“You’re cordially invited…”

During the 2019 federal election, door knocking the streets of St Mary’s, my local Labor candidate and I were insistent that our campaign flyers were not “junk mail” but rather “an invitation to participate in the greatest democracy in the world.”

This sentiment got me thinking: this invitation, while well-intentioned, left out groups that are vital to the function of democracy - most notably young people, who were yet to go around the sun enough times to earn their vote. What kind of invitation would they receive?

In an era where young people are often left behind by the politics and policy of governments, both here in Australia and abroad, young people are finding their voice in activism. The rise of activist events such as the climate strikes seem like the invitation young people have been waiting for, however, with the Prime Minister telling students to “be less activist”, this clearly is not the case.

Activism, however, its not the cookie-cutter activity that causes mass media and Government attention. Activism and advocacy can range from writing letter to your local MP, to establishing a worldwide movement with universal goals. On a range of issues, the idea of being “less activist” simply cuts the invitation up into pieces - increasingly disenfranchising young people.

Speaking personally, my invitation came in the form of being diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, an incurable chronic autoimmune disease at age seven. My involvement in advocacy programs saw me have my first experience with my Local Labor member of Parliament, David Bradbury, at age ten.

This ten year old would have never taken this photo if she was “less activist”.

It was upon my return from representing Australia at JDRF Children’s Congress 2015 in Washington D.C. that I started learning about democracy and ultimately developing my own political views and beliefs, leading to my joining of this organisation a few short years later.

So, Mr Morrison, I will not be any “less activist”, because like so many other young people - activism was my invitation to the greatest democracy in the world.