What happens when young people are given the tools, confidence and opportunities to make their voices heard?
And what if the problem isn't that young people aren't interested in democracy or social change, but that the systems and opportunities around them aren't designed to include them?
In this episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, Nikki travels virtually to Australia to meet Joelle Sassine and Afsana Kazi, two inspiring young changemakers working to ensure that young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, have the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
Joelle is an early-career academic, youth participation practitioner and creative civics facilitator working across research, civic engagement and community-based projects at Western Sydney University. Afsana is a research assistant with Using Our Voices at the Whitlam Institute, passionate about championing young people whose perspectives and experiences are too often overlooked.
Together, they explore the barriers that prevent young people from participating meaningfully in democracy, and how creativity, connection and practical opportunities can help overcome them.
Through their work on Using Our Voices, Joelle and Afsana are helping young people in Western Sydney understand how to engage with decision-makers, advocate for the issues that matter to them and turn everyday frustrations into opportunities for positive change.
But this conversation goes far beyond political participation. It's also about self-belief, identity, belonging and the power of supporting one another, and what happens when young people begin to realise that their voices really do matter.
In this conversation, you'll hear about:
🗣️ Why young people aren't necessarily disengaged from democracy – but often excluded from meaningful participation
🌍 How background, identity and structural inequalities can influence whose voices are heard and valued
🎨 Why creative, practical approaches to civic education can help young people turn their concerns into action
💡 The powerful 'aha moments' when young people realise they can genuinely influence decisions
🤝 Why connection, encouragement and collective support are so important in building confidence and self-belief
🌱 How empowering one young person can create a ripple effect throughout their community
👥 Why we need to move from 'me' to 'we' and recognise the power of collective changemaking
📱 The complexities of Australia's social media restrictions for under-16s – and why young people's perspectives need to be part of the conversation
Joelle and Afsana also share their own experiences of growing up in diverse communities in Western Sydney, where they witnessed the ways that young people's ideas and contributions could be overlooked because of their background or circumstances. Their experiences have shaped a shared commitment to creating opportunities where every young person can recognise their own worth, develop their confidence and feel empowered to contribute.
Connect with Joelle & Afsana
About The Spark Changemakers Podcast
The Spark Changemakers Podcast is for people who want to change the world, fuelled by passion and purpose. Through conversations with changemakers, thinkers and practitioners, we explore what it really takes to create meaningful change – in ourselves, our communities and the systems around us.
