It's more likely to be COVID-normal than the normal we were used to, but we're starting to explore how we function and look ahead, rather than just cope with the situation we are in right now.

As part of this, we also have a unique chance to make sure that change is led by all aspects of the community, but especially our youth, who are passionate to make a difference in Northern Tasmania.

The youth of our region care about the place they call home.

They want to see and champion change that leaves a positive legacy, and they want to lead projects of impact because they matter to them.

Whether it involves physically shaping the streets of our town, making our community more inclusive, creating more understanding across the region or anything else, the COVID restrictions have given us a chance that we cannot pass up to focus internally and see sustained change.

We have the chance to not just live in a COVID-normal world, but to shape how that affects us here in Northern Tasmania.

As the Launceston Global Shapers Hub, we are getting ready to bring together a range of young people to have an action-orientated conversation.

Not just one where we talk about the issues that matter to us and then them hand off to someone else to do something about, but looking at raising up a range of initiatives that we can collectively implement in our region.

As part of the Global Shapers community, we're connected to more than 10,000 young people around the world who see the same opportunity and who also want to put themselves forward to improve the state of the world.

And from my personal perspective, we actually already do this well.

There are young people already leading change and making an impact across the community in their own fields, who when connected together with others, will only create exponential change.

Interested in being part of this?

Then email us at launceston@globalshapers.org.au and register your interest.

We'll keep you in the loop as we start this vital conversation to shape what COVID-normal actually looks like in Northern Tasmania.