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

It has long been my passion and commitment to listen to, learn from and empower younger generations. It is why I became a youth worker and it is why, as the member for Dunkley, I pledged in my first speech to do all I can to support young Australians and ensure their voices are heard and listened to, and that they have the skills and confidence to lead change into the future. That commitment is what inspired the inaugural Dunkley Emerging Leaders Program, which concluded last Friday, with a presentation event showcasing the passion of young people from our community.

Throughout the program, we heard from an extraordinary group of 18- to 25-year-olds, emerging leaders who explored their sense of purpose—their why—and identified the change they want to see in the Dunkley community. Their insights, empathy and determination were genuinely inspiring. Through the program, participants explored leadership, change-making and conflict resolution while also learning the often-understated importance of kindness and respect. In doing so, they grew in confidence, strengthened their self-esteem, and developed a deeper understanding of how they can contribute positively to our community.

I want to sincerely thank the Speaker of the House for working with us to mentor the group. His stories and reflections demonstrated the power of authentic leadership and the importance of seeing people beyond the tip of the iceberg. I also thank Senator Darmanin, Rod Glover and the many special guests who contributed their time and experience to guiding these young leaders.

When we create opportunities, young people engage, and this group rose to the challenge. I've been incredibly inspired by the calibre and by the thoughtful ideas they shared for the future of Dunkley. The value of this program was reinforced through a recent event hosted by the Committee of Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, where 100 young leaders from schools across the electorate discussed the challenges they face. The impacts of social media, artificial intelligence, housing affordability and cost-of-living pressures were common themes. These issues are complex, considerable and in many ways unprecedented, and young people were talking about how these issues impact their mental health and wellbeing. The world our young people is navigating is volatile and unpredictable, but the leaders I met showed me they are ready for that challenge. They are keen to work collaboratively, authentically, and are determined to lift others up as they go.