{"id":62852,"date":"2021-03-05T11:00:57","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T00:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=62852"},"modified":"2021-03-05T10:48:41","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T23:48:41","slug":"governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

A national survey<\/a> conducted at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic indicated that Australian governments\u2019 handling of the crisis had considerably increased Australians\u2019 faith in their governments. This is reassuring, yet the threat from Covid-19 may be temporarily masking another long-term problem for our nation\u2014a worrying decline in young Australians\u2019 confidence in their political leaders.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Australian election study<\/a> by the Australian National University indicated that public confidence in political leaders and institutions was at an all-time low, as was public satisfaction with democracy. Given the increasingly challenging national and international outlook, it\u2019s not clear how long the improved sentiments highlighted by the more recent survey will last. Should governments get caught up in internal politics and stop listening to their constituents, particularly already disenchanted youth, they would risk a significant proportion of citizens<\/a> having no trust in our democratic system.<\/p>\n

Politicians and the broader society must recognise that young Australians are pushing beyond the conventional and getting creative as active citizens. They must support active citizenship both through a solid civic education curriculum and by creating space in policy conversations for young people to feel that they are heard.<\/p>\n

Traditional methods of active citizenship such as writing letters to local ministers and being involved in local political groups are still important, but too often young people can feel that their voices aren\u2019t heard in these platforms. Put off by standard responses like \u2018Thank you for your letter\u2019 or \u2018This has been taken under consideration\u2019 without any substantial policy action, they are finding innovative ways to have an impact in local and national politics.<\/p>\n

Before the pandemic, young people across the globe led protests<\/a> through city streets calling for government action on climate change. These climate strikes, occurring on the same day across state and national borders, had an impact on the global community, generating extensive international debate.<\/p>\n

These opportunities to engage in active citizenship are not always accessible, especially for those in regional and remote communities. Too often there\u2019s little or no encouragement in smaller communities for young people to be civically active. There\u2019s an unspoken expectation that any citizen should speak up on issues that they\u2019re passionate about, but if they haven\u2019t been shown how to and haven\u2019t been supported by their communities or local politicians, why should they put themselves out there when the reality<\/a> of being ignored is all too common?<\/p>\n

School communities play an important role in supporting students to participate in democratic processes, and it\u2019s crucial for them to provide a rounded civic education. It\u2019s encouraging to hear that some primary schools are running structured school parliaments<\/a> and teaching students about civic institutions and processes in a participatory way. While we build this foundation, society and our politicians must support young voters and encourage them to be inquisitive and to get involved.<\/p>\n

Encouraging our young people includes recognising the ways in which they voice their opinions and concerns as legitimate and identifiable forms of advocacy. It\u2019s not surprising that they turn to the platforms they know best, social media, to engage, speak out and organise a movement.<\/p>\n

Visual platforms such as Instagram have hosted movements such as #blackouttuesday<\/a>, \u2018Challenge Accepted<\/a>\u2019 and #bringbackourgirls<\/a> (which was supported by first lady Michelle Obama). What was intended to be a one-day march<\/a> in Nigeria\u2019s capital became a movement that gained international recognition and continued for several years.<\/p>\n

Acknowledging these movements and their messages is essential for politicians to connect with their electorates, particularly their youngest voters.<\/p>\n

As our future leaders, young Australians must be part of policy discussions. We need to arm them with the tools<\/a> to participate; encourage and recognise their participation; and provide them with a strong civic education. As the director of the Whitlam Institute, Leanne Smith, stated in a recent report<\/a>: \u2018If we want our children to have a stake in our democracy and our society, we have to treat them as valued citizens and engage with their concerns.\u2019<\/p>\n

As Australia\u2019s experience with Covid has demonstrated, politicians across jurisdictions and party lines can work cooperatively despite falling on different sides of the political divide. However, this situation can quickly devolve into acrimony and a news cycle reminiscent of a soap opera.<\/p>\n

With an uncertain economic future, a changing climate and the ever-present possibility of another devastating Covid outbreak, politicians will need to work hard to maintain voter confidence. To strengthen Australia\u2019s democracy for a challenging future, they need to start by engaging young people in political processes, most importantly in policy development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A national survey conducted at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic indicated that Australian governments\u2019 handling of the crisis had considerably increased Australians\u2019 faith in their governments. This is reassuring, yet the threat from Covid-19 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1067,"featured_media":62854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[416,107,2459],"class_list":["post-62852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-australian-government","tag-policymaking","tag-youth"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGovernments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A national survey conducted at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic indicated that Australian governments\u2019 handling of the crisis had considerably increased Australians\u2019 faith in their governments. This is reassuring, yet the threat from Covid-19 ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Strategist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ASPI.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-05T00:00:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-04T23:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1845\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1229\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Julia Butler\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ASPI_org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ASPI_org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Julia Butler\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/\",\"name\":\"The Strategist\",\"description\":\"ASPI's analysis and commentary site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg\",\"width\":1845,\"height\":1229},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/\",\"name\":\"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-05T00:00:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-03-04T23:48:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/e81d1df615ea6a610735a090d42d3ae3\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/e81d1df615ea6a610735a090d42d3ae3\",\"name\":\"Julia Butler\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ee1df69808ece84ee025ed4e3dacf087?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ee1df69808ece84ee025ed4e3dacf087?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Julia Butler\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/author\/julia-butler\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist","og_description":"A national survey conducted at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic indicated that Australian governments\u2019 handling of the crisis had considerably increased Australians\u2019 faith in their governments. This is reassuring, yet the threat from Covid-19 ...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/","og_site_name":"The Strategist","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ASPI.org","article_published_time":"2021-03-05T00:00:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-03-04T23:48:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1845,"height":1229,"url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Julia Butler","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ASPI_org","twitter_site":"@ASPI_org","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Julia Butler","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/","name":"The Strategist","description":"ASPI's analysis and commentary site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/39745194_1827097260720133_4557785385748398080_o.jpg","width":1845,"height":1229},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/","url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/","name":"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead | The Strategist","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2021-03-05T00:00:57+00:00","dateModified":"2021-03-04T23:48:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/e81d1df615ea6a610735a090d42d3ae3"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/governments-must-engage-with-australias-future-leaders-to-meet-the-challenges-ahead\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Governments must engage with Australia\u2019s future leaders to meet the challenges ahead"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/e81d1df615ea6a610735a090d42d3ae3","name":"Julia Butler","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ee1df69808ece84ee025ed4e3dacf087?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ee1df69808ece84ee025ed4e3dacf087?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Julia Butler"},"url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/author\/julia-butler\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62852"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1067"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62852"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62958,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62852\/revisions\/62958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}