We’re so lucky to live in a democracy, to be able to vote and have a say in issues we care about.
Here we give you an overview of what democracy and active citizenship looks like. Then we point you to a couple of excellent resources that can help you find your voice and contribute to positive changes in your community.
Democracy means ‘rule by the people’ – you can think about it as an ongoing conversation that needs everyone's voices to work. The word democracy describes a form of government that allows people to have a say in how the government is run and participate in decision making.1,2
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You do this by voting, though there are usually rules about who can vote.
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If you’re 18 years or over and an Australian citizen, you must enrol to vote.
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It’s compulsory for Australian citizens from the age of 18 to enrol and vote in local council and state elections in Victoria and federal elections in Australia.
This voting requirement and ability for us to have a say makes Australia a democratic country. It also encourages us to be active citizens and be involved in decision-making.2
Active citizenship is all about getting involved in your local community and society, contributing to community development as well as your own personal development.3
Active citizenship is closely related to youth participation, it involves the same concepts and principles:
Empowerment: Young people having greater control over their lives through participation.
Purposeful engagement: Young people taking on valued roles, addressing issues that are relevant to them, and influencing real outcomes.
Inclusiveness: Ensuring all young people are able to participate, regardless of background, culture, where they live, their gender or sexuality.
By being an active citizen, you will ultimately participate in meaningful and engaging ways with your communities.
What does active citizenship look like?
Active citizenship can take many forms, this can include:
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Voting in elections
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Safe and peaceful protesting
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School elections
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Keeping your community clean
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Getting involved in community events
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Advocating on social justice issues and the things you care about.
Speaker 1
‘Your voice is valuable and it deserves to be heard.’
Speaker 2
‘It's so important and liberating to have your say on issues that directly affect your future. ‘
Speaker 1
‘That's why you need to be enrolled to vote in elections.’
Speaker 2
‘You should take voting seriously because many elections have been decided by a handful of votes.’
Speaker 1
‘If you're not old enough to vote just yet, or you want to learn more about democracy, that's okay, because there's a resource for that.’
Speaker 2
‘The VEC's Passport to Democracy resource will teach you what you need to know.’
Speaker 1
‘Visit passport.vec.vic.gov.au.’
The Victorian Electoral Commission runs the Passport to Democracy program.
This empowers you to make an impact both locally and globally by developing your critical thinking skills and exploring how to engage with your community4.
So, if you’re interested in making change in your school, nation or world, or if you just want to be a more active citizen, this is a great place to start.
It’s aimed at young voters, teachers and students and is super easy to navigate.
‘Talking Democracy’ is especially great if you’re learning English as an additional language and/or learning about civic education4.
The resource will teach you4:
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Electoral keywords and concepts
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The three levels of government in Australia
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How to enrol to vote or update your details
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Who can vote in Australia
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How to vote correctly.
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Britannica Kids. (n.d). Democracy. https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/democracy/352935
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Parliamentary Education Office. (19 October 2023). Democracy. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/system-of-government/democracy
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Department of Home Affairs. (n.d). Celebrating Citizenship. Australian Government. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/celebrating-citizenship/active-citizen
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Victorian Electoral Commission. (n.d). Passport to Democracy. https://passport.vec.vic.gov.au/