Year 12 students from across the Burt electorate have come together once again to share what they believe are the most important issues facing Australia in 2026.
The annual Burt Youth Leaders Forum, now in its ninth year, brought together students’ leaders from 18 high schools across the electorate, giving them a platform to speak on national issues and put forward ideas for change.
Students were asked to identify key national issues, explore their causes, and work in groups to develop practical solutions.
Cost of living and housing affordability were among the strongest concerns raised, alongside mental health, education and emerging issues around AI safety and deepfakes.
Armadale Senior High School student Tabisha Gilbert said the cost-of-living crisis stood out as the most pressing issue.
She said hearing other students also informed her thinking.
“Byford’s speech about the mental health labels helped change my perspective,” she said.
Kelmscott Senior High School student Willow O’Beirne said housing was a key concern, particularly for young people close to entering adulthood.
“It is an issue that I have seen impact my friends and family, and it is something I am passionate about solving for my community,” she said.
She also said discussions on the day highlighted how intense cost-of-living pressures are already affecting young people.
“Cost of living was revealed to be a much bigger issue to us as young people and something we need to address now, even if we are still young,” she said.
Students from St John Bosco College, Arshnoor Guron and Alvia Thomas, also pointed to cost of living and inflation as major concerns, saying low to middle income earners are struggling to keep up with rising prices.
Piara Waters Senior High School student Amber Pestell said the issue affects Australians daily and is becoming more visible.
She also noted concerns about AI exploitation and increasing division in society raised during the forum.
At Thornlie Senior High School, Elana Hakimi and Navjot Singh proposed solutions including affordable housing, stronger wage growth, and increased investment in education.
They said young people are being heard through initiatives like the forum, but warned that action is needed.
“If interventions aren’t put in place for the rise in cost of living, the future of young Australians can turn for the worst,” they said.
Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh said the forum continues to highlight both ongoing and emerging concerns among young people.
He said students this year raised issues including cost of living, housing affordability, mental health, education, and AI safety.
“They didn’t just raise problems, they worked through the causes of each issue and how it impacts people, before coming up with ideas for how it can be improved or fixed,” he said.
Mr Keogh said the findings would be compiled into a report and presented to the Prime Minister and WA Premier.
He said forums like this help ensure young people are included in conversations about decisions that will build their future.
“Engaging and consulting with young Australians should be genuine, and not an afterthought,” he said.
Several students said the experience encouraged them to take a more active role in their communities.
“It has made me consider a bigger role in the community,” Tabisha said.
Willow said the forum showed the impact young people can have.
“It has also inspired me to become a more active, connected member of my community,” she said.
