Communities are leaving young people out of the power structures and even out of the conversation in rural towns, says a leading entrepreneur. 

The consequence, he says, is that some of our most innovative and energetic citizens are not being fully utilised. 

Young people, his argument goes, is that these fresh minds can be the source of the solutions to the problems we haven't been able to solve - not just in the future, but now. 

A speaker at this week's inaugural National Regional and Economic Development Summit 2023 run by the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia, Adam Mostogl, told the Western Plains App, including young people in rural development isn't really about diversity - it's because they are sources of great ideas. 

Adam Mostogl. Image: Supplied. 

"Young people are fantastic resources. They are confident, creative, and energetic. Communities need to ask themselves how can we work with young people to co-design long-term solutions for our regions, and part of that is also skill development". 

Mr. Mostogl is the founder of Illuminate Education Australia, which delivers education programs to students to help them solve problems in their own community. 

"We just don't seem to include young people in conversations," the 2015 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year told the Western Plains App "We need to bring the scaffolds and structures so they can use their voice". 

"The focus is often on trying to get them back when they are 30. Why not start including them in the community when they are 17 or 18 and start making use of their creativity and drive? The good thing about a young person is that if something isn't working, they will just come out and say it". 

Fred Kearney, a year 12 student who grew up on a cattle farm in Coonabarabran and is the current 2023 Lions Australia young person of the Year - told the Western Plains App that part of the problem is that young people leave the town not just to pursue further opportunities but because young people are not given a purpose in their town. 

Fred Kearney. Image: Coonamble Times. 

"I think often councils get views from and even spend money on people who live out of the town and out of the region before they look at taking in the young people's views." 

Tallulah Chesworth, an 18-year-old from Lightning Ridge who is studying a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Griffith University, says young people can be better engaged to help solve problems they are uniquely placed to understand - like drug abuse and youth crime. 

"I think too often young people are too afraid and too ashamed to speak up about issues." 

"Drugs, crime, and alcohol are things so many people are involved, and some don't seem to have interest in anything else. I think there is a big opportunity for there to ways for young people to talk to young people doing these things, and they are more likely to listen to someone to us than someone twice their age". 

Ms. Chesworth said the capacity for young people to reach out to young people involved in crime to provide them unique help came after a long, deep conversation with one of her friends who was at a crossroads in his life. 

Tallulah Chesworth. Image: Supplied. 

"We were out at a club one night. He hadn't been working and just started doing little crimes. The conversation started becoming emotional. I said to him, your life is just starting out; which direction do you want to go in?" 

She then talked a person she knew who had been addicted to substances and was currently in jail. 

"I said to him, do you really wanna go down that path? The people you know might be involved in that, but there are lots of us out there working doing other things, and in the end, we are both quite emotional". 

"I suggested to him to get to job to keep his mind occupied, to get his learner permits…and he has really turned his life around". 

Ms. Chesworth thinks the same conversation would have a different effect if it was coming from, say, a probation and parole officer or a magistrate. 

Mr. Mostogl told the Western Plains App, "The biggest thing is respecting and valuing the conversations of young people. Not just the big achievers, not just the ones the schools identify as future leaders, but all young people because they are the source of new ideas and possible solutions." 

"If we are going to talk about long-term change, if young people are not at the table, who is going to lead change into the future," he said.