There's a lot being said about young people across Australia right now. A lot of judgement, a lot of fear, and a lot of talk about how we deal with young people when things go wrong.
But I wonder how often we're stopping to listen to them, to understand what's happening in their lives, or to ask what opportunities they have to find their way forward.
Young people looking for guidance, connection, belonging and someone willing to give them a chance.
This photo shows young people making beds from recycled plastic. They're learning to use tools, working together, solving problems and making something that has real value.
It might seem like a small thing, but there's a lot happening here.
There's the confidence that comes from learning something new. The pride of making something with your own hands. The experience of being trusted with responsibility and knowing that what you're doing matters.
And there's the role of community organisations, families and local leaders who create the space for these opportunities to happen.
Through Goods on Country, we're exploring how this kind of practical work can grow into community-owned enterprises, where young people can develop skills, earn an income and be part of building something that belongs to their community.
I can't stop thinking about the stories we choose to tell about young people.
If the stories we hear are mostly about what's going wrong, what does that do to the way we see them? And perhaps just as importantly, how does that affect the way they see themselves?
There are other stories worth telling. Stories about young people learning, contributing, taking responsibility and finding people who believe in them.
Of course there are real challenges, and communities need to feel safe. But surely part of creating safer, stronger communities is making sure young people have people around them who will listen, guide and support them before things go wrong.
Maybe if we spent more time listening and supporting, rather than judging, we might start getting somewhere.
