Thirty Years of Young Voices Shaping Western Australia’s Future

For three decades a singular idea has taken root in Western Australia—when young people are given the opportunity to speak, they shape more than their own futures. They alter the trajectory of entire communities, the tone of public debate and the direction of government policy. This year the Y WA Youth Parliament, now marking its 30th anniversary, stands as living proof that youth voice is not a sidebar but a pillar of democratic life. Western Australian Government+2Western Australian Government+2

The program invites young people aged 15 to 25 from across both metropolitan and regional Western Australia to step into the chambers of the state parliament, draft their own Bills, debate matters of serious public concern and present recommendations to senior government leaders. Western Australian Government+1 In 2025, 59 participants stepped into the historic halls of Parliament House — a vivid illustration of how the next generation is not just tomorrow’s electorate, but today’s contributors. Western Australian Government

Why does this matter? Because when young voices enter public life early—and are treated with respect—the outcome is richer democracy. Consider the topics the participants tackled this year: family and domestic violence prevention, minimum healthcare standards in regional areas, climate-resilient agriculture and safer vehicles on our roads. Western Australian Government+1 These are not abstract classroom projects. They reflect lived concerns, grounded in experience, tied to real communities.

Data reveals a consistent pattern: young participants gain leadership skills, public-speaking confidence, civic literacy and a sense of agency. Beyond individual growth, the state benefits. Some alumni have gone on to serve in state and federal parliament, to lead community organisations and to reassume the culture of public service. Mirage News In other words, the investment in youth voice today creates leadership pipelines for tomorrow.

From a policy-perspective the model aligns directly with the principle of “priming” as described by Daniel Kahneman. By exposing young people to the institutional context of decision-making—not as spectators but as participants—their expectations, mindset and sense of capability are shaped early. They learn that systems are not fixed, that participation matters, and that change is accessible. This in turn generates a culture of engagement rather than passivity.

Western Australia is full of unique challenges: vast regional distances, demographic diversity, indigenous communities, mining-driven transitions and climate adaptation imperatives. For youth-led policy to make a difference, it must be inclusive, regionally aware and future-oriented. This is precisely the strength of the Youth Parliament program: it brings voices from across the state, training days precede the sitting week, experience of legislation is hands-on—creating a bridge between young leader and state policy-maker. Mirage News+1

Of course, the ultimate measure is not how many Bills are drafted in the chamber but how many ideas translate into lived impact. The program acknowledges this by presenting the young participants’ Bills and recommendations directly to the Governor, the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. Mirage News+1 That alignment between youth voice and institutional decision-making transforms the initiative from symbolic to substantive.

At TMFS, we recognise that sustainable progress demands more than technological innovation or capital investment. It demands the renewal of civic infrastructure: trust in institutions, connection between generations, and an inclusive narrative of future-making. The Youth Parliament offers precisely that—a renewal of civic infrastructure, an investment in human capability, and a reaffirmation that the future is co-designed by all generations.

The milestone of 30 years invites reflection and action. It invites the broader community to ask: How are we supporting these young voices beyond the youth program? How are we ensuring that regional, indigenous and marginalised youth have access to the same platforms? How are we translating the energy and insight of a sitting week into lived outcomes across WA? These questions matter because a future shaped by only a few is less resilient than one crafted by many.

In the months and years ahead, the legacy of this program will be seen in how many of today’s participants become tomorrow’s decision-makers, innovators and community builders. It will be seen in the policies adopted, the regional initiatives funded, the leadership boards diversified and the civic spaces more inclusive. Most importantly, it will be seen in society’s growing capacity to say: we welcome the voice of every young West Australian.

Let this 30-year milestone be more than a celebration. Let it be a recommitment—to investing in youth not just as beneficiaries of policy but as architects of it. Let Western Australia be a place where young ideas do not wait for permission but are given platforms, resources and respect. Let us champion the mindset that when young people talk, we not only listen—we act.

As the next decade unfolds, we at TMFS look forward to further supporting the leadership ecosystem, elevating youth-led innovation and reaffirming the principle that progress is inclusive, generationally intertwined and rooted in voice. For after all, the shape of WA’s future will be the sum of all its voices—especially the young.

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