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Mikaela -
submitted 22/10/2009
Decreasing the cost of university degrees. If we want to increase the number of skilled workers in Australia (with a higher-education) then the costs of university need to go down. At the moment it's almost a punishment system - those of us committed to becoming more educated and ultimately adding to Australia's workforce and economy are hit with massive debts. If you want more doctors, engineers, nurses and teachers then you need to lower the fees for universities. It's just not acceptable.
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Catherine -
submitted 7/11/2009
I feel that we need to raise more awareness of the problems facing Indigenous Australians. Although the study of Australian history and Indigenous Australians is part of the school curriculum, schools only cover Indigenous history and do not focus on issues concerning Indigenous people, such as health and education. The community does not seem to be acquainted of these issues and more awareness is needed. As a school student, I have conducted some research in relation to this area and I am rather astounded by the major differences in health, lifestyle and education and especially that of Indigenous people living in rural areas. I am not saying that we need to force Indigenous people into hospitals and schools, but that we need to raise awareness through the school system and community groups and more importantly offer Indigenous Australians more opportunities.
It is essential that we understand and are aware of the issues prevalent outside our own community. By raising awareness of Indigenous issues through schools, we are insuring that children and the greater community are mindful of these concerning issues and are able to provide appropriate support.
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Jamie -
submitted 16/10/2009
The gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous communities is not only social... its also physical. To most of us, the indigenous situation is intangible and distant; something that we are told about on the news, but cant see in our daily lives. Perhaps if the youth of the two communities had greater opportunity to create friendships (and find out how much they have in common), we could foster a generation of connectedness between the two cultures. This could only advance our awareness of their disadvantage and promote, in our generation, a new proactivity towards addressing the issue. This could be achieved through government funded, interschool exchanges which would occur between indigenous communities and schools in the major cities. Such a program would also be helpful in stamping out any prejudice that may exist between the two cultures.
What do you reckon?
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Kayla -
submitted 11/11/2009
Our next topic should be what we are facing and what is that you ask? Well it's CLIMATE CHANGE!
Yes you heard right i said CLIMATE CHANGE!
Why should we discuss this topic? Glad you asked.
I believe we should all have an input in climate change on what we can do in our communities to help reduce carbon emissions. If we all work together on this more could be done.
I BET I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING!
I bet you you're secretly thinking to yourself "Oh, this girl is crazy about climate change she thinks one input can make a difference."
Well guess what? IT CAN!
I need your help to put in ideas, I need your help to get this message through. YES I NEED YOU!
So lets all come together as a youth forum and all have a say. Even just posting "I'm going to take this up to my local council," makes me feel much better!
LETS DO THIS!
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Tara Collett-Lee -
submitted 23/10/2009
Through my own experiences with bullying, I think there need to be a change in the way the government, communities, schools and individuals respond. For years I got told "Just ignore it", when it simply is not that simple. It not only affects you mentally but socially, youth today have learnt ways in which to descriminate and socially isolate people with only minor consequences.
I do not know exactly what should be done but I do know something for certain, I will not stop here concerning bullying in youth.
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Liam Eagle -
submitted 15/11/2009
Political Correctness (i think that's the term) has gone FAR to far.
When we have to change the 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' (don't strike me down) to 'Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep' it is ridiculous.
When you take superheroes out of kindergarten because it might encourage violence, it has gone too far. we need to stop now before it goes even further, guys have to chill out
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Anonymous -
submitted 16/10/2009
There is a lot of discussion around the supports provided to underperforming students to keep them in school or to help them meet the (low) national benchmarks. High -performing students are left to their own devises and will either perform well despite the lack of attention or will muck up to gain attention. Incentive programs are often seen by others as rewarding bad behaviour and little or no recognition given to those who exceed the benchmarks, except “extension” work, which is more work, rather than greater challenges.
Perhaps the “education revolution” could really revolutionise the education system and implement an ability-based structure that puts kids in classes based on ability rather than age. Perhaps something could also be done to make automatic scholarships available to all high-achieving university entrants and returning students to better position Australia in the global intellectual picture. Isn’t it time to support the high achievers as well as the underperformers?
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Kousai -
submitted 16/10/2009
How can Australia improve its current asylum-seeking process?
This question is important for many reasons. We as Australians and promoters of individual rights cannot sit down and watch asylum-seekers being detained for extensive periods in prison-like environments. This does not reflect the image of Australia nor should it reflect what Australians believe in. We as a nation, must learn to differentiate between asylum-seekers (those who require this nation's help and protection) and people smugglers.
This is the next big question because this undermines our rights and our beliefs as Australians.
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Kenni -
submitted 12/11/2009
Ultimately the best and most beneficial solutions to problems lie not at the visible surface but at its foundation.
Fundamentally the way we run Australia, our country, is flawed. Our current parliamentary system is jerry-rigged, cumbersome, and ineffective. Of course, to say our system of government is as inherently flawed as that of China or Zimbabwe is absurd, yet to say our government is perfect is even more so. Nevertheless we remain stuck in the rut of a centuries old system that needs to be moved forward.
The most evident flaw in our current government is the inherent way the two-party system polarizes all thought into two narrow ideologies. What the country needs to progress is not the stagnation of ideas in such a way but the open and honest debate of ideas and solutions to the problems we face now and in the future. A system such as the current one can only lead to bold vote-getting, mud-slinging and general ignorance of reality in favour for petty party ideologies.
We need a system in which ideas, not ideologies, are respected, A system in which rationality and critical thinking prevail over rationalistions of ill-considered policy.
We need a system in which arguments, ideas and policies are not judged based on the anger, elequonce or number of its speakers but on the condition that they actually WORK. We need to abandon the soapbox mentality of the current system for one in which ideas are approached in the manner of a round table discussion.
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Anonymous -
submitted 4/11/2009
I am a uni student, next year (2010) i'l be a 2nd year student, i am having to move cities to go to uni because i didnt get into uni in melbourne...im not complaining that we dont get enough money from the government (via centrelink) but my parents do not earn more than $20,000 in a year...my dad is unable to work, so only my mum works, my bro is in high school...i am having to pay $7,000 to live on university campus next year by myself because my parents cannot afford it...my only source of money is centrelink, it will be very hard for me to have a job and study fulltime...but it works out that i will have just under $100 a fortnight to live on, its do-able but it will be extremely difficult....so my question...if possible are we able to reduce the cost of living...we are studying, so we can give back our skills and what we learn to make our country more productive (in the sense of us adding to the economy, when we start working) and livable (for us uni students) :)