustration with surface-level political solutions—like proposed social media bans – demonstrated how policy often feels disconnected from real youth experience.

Engagements with Headspace South Melbourne, Headspace Werribee, and Access Health and Community brought further focus to youth mental health, especially around the lack of support for neurodivergent young people and those in rural and regional areas. These conversations underscored a need for a more responsive, inclusive, and well-resourced mental health infrastructure.

The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria provided valuable insight into structural advocacy efforts across housing, youth justice, and mental health. Their model—supporting specialist organisations while pushing for systemic reform—represents the kind of collaboration and decentralised leadership that is essential in the youth sector.

Finally, I met with the Maribyrnong City Council Youth Advisory Committee and the Monash University United Nations Society, both of which reinforced the importance of civic engagement and democratic participation. These groups highlighted the need for young people to have real platforms to shape policy – not just tokenistic roles – and to be supported in developing their leadership potential.

Across all these consultations, the message from young people was clear: they are tired of waiting for permission to be heard. They want action, not platitudes. They see the interconnectedness of crises – climate, cost of living, mental health, racism – and they want intersectional solutions. This leg of the Listening Tour has made it undeniably clear that young people are not the leaders of tomorrow – they are leading now. It’s time we listened.

I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations during my regional trip in July, where I hope to hear directly from young people outside metropolitan Melbourne and build on the insights gathered so far.