2026 CFMP School Leaders Presentation

On Friday 1 May, the Committee hosted its annual School Leaders Presentation event at Peninsula Grammar - where school leaders addressed local representatives and their peers on the issues most impacting them.

The Committee is determined to empower the leading voices from our region and enable them to influence change in the halls of Parliament. Engaging and listening to young people on the peninsula is an important part of the political process, with most participating students voting for the first time at the Victorian State Election this November.

This year, student leaders from 12 schools from across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula were asked to respond to the prompt: “In 2026, the number one issue facing young Victorians is…”

View full photo gallery from School Leaders Presentation Event on Friday, 1 May 2026

This forum enabled students to come face to face with elected representatives and their peers from across the region. Their speeches will empower our young leaders with more confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of community responsibility – making them more likely to make a significant contribution to our community, state and country.

Participating schools included: Peninsula Grammar, Toorak College, Woodleigh School, Balcombe Grammar, Flinders Christian College, Juniper College, David Scott School, Mornington Secondary College, Frankston High School, Mt Eliza Secondary College, John Paul College and Padua College.

 
Presentations were delivered by students directly to local representatives, including: the Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie MP; the Federal Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea MP; the State Member for Mornington, Chris Crewther MP; Acting Mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire, Cr Paul Pingiaro; Mayor of Frankston City Council, Cr Sue Baker; Frankston City Councillor, Cr Emily Green.

The issues impacting our young people were varied, but all were personal, impactful, and delivered in passionate and articulate addresses to key-decision makers.

Students told the room to 'prepare us for the world they'll face tomorrow', and reminded those in the room much older than them that 'the system makes their futures harder to reach'.

Key themes from the presentations included:

Youth Disengagement in the Political System

Political system is not listening to young people
Tax and debt burden passed on to next generation creating generational inequality, without them having a say

Education Equity

Inequality between public and private schools growing
Generational inequity from school to tertiary education

Job security and Economic Independence

The rise of automation, AI and the future of work
Home ownership as a dream to hold…?

Youth Mental Health

Social Media anxiety, algorithms and data privacy
Support and funding from government meeting the need?

Cost of Living and Financial Security

Rental, housing stress for students to juggle with their schooling
Certain barriers create further hardship for families – including language and geograph

Connectivity and Public Transport

Roads are sub-standard, unsafe and unreliable
Driving age in rural areas to drop to 16?
Public transport as a lifeline, not a luxury

The Committee will host a workshop for students from CFMP Member Schools with their local representatives on Friday, 19 June at South East Water in Frankston to further expand on these issues and come up with tangible, local solutions for students and politicians to consider.

Thank you Peninsula Grammar for hosting the 2026 CFMP School Leaders Presentation event.