There are plenty of ways you can get involved and put youth mental health on the Australian political agenda ahead of the upcoming federal election. Check out our guidance below on how to:
You might like to use our letter template (link opens a Word document) to get in touch with political candidates in your area. Copy and paste the suggested text into an email, complete the highlighted sections, and send it to your local candidate/s.
Visit the Australian Electoral Commission website to check which electorate you live in. The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition has a great tool to find your local candidate/s so you can raise an issue or request a meeting with them.
Many Australians engage with content produced by traditional media outlets. Newspapers (print and online), radio and TV are important channels for raising issues – especially ahead of an election.
Letters to newspaper editors
When writing a letter to a newspaper editor, try to keep it short – ideally no more than 200 words.
Personalise your letter as much as possible. Start by referring directly to the issue concerning you and explain how it affects you personally. Newspapers are more likely to pay attention to your letter this way.
Make sure you submit your full name, address and contact number. You can request that your address is withheld, but editors like to confirm who you are.
Please see relevant links and email addresses for some key Australian newspapers below:
Talkback radio
Talk back radio is designed to give your voice a platform – so use it! Below are a number of popular talk back stations to get you started.
National
ACT
NSW
SA
TAS
NT
QLD
WA
VIC
Feel free to use or adapt our suggested posts below to make yourself heard on social media.
Use the hashtags #YoungFuturesMatter and #AusVotes to join the conversation online.
Facebook
- Mental healthcare is a key issue for undecided voters ahead of the federal election on 21 May and it matters to me. Make youth mental health count this election: https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter
- 8 in 10 Australians agree that mental health should be a top priority for the next Australian government. Visit Orygen's website to find out how you can make sure youth mental health remains a priority: https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter
- Australian voters have singled out mental health funding as a key election issue – along with climate change, economic management and job security. See the national poll results: https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter
Instagram
- Mental health care matters to me and it’s a key election issue for young voters (link in bio). #YoungFuturesMatter
- More federal government investment in youth mental health? 'Yes please', say Aussie voters (link in bio). #YoungFuturesMatter
- Australia has spoken: the next federal government must do better when it comes to mental health care for young people (link in bio). I’ll be voting for mental health. Will you? #YoungFuturesMatter
Twitter
- Mental healthcare is a key election issue for young voters and it matters to me. To find out more visit https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter #AusVotes
- More federal government investment in youth mental health? 'Yes please', say Aussie voters. See the poll results: https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter #AusVotes
- This election I’ll be voting for mental health. Will you? Visit https://fal.cn/3oqAh #YoungFuturesMatter #AusVotes
- 8 in 10 Australians agree that mental health should be a top priority for the next Australian Government: https://fal.cn/3oqAh Contact your local candidate/s today and find out if youth mental health is their priority too. #YoungFuturesMatter #AusVotes