Older Australians’ quality of life: Are younger generations the answer?

Matilda Every 
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery

Youth Parliament members walk in looking stylish, and making a point. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

Older Australians are at the core of Australia. Not only to they contribute almost 39 billion dollars to our economy every year (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2014), but they also provide a wise and knowledgeable voice to the youth of Australia. And yet, according to COTA Australia, older Australians quality of life is rapidly decreasing. One in three Australians over the age of 55 say they have experienced discrimination due to their age and 18 percent of older Australians feel negative about their quality of life, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission. This means that the welfare of over 75 thousand Australians is suffering. This year’s Youth Parliament is here to change that.

A key feature in this year’s South Australian Youth Parliament is the Intergenerational Connections Bill. This bill is being advocated for by the

Health and Wellbeing committee, and is proposing a variety of methods, aimed at improving the overall emotional, physical and social wellbeing of our older population. These methods include social gatherings that form bonds between the youth and elderly, education on issues effecting older Australians, counselling services that specialise in older Australians’ mental health and so much more. The leader of the Health and Wellbeing committee, Edward Mickan, says “This bill was crafted to counter the emptiness, to fill aged care home with laughter, smiles and faces both old and new.” Meanwhile, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ryan Walker-Kluske says “the interpretation in this bill about aged care homes is a massive hole in this bill” And yet, the bill was passed in both Legislative Council and House of Assembly.”

Although most of this year’s bills focus on issues facing the youth of Australia, the Health and Wellbeing committee finds older Australians’ quality of life important for the future of Australia. “Ageism and discrimination is something we are all going to face eventually”, says Ember McBryde, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. “That’s why it is so important for Youth Parliament.”

Ember McBryde, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications.

The theme of older Australians’ quality of life was also prevalent in many other bills. This included the Public Regional Infrastructure and Network Transformation Bill, the Democracy Amelioration bill and the GREEN bill. “Having more access to regional public transport means not risking the long, dangerous drive that older Australians need to take”, says Grace Leonello, Assistant Minister for Health and Wellbeing. “More regional public transport means being safer and having access to the basic necessities of an older Australian.”

Although this year’s Youth Parliament has come to an end, the issues older Australians face is not leaving the minds of the youth. Madison Spencer, Minister for Accessibility and Human Services, says, “As a society, we’ve gotten very used to the idea that politics is very divided by age, and I don’t think it should be. Youth Parliament will continue to emphasise that.”

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published. 

Supporting the growth of young athletes

Justice McGowan 

Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery

The Recreation, Tourism and Culture Committee. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

The Pathway to Sports Bill 2024 is a bill to presented in the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament, to boost youth sports participation and development in South Australia. It aims to do this by establishing an infrastructure scheme to enhance sporting facilities, a mobile coaching program for high schools, and scholarships to support talented athletes in local club sports. The bill aims to improve access to sports training and pathways, fostering both grassroots participation and elite sports development.

The bill was developed and debated by the Recreation, Tourism and Culture Committee. The committee was guided by mentor Samoda Silva and Adelle Martin.

The bill was first debated in the legislative council on Thursday the 18th of July. During this debate three amendments were made to the bill. The mover of the first was the Hon. Sapphira Sparnon, which was to change Part 2, Section 4(d) from the state electorate to the local council electorate. The mover of the second amendment was the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ember McBryde to add an interpretation of a “sports facilitator”. The Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council was also the mover of the third amendment was about providing resources to coaching staff and students that share information on the challenges people with disabilities face in sports. The bill passed in the Legislative Council with 32 ayes to 4 noes.

The Hon. Sapphira Sparnon, making a speech during the Legislative Council debate. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

The bill was debated for a second time in the House of assembly on the same sitting day. This debate focused on sports in the regions. With many on the Youth Parliamentarians exclaiming “Up the Regions”, Which was brought on by the Hon. Vanessa Maczkowicak. The bill passed in the House of Assembly with 23 Ayes and 14 Noes.

The Hon. Nadia Rondon Carreno, Making a speech during the House of Assembly debate. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

A member of the Seaton High School PE faculty, Mel McGie, was asked about the bill’s mobile coaching program. She states that “the mobile coaching sessions would benefit Seaton High Students. As PE Staff, we could identify sports that our students are interested in participating in at school and at a grassroots level.  We could introduce them to the sport through PE lessons but also engage with the mobile coaching sessions so that they can gain contact with local clubs and develop their skills and tactics further.” McGie also mentioned that PE students or students already with an interest in sport would be the most likely to participate and gain the most benefit, however other students may find an interest or enjoyment by discovering less mainstream sport they never initially thought to try.

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published. 

Leaders of today, lawmakers of tomorrow: SA Youth Parliament unveils first-of-its-find Indigenous Bill

Arjun Malhotra  
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery  

Winds of change were blowing through the chambers of the Parliament of South Australia, as the Youth Aboriginal Repatriation Notion (YARN) Bill was unveiled by the Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation (IAR) Committee and passionately debated by a group of participants from the 29th cohort of the YMCA SA Youth Parliament in both the upper (Legislative Council) and lower houses (House of Assembly). This bill, meticulously crafted by a dedicated group of Youth Parliamentarians in collaboration with the IAR Mentors, proposed a comprehensive framework for addressing Indigenous restitution efforts in South Australia, and the subsequent actions which must be taken to complement those positive developments.

The IAR Committee in the Legislative Council.
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

The YARN Bill itself is perhaps the first of its kind in South Australia. Kasia, an IAR Mentor, stated that the IAR committee initially in their bill wanted to have “a [official] committee to facilitate repatriation,” but it was soon discovered that there was some “conflicting legislation,” referring to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1998. The Taskforce later decided they would retain the official “committee” in their bill to oversee the process of facilitating repatriation, in the form of the Society for Aboriginal Repatriation and Preservation (SARP), but only alter the capacity in which it acted, such that it would provide additional support to repatriation efforts through recommendations. The alterations, although seemingly minor, indicate that the IAR Committee developed a bill divergent from current legislation, suggesting that there may be no other legislation like the YARN Bill, in the state.

The Bill is proudly championed by its authors, due to its prominent focus on First Nations restitution activities, and its calling for the return of culturally significant artefacts to rightful owners —that too, in a structured manner. Youth Parliamentarian, the Honourable Emily Parsons, who was actively involved in drafting the bill, claimed “there is not a lot in existing legislature about formalising the process of trying to get Indigenous artefacts repatriated.” She went on to say that many informal First Nations repatriation programs exist, but only formalised legislation would “get the conversation moving” and pass agency back to First Nations Australians. Concurrently, Part 2 of the YARN Bill outlines the creation and composition of a committee called the Society for Aboriginal Repatriation and Preservation (SARP), which will consist of four Indigenous Elders, two elected members of the South Australia First Nations Voice to Parliament, one Indigenous artefacts expert, and one archaeology expert, amongst others. The SARP committee will be composed of members appointed by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and a chairperson will be elected from its membership through a voting process. To streamline repatriation efforts in the state, SARP has the authority to:

• make and publish recommendations in the Government Gazette, which relate to, and are intended to guide, the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) and the South Australian Museum; and

• establish and oversee the Indigenous Artefact Art Initiative (IAAI).

The IAAI is detailed in Part 4 of the IAR Bill and is constituted of two clauses, which enable SARP to:

• function as a mediator through an established tribunal to determine rightful ownership disputes between Indigenous parties; and

• give funding to individual indigenous artisans to create art to replace other artworks which have been repatriated from museums.

The Honourable Emily Parsons, Member of the Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Committee
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media and Communications

Parsons is fully behind the IAAI, as she believes commissioning contemporary Indigenous artisans to create art that can be put into museums is the “most important initiative” outlined in the YARN Bill, with Sasha McGee, an IAR Mentor, expressing similar views. Parsons’ reasoning is that while “in theory museums sound great. There are so many cultures there for you to consume,” the reality is that museums have a history that is “not great”, marked by “colonialism, [and] very European attempts to qualify non-Western cultures as inferior and primitive.” She argues that this past has been used “in a nasty way to position Europeans as above everybody else and to put these non-white cultures on display [in museums] as objects of scrutiny.” Emily believes the IAAI offers a chance to rectify this, stating, “the idea of putting the power back in the hands of Indigenous artisans, and actually ensuring that the artefacts that are going to end up in museums from now on, are not stolen and they are not put on display for the purpose of really tearing down Indigenous people, but instead, an Indigenous person is properly compensated within the realm of their own knowledge, [and] their prior, full consent.”

The unveiling of the YARN Bill marks a pivotal step towards bettering Indigenous restitution efforts in South Australia. The bill acknowledges and attempts to address the complexities and nuances of repatriation, through the establishment of SARP and the creation of the IAAI, both of which aim to empower First Nations voices. While informal repatriation programs exist, the committee argues that formal legislation is essential for advancing repatriation discussions, and restoring the agency of First Nations Australians - which is precisely what this Bill aims to do. Parsons states, “a lot of repatriation efforts have been successful, and it's not that repatriation efforts aren't usually successful. It's just more about trying to round off the experience in a way that truly is emblematic of what we're trying to do.”

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published. 

Youth Parliament calls for more regional public transport across South Australia

Siddhan Govender 
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery  

Member of government, Telisa Minami, speaking in opposition to the bill.
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

Young leaders from across South Australia have come together and passionately debated improvements to regional public transport during the recent Youth Parliament session. The bill, aimed at improving access to services, work, and social opportunities for rural and regional South Australians, was presented in Parliament House as part of the 29th sitting of the YMCA SA Youth Parliament program. This bill seeks to address the disparity in transport accessibility between urban and rural areas, fostering social inclusion and economic growth in regional communities.

Members of the government emphasised the importance of fair access to transport for all South Australians and the need for this bill, stating, "South Australia is falling behind transport infrastructure development. This bill will bring rail-oriented towns to life once again." The proposed plan includes expanding bus and rail services in the Barossa, Northern Adelaide Hills regions, and others, as well as introducing new routes between Adelaide and coastal towns like Victor Harbor.

The opposition acknowledged the benefit this bill would bring, but criticized the long-term benefits of investing in regional infrastructure. "This bill fails to consider economic costs… it would not be economically viable, and this is why they were not viable in the first place." "Most towns don't have train stations, there are no provisions for maintenance, there's no success metrics for these stations, there's no consideration taken for the land these regions are on.". The opposition remarked, "the regions don't need saving, how does the government know the demand for these trains.”. However, throughout the debates, the bill gained opposition support, with the opposition stating that the bill “will allow the regional[s] [residents] to live in their beautiful regions while alleviating their cost of living.” His bipartisan support highlights the significance of the issue for young leaders across the Youth Parliament.

Experts suggest that enhanced public transport could lead to reduced carbon emissions, decreased traffic congestion, and economic growth in rural areas, with the Youth Parliamentarian government stating “ 70% of road deaths in SA have been on country roads, [meaning] our railways are a safer means of transporting young people.”

The recent Youth Parliament session in South Australia has brought to light the pressing need for improvements in regional public transport, as young leaders passionately debated a bill aimed at enhancing access to services, work, and social opportunities for rural residents. Despite opposition concerns the bill later passed with overwhelming positive votes, highlighting its significance for Youth Parliamentarians. 

For more information on the YMCA SA Youth Parliament program and to access the full draft bill, visit the official website at http://www.sa.ymca.org.au/youth-parliament. 

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published. 

A JEDI Council fitting of the Galactic Empire; De-aridification bill fails to pass in parliament

Alys Appleford 
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery  

The Honourable Arth Tiwari, Member of the Science, Energy and Technology committee for the government (Via Media and Communications YMCA SA)
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

It was to the great dismay of the opposition when, in the 29th sitting week of the YMCA SA’s Youth Parliament program, a proposed bill that aimed to target growing arid areas failed to pass. The bill, titled the Greater Regional Environmental Engineering and Nurturing (GREEN) Bill, suggested the implementation of a Joint Ecosystem De-Aridification Investigation (JEDI) Council. The Council would investigate the ability of methods such as ecosystem engineering and desalination to combat the impacts of climate change and would be responsible to the Minister. The bill passed in the Legislative Council with a final vote of 22 ayes and 19 noes. However, it was in the House of Assembly where the bill faced its greatest resistance.

The bill comes in response to growing aridification and drought across South Australia as outlined in the Bureau of Meteorology’s State of the Climate report 2022. The report shows a decrease of 10 percent of rainfall in Australia’s southeast since the 1990s.

The Honourable Lachlan Duggan, Member of the Science, Energy and Technology committee for the opposition
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

 “The opposition has stated that they intend to form a JEDI council, but the proposed bill is much more fitting of the Galactic Empire,” said the Honourable Ming Deng, member of the government, during the debate in the House of Assembly. Further claims from the government during the debate in the Legislative Council saw the Honourable Kevin Kim, Assistant Minister for Science, Energy, and Technology claim that the JEDI Council would be incredibly subject to corruption as it would be responsible to the

Minister, not the people. When asked about whether the proposed JEDI council would impact current agricultural governmental groups, the Honourable Lachlan Duggan (member of the Science, Energy and Technology committee for the opposition) responded:

 “…the JEDI Council is specifically designed to be a scientific research council, with Ministerial oversight and common reports as an interface for additional policy advice. It would be the discretion of the Minister as to what level of cooperation is necessary based on the approach of the Council that the Minister appoints. The JEDI Council has a very specific research focus which is why it is appropriate for it to operate parallel to existing groups which have a broader scope.”

As the Bill failed to pass in the House of Assembly, it will not become an act and will therefore not be signed into law. 

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published. 

The 29th session of Youth Parliament kicks off with a memorable opening ceremony

Megan Rouski 
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery 

Youth Parliamentarians of 2024 at the steps of Parliament House during the first day of sitting week
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

On the 15th of July, the 29th South Australia Youth Parliament program began with a formal ceremony involving all participants.

 The Opening Ceremony was held in the South Australian House of Assembly and began with only the parliamentarians from this chamber. Once the ceremony commenced, members from the Legislative Council were invited in and were seated within their respective parties.

2024 South Australian Youth Governor David Deex making his speech in the House of Assembly during the 2024 Opening Ceremony
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

The Opening Ceremony mimicked a traditional parliament Opening Ceremony, giving the participants an insight into what a sitting week looks like for South Australian parliamentarians. Notable events included a speech and welcome of guests by The Honourable David Deex, 2024 Youth Governor of South Australia, an official acknowledgement of country and the leaders of both the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly taking their oath to represent the parliament and the people of South    Australia fairly.

Behaviour during the sitting week reflected the basis created at the very first Youth Parliament held in Paris 1855, which states “any differences of opinions on other subjects shall not affect our relationships with one another.” This could be seen through the excellent teamwork and strong sportsmanship performed by all parliamentarians throughout the week, despite varying perspectives, opinions and backgrounds.

 The ceremony involved guest appearances from many honourable speakers. David Patterson, CEO of the YMCA SA, inspired parliamentarians by reciting the thought-provoking statement, “what we believe is what we see, what we see is what we say and what we say is what we sow into the lives of the people around us”.

David Patterson, CEO of the YMCA SA making his speech at the 2024 Opening Ceremony
Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications

Youth Parliament is a program open to all Adelaide-based young people aged 15-25. Youth Parliament, held since 1986, provides Australian young people an opportunity to pursue their political passions, express their beliefs and opinions, gain valuable parliamentary experience and create valuable relationships with like-minded parliamentarians and mentors.

The Youth Parliament program is held across two weeks, the first week involving interactive and supportive training and teaching for participants on how to create bills and debate and the second week being sitting week. During the official sitting week, Youth Parliamentarians are split between the House of Assembly and the legislative council, as well as by the opposition and government in both chambers to debate to either pass or fail bills and motions.

During the early days of the 2024 sitting week, participants noted particular excitement towards presenting their own bills, seeing their new found friends present, and meeting prominent figures in the community such as politicians, the Lieutenant Governor and the founder of the Youth Parliament program in Australia. Additionally, they highlighted many skills that they were looking to develop throughout the week such as public speaking, confidence, open-mindedness, social skills, building connections as well as seeing their bills develop from ideas to acts in formal debates.

The sitting week of the Youth Parliament concluded with many participants eagerly anticipating the next annual session. All participants presented strong and impactful debates and developed important skills and relationships that will likely set them up for potential political endeavours in the future.

Originally published on The Y South Australia.

The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published.