Travelling across Western Australia, I was struck not just by the scale of the landscape – but by the scale of the challenges and hopes carried by its young people. 

From the urban sprawl of Joondalup and Cannington to the coastal charm of Albany and the tight-knit communities in the state’s regional centres, each story, each voice brought a powerful reminder: young Western Australians are not apathetic. They are exhausted, resilient, insightful, and determined to be heard – if only our systems would listen.

What struck me most in WA was the deep tension between opportunity and isolation. Perth is one of the most geographically isolated major cities in the world, and you can feel that distance in the lives of the young people who live outside its bounds. Whether it was a 15-year-old in Ellenbrook struggling to access mental health support, or a uni student paying $600 a week to study in the city while supporting their family back home, the barriers young people face aren’t abstract – they’re lived daily. 

Healthcare came up time and time again. There’s only one major health campus serving the northern corridor, and even that can be hours away for people in places like Yanchep or Geraldton. Mental health services are stretched to breaking point. I heard from students who have waited years for support, and others who simply gave up trying. And in youth detention centres like Banksia Hill, young people – some just 14, many with cognitive impairments – are kept in isolation for 23 hours a day. Others have died in custody. These aren’t outliers. They are signals of a system in crisis. 

And still, young Western Australians continue to show up. They run arts therapy sessions, lead inclusive youth councils, and create third spaces when none exist – like the young people at the Altone Youth Centre who’ve transformed a local library into a safe and vibrant hub for connection. But across the state, they’re asking the same thing: why must they be extraordinary just to survive?

Education is another critical pressure point. Neurodivergent students, especially in public schools, are slipping through the cracks – underfunded, unsupported, and excluded from school culture. I met a youth worker who told me, “We’re meant to be changing lives, but we’re burning out.” Teachers are undervalued, support staff are scarce, and alternative education models—like those run by Youth Futures – are doing the heavy lifting, often with too few hands and even fewer resources. 

At the University of Western Australia, students reflected on the disillusionment they feel with government and political institutions. From cost-of-living pressures to climate anxiety, they expressed a growing distrust in leadership – and a hope for models that value collectivism over partisanship, and justice over optics. “We’re told to fix the future,” one student told me, “but we can’t even afford to live in the present.” 

The WA youth community also challenged the dominant narrative around the proposed social media ban for under-16s. While many shared concerns about online safety, they emphasized that, especially for queer youth or those in rural areas, digital platforms are often a lifeline. The message was clear: policy without consultation is policy without nuance. Sharing these perspectives on ABC Radio Perth helped push for more thoughtful dialogue.

Despite the challenges, what I found in WA was a fierce commitment to building better. Whether it’s Headspace Rockingham supporting youth art, Albany’s Youth Advisory Council pushing back against book bans, or Girl Guides WA transforming themselves into intergenerational safe spaces – there is movement. There is momentum. But these efforts need more than admiration – they need sustained investment.

Along the way, I was fortunate to meet incredible advocates like Fatima Payman and Senator Jordon Steele-John, whose commitment to youth voices and social justice was inspiring. A big thank you also to the UN Youth WA team for organising such a powerful and engaging conference that brought us all together. I’m also grateful to ABC Radio Perth for having me on air to share the stories and insights I was hearing from young Western Australians.