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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is calling on young people aged 25 and under across the region to step up, speak out, and have their voices delivered directly onto the floor of Federal Parliament.
The local MP has officially signed up for the 2026 Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign, a national initiative designed to amplify the ideas, ambitions, and unique perspectives of regional youth directly to the nation's decision-makers.
This year, the campaign invites young people to submit a 90-second speech answering a critical question for the country: "What is one big issue shaping your future, and what is one meaningful action you want Parliament to take?"
The winning speech from the electorate will be proudly read aloud by Mr Willcox in Canberra during Youth Voice in Parliament Week, running from 12 to 15 October 2026.
“Last year, I had the immense privilege of standing up in the chamber to deliver an incredibly powerful speech by Wiremu Tairaki, a student from Proserpine State High School,” Mr Willcox said.
“Wiremu spoke passionately about the distinct challenges facing country students: waking before sunrise, navigating flooded roads in the wet season, and missing out on face-to-face classes like physics and languages due to regional teacher shortages. He noted that while regional kids have the determination to defy limitations, gratitude for where we live shouldn't equate to limitation.
The Raise Our Voice campaign has an exceptional track record of building civic pride and engagement; ninety-two per cent of previous participants state that taking part made them far more likely to engage with politics in the future.
“Whether you are passionate about boosting local trade apprenticeships, improving youth mental health support, tackling regional housing costs, or creating more local job opportunities so you don't have to move away to the city, this is your golden opportunity to help shape Australia’s path forward,” Mr Willcox said.
“I am honoured to amplify the voices of Dawson's future leaders, and I cannot wait to read what this year's cohort brings to the table.”
Submissions for the 2026 campaign close on 7 August 2026. For more information, entry guidelines, and to submit a speech, visit https://raiseourvoiceaustralia.com
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