A radical shift is needed in how Australian parliaments engage with young people, ensuring that the next generation is not sidelined by the country's political institutions, but encouraged to shape the future.
That's the message from Australian human rights advocate, UniSA senior law lecturer, Associate Professor Sarah Moulds, in a new paper published in the Australian Journal of Political Science.
Assoc Prof Moulds, who is editor of the Australasian Parliamentary Review and co-founder of the Rights Resource Network SA, argues that young people must be recognised as citizens now - not citizens in waiting - if Australia is to build a more resilient, equitable and future-focused democracy.
"Outdated assumptions about younger people are preventing Australia's democratic institutions from keeping pace with social change," says Assoc Prof Moulds.
"At a time marked by a global decline in democracy, intergenerational inequality, and declining trust in political institutions, Australia's parliaments cannot afford to sideline the voices and views of younger generations."
Assoc Prof Moulds' article highlights a long-standing pattern in Australia, where young people are framed either as vulnerable "figures of hope" who need protection and instruction, or as "figures of risk" who must be shielded from harmful content, including political discussions.
She argues that both narratives limit young people who want to get involved in democracy.
"Young Australians are not apathetic or disengaged. They are expressing their democratic views in ways that are meaningful to them and not aligned to conventional party politics.
"This can include online activism, protests, and issue-driven campaigns. However, these forms of engagement are rarely acknowledged or valued within parliamentary settings."
Conventionally framed programs such as Youth Parliaments and school-based civics education are critically important, she says, but often position young people as learners rather than political actors or policy makers s, limiting their overall impact
"While these initiatives can inspire interest in democracy, they do not typically give young people any real influence. This is a missed opportunity. If parliaments want to strengthen democratic engagement and rebuild trust, they need to move beyond tokenism and that means sharing power."
The article draws on practical examples from New Zealand, Wales and Scotland - jurisdictions where parliaments have actively worked to give young people greater authority and visibility in politics.
In New Zealand, the Rito o te Pãremata youth reference group has helped transform parliamentary engagement by flipping the traditional teacher-learner model. Young people co-design engagement strategies, develop resources, and advise on parliamentary practice.
"Their contributions are valued as expert knowledge rather than supplementary input," says Assoc Prof Moulds.
Wales provides another example through its directly-elected Welsh Youth Parliament, where 16-and 17-year-olds vote for representatives who actively contribute to parliamentary processes and policy making.
Both Wales and Scotland have lowered the voting age to 16, further strengthening democratic participation, with research showing that early voting can help embed lifelong democratic habits.
Assoc Prof Moulds argues that these international examples illustrate what is possible when parliaments view young people as political agents who are invested in democracy. She notes that the South Australian Parliament is also punching well above its weight when it comes to innovative education programs.
"In Australia, momentum for reform is slowing building. The Federal Parliament's 2024 Inquiry into Civics Education and Political Participation acknowledged the need for more diverse and meaningful youth input. However, systemic change requires more than modest tweaks.
"Creating the conditions for genuine intergenerational fairness means reshaping our parliamentary culture to value and listen to young people's views."
The paper, 'Young People are citizens now! Reconceptualising youth engagement with Australian parliaments' is published in the Australian Journal of Political Science.
DOI: 10.1080/10361146.2025.2579923
