The What matters most project is a chance for children and young people to tell us about what is important to them and what needs to change to make things better.
In 2025 we received a total of 47 submissions from children and young people. Submissions included written, audio, artwork, and video recordings. Most submissions came from the greater Melbourne area, along with a primary school group in Bendigo and a youth group submission from Wodonga.
What young people told us
The strongest message was that young people want to feel safe, understood, and taken seriously at school, at home, when accessing services, or being in their communities.
The most common areas were education and school experiences, safety and belonging, mental health and identity, family and culture, cost of living and access to sport, and young people’s voice in decision-making.
The stories shared with us are helping inform the issues we focus on and the solutions we put forward when we talk to government and other decision makers.