Launceston, like any regional city, is undergoing a transformation.
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A groundswell of grassroots campaigns like the Great Regional Cities Challenge, and also political strategies such as the Launceston City Deal all have transformation and prosperity at their hearts.
The Launceston City Deal, particularly, has the University of Tasmania's ambitious Inveresk campus as the principal goal of the plan. This, and many other initiatives to flow from the plan, and others, will have a large impact on young people - it's designed to engage and attract young people to the region and get them to settle.
Population growth through young people and families is also a key goal of many strategies, not just for Launceston but Tasmania-wide. Why then, are the decisions about these strategies missing a vital and integral voice - the voice of youth.
Launceston is now home to an initiative the Global Shapers, which is a global initiative that helps young people under 30 have a distinctive voice in shaping their region, state, country and the world.
The Launceston hub is the first in Tasmania and is the first in the world to be located somewhere outside a capital city.
The Shapers are a fantastic opportunity for engaged young people to have their say on the future of the city and the region.
It provides a comprehensive outlet for those who wish to take action but don't know how to. Often, decisions for the betterment of a region or a city are made by levels of government, but it is not always guaranteed that a youth voice will be at that table. Young people's opinions are often stigmatised, as they are painted as apathetic and not interested in the global issues of the world.
However, that is simply not true, with many young people taking a real interest in their own backyard. The achievements of many Tasmanian Young Achievers such as 14-year-old Campbell Remess, who is famous across the globe for making and sending teddy bears to sick people or others who have experienced trauma.
He is just one of the myriad young people who fight to make a difference - isn't it time to re-set the table and make sure young people have their say. It is their future after all.
