community - 2026-06-04

Northern Beaches students put buses, mental health and housing at centre of youth forum

Source: www.michaelreganmp.com

Transport, mental health and the cost of staying on the Northern Beaches were among the strongest concerns raised by young people at this year’s Northern Beaches Council Have Your Say Day, according to figures highlighted in a private members’ statement by federal MP Michael Regan. The youth-led initiative brought students together on Wednesday, 20 May to speak directly about the issues shaping their lives, with 2026 attracting the largest response since the program began.

Transport, mental health and the cost of staying on the Northern Beaches were among the strongest concerns raised by young people at this year’s Northern Beaches Council Have Your Say Day, according to figures highlighted in a private members’ statement by federal MP Michael Regan. The youth-led initiative brought students together on Wednesday, 20 May to speak directly about the issues shaping their lives, with 2026 attracting the largest response since the program began. A total of 2,368 surveys were completed this year, up from 2,120 in 2025 and 308 in the program’s first year in 2023. Most participants were in early high school, with 57 per cent aged 12 to 14 and 40 per cent aged 15 to 17, giving the event a broad snapshot of how local teenagers see life on the Northern Beaches. The survey results showed transport was the number one issue affecting young people in 2026, followed by mental health and the environment. That marks a shift from recent years. In 2024, mental health and cost of living were the dominant concerns, while in 2025 social media emerged as the top issue. Students from Stella Maris argued that unreliable bus services are having a direct impact on daily...