Gudjiyigu, barraba yitirr Gwen. My place is a small country town on the Williams River, Dungog, meaning ‘the place of thinly wooded hills’ in local Awabakal dialect. My unique connection to land and culture makes me a leader as this allows me to understand the heights of what is possible for rural youth and advocate for the change I believe is necessary to drive the future forward through the education of our youth.

Many seem to think that rurality is a disability… something you get bonuses, equity or scholarships for, and nothing more. To me, rurality is my strength. Being rural means I can engage with first nations knowledge and embrace culture through language, art, dance, and traditional practices. This means I can experience what it means to build a life from the ground up. This means I can say welcome to my land, where I was born, raised and have matured into a young leader. “Barraba gang barray-djirang gawa gimbay.”

Change is long overdue. Country communities like Dungog have demonstrated that we are stronger together and can accomplish the unimaginable, especially in the face of challenges and tragedy. Having experienced the contrasting city life, I have come to understand the value of my little town, and the significance of representing its needs on a larger scale. We won’t settle for second best, because rural communities are the backbone of this great nation, and because rural youth deserve better in education, housing, and professional opportunities. It is no longer good enough to be limited and defined by a postcode. Today I call rural youth into a position of leadership. It is time we use our superpower and unify our voices to create the change so desperately needed within our towns.

Rural kids across the country are being dismissed due to their geographic location and struggle to receive the same opportunities and learning resources as urban kids. I refuse to sit idly by and tolerate this. Hence, in my life, in school, in community, at work, in parliament, wherever I must, I stand to advocate for change in the rural education system. Rural students have the same intellect, the same capacity and desire to learn as other students. And yet, due to their location, are denied freedom of choice in their careers, and school subjects, forced to attend ‘class’ through a screen. How much longer will we overlook this? How many more students will we deny the chance to pursue something incredible? How many more potential future leaders will be restricted because today’s leaders didn’t act?

We as today’s leaders must motivate others and remind our rural youth that despite the barriers, we are capable of realising and achieving our dreams. Where our Australian youth lives can no longer dictate their future or ability to lead. Instead, I see a future in which leaders emerge from little communities with the unique knowledge and insight no other experience can provide. This future is grounded in the fact that young leaders can come from little, broken towns; little broken towns can be mended by young leaders; and mended towns foster strengthened communities in which young leaders need not struggle to create a beautiful future.

That is the future I see. Gapu.