Young and diverse leaders strengthen regional communities by advocating for change and representing their beliefs, diversifying the most conservative areas of Australia, paving the way for social progress and national unity.

Often overcoming socio-economic hardship, a lack of guidance and opportunity to reach their positions of influence, young and diverse leaders serve not just as leaders for regional communities, but for our nation, possessing a unique resilience and strength that comes from experiencing adversity.

Diverse young leaders refers to young people who are a variety of genders, races and sexualities, but who also possess a broad range of opinions, beliefs and religions. Young and diverse people in regional areas represent social progress in Australia, but their ongoing struggle also represents the continual need for social innovation and change.

For instance, casually thrown around the school halls, comments like “That’s gay” and “You’re queer” carry a heavy weight for minority students who endure the torment. While thankfully not directed at me, as a young queer woman at a public high school in regional Victoria I can see the proliferation of conservative ideologies among my peers.

Political polarisation between rural and urban areas is evident in my everyday experience at school, with homophobia, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination thrown around casually at my high school to a much greater degree than my classes in the city.

Young, diverse leaders within regional communities are crucial for bridging the political divide between urban and rural areas, communicating the need for innovation and change and investigating what may be holding back social progress in more isolated communities. While discrimination is everywhere, in the niche population of a country town it can be particularly harmful and inescapable.

Diverse young leaders bring a natural influx of new ideas and enthusiasm into rural communities, leading to change and innovation. Tackling the climate crisis, establishing sustainable food production, electrifying our economy, and creating resilient communities will require innovation, creativity and a willingness for change in our regional communities. The current disparity between urban innovation and research and the regional application hinders our response to these critical issues.

Young leaders in regional and rural communities strengthen advocacy, by pushing for innovation when others may not be able to see the point. The world must meet the food demands of an estimated 2 billion more people by 2050 and agricultural innovation is needed to support sustainable food production globally. Australia’s clean energy opportunity lies in regional Australia, where our extensive space, sun and wind offer countless opportunities for large-scale energy projects. Indigenous knowledge of how to manage biodiversity, produce food and support healthy ecosystems in Australia is crucial for sustainable agriculture, bushfire-resilient communities and ecosystem health.

Passionate young leaders can inject regional communities with enthusiasm for innovation. Being regional citizens rather than urban outsiders, regional young people have the ability to connect with local landholders and therefore effectively advocate for essential change.

Diverse young leaders are activists, role-models, friends, family and neighbours in regional towns where just being “Local” can play the biggest role in the extent of your influence. Diversity of “Locals” strengthens a community’s response to innovation and change, paving the way for a more progressive, inclusive and understanding world.