Participation and Engagement
Elevating young voices in decisions that affect them
To effectively respond to contemporary policy challenges, we need authorities and institutions to engage more broadly and deeply with young people. We are developing technology-based strategies to boost young people’s participation in civic and political processes, and the capacity of governments and other organisations to respond to their needs and views. We believe in more young voices at the table and are investigating how to leverage digital media to creatively engage young people, no matter their circumstances.
Check out some of our past and current projects below.
Child-centred evidence to drive meaningful social change for children
In Australia and the Pacific, children under 18 face increasingly uncertain futures, negatively impacting their capacity to claim their rights (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) OHCHR 1989). However, there is a shortage of robust, child-centred research on cross-cutting child rights issues to drive effective, evidence-based systemic change initiatives in Australia and the Pacific.
Youth Voices on AI: Shaping a Safer Digital Future
This project uses generative AI to engage children and young people in shaping the design, implementation and evaluation of generative AI technologies, to help keep them safe from digital harms, including online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA).
New Possibilities: Young People and Democratic Renewal
This project examines the way student leadership, organisation and participation occurs across online and offline spaces, shaping Australia’s political and democratic culture, during a time of global, social and political change.
2168 Children’s Parliament Evaluation
Forty Parliamentarians (aged 9-12 years old), from the Liverpool local government area, are actively engaging in civic life by increasing their knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities. In turn, our team is reflecting on the Program’s and its potential.
Culture-Centred Framework for Ethical Digital Design: Foregrounding Young people’s Perspectives
A collaboration with MICA and the SEJIWA Foundation to create a clear framework to inform culture-centred, ethical design of global digital services and products targeted to young people.
Enhancing Digital Participation Amongst Refugee and Migrant Background Youth
This research aims to investigate and identify the factors that can enhance digital participation amongst refugee and migrant background youth in Victoria, Australia. It aims to empower young people in their work, education, socialising and health.
UNCRC General Comment 25 on Children's Rights in Relation to the Digital Environment: Children’s Consultations
How is technology impacting the rights of young people? Together with our partners, we’re consulting 709 children in 27 countries to answer this in a General Comment for the UN Committee for the Rights of the Child.
In Real Life: Digital ethics and participation, reimagined by and for young people
We're co-designing resources with young people for delivery in schools, ensuring that content is relatable and relevant. In Real Life resources will improve the delivery of online safety education by offering genuinely youth-centred, freely available and inclusive content to young people across Australia.
Mapping participatory research tools for ethical and inclusive research with children
This project will support researchers who are working with children in diverse settings to develop appropriate and ethical approaches to engage children in meaningful research, drawing on tried and tested tools.
Mount Druitt Working for Children Living Lab
Mount Druitt Working for Children Living Lab Exploring ways to increase child-friendly practices among services and engaging the voices of children and the community in decision making.
Office of the eSafety Commissioner Youth Engagement Strategy
A series of youth consultations have been conducted to develop the eSafety Commissioner’s Youth Engagement Strategy. The Strategy ensures young people have a right to be part of the decision-making process for policies and programs that impact their lives.
When People Protest: Understanding and explaining participation in global climate protests
Australian young people explain their key motivations for taking part in the Global Climate Strike protest, sharing their expectations of how climate change can be addressed, and informing public and policy debate.
Young People and Democracy: What Matters?
This project will generate valuable new knowledge on young people’s politics which will contribute to both democratic theory and practice. It involves quantitative and qualitative textual analysis of archived entries to the ‘What Matters?’ annual competition hosted by the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University.