Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like my colleague across the chamber, I am deeply honoured to be given the opportunity to deliver speeches today written by young Queenslanders as part of the Raise Our Voice campaign. The first speech is from Shradda, who lives in Rankin. She says:

Imagine a world where every person is free to pursue their passions and live out their dreams.

Imagine a world where society treats everyone with dignity and respect. Imagine a world where the chains of racism, social injustice, and discrimination are shattered.

In 10 years, this is what I envision for everyone in Australia. This vision will enable us to fulfil our dream lives without social paralysis. We will gain a sense of pride, in our unique and distinct selves.

To work towards this, I envision workshops, educating about diversity to dismantle stereotypes and foster understanding. People from diverse backgrounds can share videos of their personal experiences, helping to bridge incumbent gaps and reduce the stigma and shame around discussing racism.

Let's transform this great diverse    nation, paving the way for others and leading by example to create a more equitable and just world. Together, we can create supportive environments for all of us to share, so no-one must suffer through racism and discrimination.

To ensure we all live out our dreams unencumbered by prejudice. Let us champion a world where equity, is not just ideal, but a reality.

Charlotte, from Moreton, says:

There are over 50 schools in the Moreton federal electorate, and as a student in Year 12 who has struggled with balancing school and mental health for my entire secondary school career, the changes I want to see in our community in the next ten years include increased amount of mental health support easily available and accessible to school students.

Specifically, programs within school or programs that work easily with schools to create a better system for students on campus.

I have watched countless fellow students struggle to attend school because of mental health issues and the additional social/emotional stress that high school provides.

We all know high school isn't easy, and for an increasing number of students dealing with anxiety on a day to day basis, it's not as simple as keeping their heads down and pushing through it.

According to recent data acquired by Headspace, about one-third of young people are experiencing high or very high levels of stress. Specifically, 38% of students aged 15-7 reported such levels of psychological distress.

The Australian Parliament can improve students' mental health over the next decade by implementing nationwide policies that promote mental health education and awareness within the school curriculum can help students better understand and manage their mental well-being.

Furthermore, Parliament can support research and development of innovative mental health interventions tailored to young people, ensuring that these initiatives are data-driven and effectively address the specific needs of high school students.

Thank you very much to Shradda and Charlotte for your contributions. It was an honour to be able to read out your words in the Senate today.