Australia needs a vision for young people

The job market is growing more competitive and fragmented, people are expected to attain higher levels of education than ever before, and globalisation and technologies are transforming our lives.

As a nation, we are becoming more diverse and mental health is a topic of rising concern.

In regional and rural areas, young people are at the forefront of action on these issues.

In Victoria, Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) activators are generating ideas, such as Josh Baker's "Let's Life" program to create greater access to education for young people from rural and regional areas, which are vital to our nation's future.

In YACVic's consultation with young people for #vicyouth2020, a plan to ensure young people can strive to live their best life, we found that young people want a real voice in major decisions affecting their community.

And we know how powerful their voices can be - the 2017 Marriage Equality bill passed with a record number of new enrolments from young people.

The recent student strike for climate change was huge, with students from regional and rural areas travelling for hours to attend rallies across the states.

Past federal elections have swung from the impact of younger, less predictable voters who the major parties struggle to understand.

But all too often, federal politics ignores or actively excludes young people.

Australia has no federal youth minister, no federal mechanism for engaging with young people, and no national youth policy framework.

We need a national vision for young Australians, and we need it now. A new mechanism needs to be launched to give young people a direct voice into federal government.

A federal youth engagement mechanism would empower young people to become engaged with change, inform government policy, and build their own skills.

This new mechanism should engage young people from diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and from rural, regional and remote Australia.