2026 CFMP Student Voice Workshop
On Friday 19 June CFMP School Student Leaders, local representatives and business leaders attended the Committee's Student Leaders Workshop at South East Water in Frankston.
Students at the workshop hosted by South East Water on 19 June 2026.
We valued the engagement from our student leaders from across our region with their student peers, local representatives and business leaders.
At our Student Workshop Forum hosted at South East Water on 19 June, we were joined by:
- Federal Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea MP
- State Member for Mornington, Chris Crewther MP
- State Member for Nepean, Anthony Marsh MP
- State Member for South East Metro, Ann-Marie Hermans MP
- Deputy Mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, Mornington Peninsula Shire
- Cr Emily Green, Frankston City Council
Thank you to all our representatives for being so generous with their time last Friday - we really appreciated your insights, answers, and engagement with students.
In addition, we were joined back at the May presentation event by:
- Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie MP
- Frankston City Mayor Cr Sue Baker
The findings from students are now available in the Committee's Report below.
2026 Student Workshop Report
Across the two forums facilitated by the Committee, more than 110 students from 12 local schools participated and provided their insights as student leaders.
At each event, students were able to directly raise with local MP’s and councillors what issues student leaders from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula would like their local representatives to advocate for with decision makers at local, state and federal government level.
Across all workshops, five issues consistently emerged as the most significant concerns for young people on the Mornington Peninsula.
Cost of Living, Housing and Financial Security
This was the most prominent issue across multiple workshops.
- Housing affordability is increasingly out of reach and home ownership feels unattainable.
- HECS debt, rent, groceries, transport and everyday expenses are creating significant financial pressure.
- Many young people are contributing to household finances and expect to remain financially dependent on their parents for longer.
- Rising costs are affecting educational choices, career decisions, wellbeing, and future planning.
- Participants felt they face greater economic barriers than previous generations.
Financial insecurity is influencing almost every aspect of young people's lives, from education and employment to mental health and
independence.
Access to Education and Unequal Opportunities
Young people expressed strong concerns about fairness and access within the education system.
- Significant disparities exist between public and independent schools in resources, facilities and opportunities.
- Geographic disadvantage on the Mornington Peninsula limits access to education, employment and tertiary study.
- Students need better career guidance and more information about pathways after school.
- Local tertiary options are limited, reducing opportunities to study close to home.
- Educational opportunities are increasingly shaped by a family's financial circumstances.
Participants viewed education as the foundation for future success, but many felt opportunities are not distributed equally.
Mental Health, Stress and Wellbeing
Mental health was consistently identified as a growing challenge for young people.
- Academic pressures, particularly around VCE and ATAR performance, are major sources of stress.
- Mental health support varies significantly between schools.
- More preventative mental health education and earlier intervention are needed.
- COVID-19 continues to affect social skills, confidence and social connection.
- Bullying, discrimination and social media harms remain significant concerns.
Participants saw mental wellbeing as critical to educational success, social connection and long-term life outcomes.
Employment Uncertainty and Future Career Pathways
Young people expressed concern about whether traditional pathways to secure employment still exist.
- Stable career pathways feel less certain than for previous generations.
- Entry-level opportunities are becoming harder to access.
- AI is creating anxiety about future employment prospects and career security.
- The transition from education to meaningful employment is increasingly difficult.
- Financial pressures are influencing career choices, with some avoiding professions requiring lengthy study.
Young people want stable, meaningful work but are uncertain about how to achieve long-term economic independence.
Political Disengagement and Lack of Representation
Participants highlighted a disconnect between young people and political institutions.
- Young people feel underrepresented despite being significantly affected by government decisions.
- There is low trust in politicians and concerns about accountability.
- Political information is often seen as inaccessible, overly complex, or influenced by media bias.
- More civics and political education is needed to build understanding and engagement.
- Many young people want more diverse political choices and stronger youth representation.
Participants believed improving political literacy, representation and trust is essential to ensuring young people feel heard and engaged in decision-making.
While the workshops covered a range of topics, the strongest overarching message was that young people feel increasingly uncertain about their future.
Rising living costs, unequal access to opportunities, mental health pressures, changing employment pathways, and limited trust in
institutions are creating a sense that achieving the milestones enjoyed by previous generations is becoming more difficult.
Students consistently called for greater investment in education, wellbeing, opportunity, and youth voice to address these challenges.
You can download the report in full here.
Thank you to South East Water for hosting our annual workshop, Eeny Meeny catering in Frankston, and the fabulous James Pyne for always being there to capture photographs at these events.
We will be asking our local representatives to report on these findings in their respective Parliament or Councils in coming months.
