Being a young person in a world full of scary decisions can be hard, even harder when you can't have a choice in the matter or be part of the conversation. I know from personal experience. Which is why I sent off leaving home, my family and tribal community on the journey of finding out how youth can be advocates and be leaders.

This adventure lead to many opportunities such as becoming the 27th Youth Governor of South Australia and Youngest Elected Member on the City of Port Lincoln Council.

And throughout it all, I found many youth who felt unable to participate in society, democracy or their own communities. Who were told "Kids should be seen and not heard", "too young to understand", "never lived long enough", treated like they didn't have free will or a mind to think for themselves or a voice to speak up with.

It was through those yarns, that I knew I had a personal responsibility to help show them the way, using myself as a case study to empower and inspire.

As the passion that comes from growing up with lived experiences is unmatched and undeniable. Being a youth is also a once in a lifetime opportunity and a privilege for many, but it's often a period of hardship, growth and frustrations.

As there's many things encountered along the journey that can be hard to deal with, overcome and change. Being young, can be a big barrier simply because of the ageism taking place in big spaces like decision making.

So it's super important to link up and connect to opportunities that can allow youth to become their own advocates, show them the importance and value of being their own leader in the community while supporting them to embrace their heritage and inheritance.

This style of community engagement and mentorship can be quite impactful and powerful as it encourages the youth to not be scared of the colonial past, embrace authentic authority, and to use their voice to help educate, inform, understand inspire and empower while representing their mob and community.

This process is very important, as it is a collaborative effort between each generation to respect the past with proper truth telling, protect the present as it unfolds and change for the greater good of our future.

Shania Richards the first Regional Female Aboriginal Youth Governor of South Australia