Matt Smith (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For Youth Voice In Parliament Week I took part in the Raise Our campaign. This speech was written by a future FNQ leader:

My name is Claudia and I am 16 years old from Cairns.

Right now, young people in regional Queensland are living through a youth mental health crisis. In my community, the nearest psychologist can be a four-hour drive away-200 kilometres that a struggling teenager simply cannot travel. Even when you get there, waitlists can stretch for six months. For a young person in crisis, six months isn't just too long. It's deadly.

One in four young Australians experience mental ill-health, but in regional areas, support is almost impossible to reach. We are told to "speak up" and "be resilient," yet when we do, there is no one there to answer.

If the government truly wants to build a better tomorrow, it must start today-by funding free, local, culturally safe mental health services that are accessible in every community. No young Australian should be told to wait. No one should be left behind because of their postcode.

We don't need promises. We need action. And we need it now.

As someone who has a well-documented struggle with depression in my past, I want to say to Claudia: we hear you; we're listening. The tender for the Medicare mental health clinic in Cairns has been completed, and it will be opening soon. Headspace Plus will be adding another clinician to help with youth mental health. We know that young people in the Far North have undergone a lot of stress lately with Cyclone Jasper and COVID. We have listened and we have acted. Claudia, we are on your side.

Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leila, a very smart 10-year-old girl from my electorate, wrote this speech:

Imagine waking up every morning not with excitement for the day ahead, but with a heavy burden— not because of tests or tiredness, but because of bullies.

Now, ask yourself this: How would you feel?

This is the harsh reality faced by me and many other children around Australia. There should certainly be a more effective approach to bullying, as it can improve children's education and wellbeing, and give them the tools to overcome adversity and grow as a person.

Around Australia, bullying undoubtedly affects children's wellbeing. It causes immense stress and lowers self-esteem, impacting their grades and their future. Studies show that children who are or were victims of bullying are at higher risk of anxiety, stress and depression—sometimes lasting into adulthood. One in four year 4 to year 9 students report being bullied every few weeks or more. Some schools think the solution is that victims must simply be resilient. But what does 'resilience' really mean? Leila's ideas include encouraging martial arts to build perseverance and a positive mindset, and creating a task force in every school to help children thrive.

Leila, I thank you for your courage and compassion in bringing this message to parliament, and I urge action for the protection of young Australians.