Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about a matter deeply close to my heart: empowering the next generation of leaders in Dunkley. Before entering parliament, I spent more than 20 years as a youth worker across local, state and national government. I worked alongside young people and dedicated professionals to build programs that created real opportunities for young people to grow, connect and reach their potential. My passion for this work is personal. As a young person, I experienced family violence and sexual abuse. It led to disconnection from school and shattered my confidence. Through family support, education, counselling and ballet, I was able to rebuild my life.

My lived experience drives my determination to ensure young people from every background receive the support they need to build resilience, develop skills and rise above adversity. In my first speech, I committed to advocating for young people. Over the past two years that commitment has only grown stronger because now—in a time of social, economic and political uncertainty—many young people feel powerless and overwhelmed by the scale of the challenges before them.

That is why I am proud to report to the House that I have taken a meaningful step forward through the Dunkley Emerging Leaders Program. Last week I held the first session of this pilot program for young adults aged 18 and over who are passionate about advocacy, change making and leadership. The program is grounded in experiential learning, helping participants build confidence, self-understanding and a strong sense of purpose. In the months ahead, participants will develop practical leadership skills, learn to think critically, engage with civic and political systems and gain confidence in public speaking. We will hear from Professor Rod Glover, Senator Lisa Darmanin and Speaker of the House Milton Dick. They will also deepen their resilience, emotional literacy and capacity for self-care—qualities essential for any leadership journey.

This program is about empowering young adults to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to drive positive change. When we invest in young people, we invest in the future of our nation. You cannot be what you cannot see, and we hope this program helps young people see what is possible and turn belief into action.