Young voices rang loud and clear at the 2nd Annual Swan Young Changemakers Conference, held this week with students from schools across Perth’s southeast suburbs.

Participants came from Australian Islamic College, Al-Ameen College, Belmont City College, Canning College, Como Secondary, Kensington Secondary, Kent Street Senior High, Sevenoaks, and St Norbert’s College.

Hosted by Zaneta Mascarenhas MP, the event gave students a platform to share their views on some of the biggest issues shaping their futures — including mental health, social media, artificial intelligence, social cohesion, housing, and future jobs.

Students collaborated across schools, engaging in respectful and thoughtful discussions with minimal input from adult facilitators. While they weren’t expected to solve these complex challenges, their insights reflected a generation deeply aware of the world around them.

Some students explored how AI and automation might reshape their lives and careers. Others debated the balance between following their passions and pursuing financial stability. One group even proposed a permanent watermark on AI-generated content to help prevent fraud and misinformation.

The half-day event also featured networking sessions with young mentors from diverse fields — from contemporary dance and media to computer coding. Students were inspired by the mentors’ unexpected career journeys and the message that change-making can happen in any profession.

Zaneta Mascarenhas, herself a former chemical engineer who transitioned from the resources sector to Parliament in 2022, said she hopes young people leave the conference feeling empowered to shape their futures.

The ideas and perspectives shared at the conference will be compiled and brought to Canberra for discussion among Federal Parliamentarians.

Quotes attributable to Zaneta Mascarenhas MP:

"My team and I were blown away by the insightful contributions of the young people within the electorate."

"These young people may not be able to vote, but they are not too young for us to learn from - and they deserve a say in shaping their future."

Quotes attributable to Saf Flatters, Mentor and 1 of 6 Facilitators at the conference:

“I was really impressed with how thoughtful and creative the young people were in talking about Generative AI and what it means for our communities. They came up with some fresh, even unexpected ideas.”

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Additional high-definition photos available upon request.