Explore New Possibilities
About
The New Possibilities aims to enhance knowledge of youth politics and their relation to climate change, social and democratic change. We are developing new understandings of how young people conceptualise and respond to complex social, economic, and environmental challenges.
New • Collective • Bold • Creative • Just •
Our impacts to date include:
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Expanding knowledge of youth perspectives and actions.
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New forms of public pedagogy in partnership with young people and industry (see our work with the Powerhouse and with Edge Impact).
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Evidence-based advice and resources for teaching and policy-making.
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Improved young people’s sense of political efficacy, and informed and engaged citizenship.
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Through explaining and amplifying what young people are doing to shape democracy, we inform political parties, civil society groups and educators on how to effectively engage with younger people in democratic processes.
the Silent Majority
The Silent Majority is here to flip the narrative of who is silent and who is the NEW majority. This podcast is about platforming young voices - those who refuse to be silent but are not always heard. This pod isn't just about raising voices; it's about tactical ways to move forward in times of
change and crisis, ways to leverage research, communication and creative tools to connect with community and create change.
Hosted by Varsha Yajman.Brought to you by the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University..
OUR IMPACT
The New Possibilities project will enhance knowledge of student politics and their relation to climate change, social and democratic change. It will provide an understanding of how young people understand and respond to complex social, economic, and environmental challenges. The project will also explore how different settings, practices and political commitments move young people to action and the specific role of gender. The project’s findings will be channelled to support democratic participation, teaching and policy-making and enhance young people’s sense of political efficacy, and informed and engaged citizenship. This will support the broader social, cultural and economic outcomes.
Through explaining and amplifying what young people are doing to shape democracy, the project will inform political parties, civil society groups and educators on how to effectively engage with younger people in democratic processes. The project will share research findings via the media library, public reports and a major international workshop with policy-makers, educators, civil society organisations and students.
Vision
In this project, we work with young people to document and analyse how they participate in politics and to create a unique digital media library and novel resource for democratic renewal.
Over three years (2023-2025) we will map student climate action around Australia, conduct surveys, social media and legacy media analysis, and in-depth interviews. From this, we will generate case studies, longitudinal and rich insights into what moves young people to become political active and how they are conceptualising and making politics in a time of climate crisis.
