In the wake of a pandemic, something has become clear to us at the ABC.
Young people are feeling a gaping hole after their ability to connect, explore the world and learn who they are has been taken away from them.
Lockdown and isolation have left a lasting impact on young Australians' lives — and it's important that we share their stories.
So who better to do this than the young, emerging media students who've felt this first-hand?
ABC News' 50:50 Equality team was keen to discover a handful of unique and important digital stories to share with the rest of the world.
The 50:50 Equality Project focuses on increasing the diversity of Australian voices in our stories and building connections with communities.
We're keen to experiment with our storytelling and how we reach our audiences.
We wanted to not only give contributors a platform on which to share their perspective but to provide them with a unique mentoring opportunity, allowing them to take a step forward in the media world (whatever direction they choose to go).
Hundreds of applications later, we made the difficult task of choosing a few of them to share with a national audience — and their experiences resonated widely.
Here's what they've shared with us.
Human connection is key
Jayden Battey gave us his remarkable take on what life is like managing a residential building for at-risk men in Melbourne's inner suburbs.
But rather than painting a picture of destitution and despair, he shows us that human connection and the joy of caring for those around you (whatever that looks like) can help heal loneliness in a world that can often impact the most vulnerable people in society.
Porn isn't a black and white issue
We were incredibly impressed with Isaiah Gee's ability to articulate what is firmly seen as a taboo, dirty or immoral issue, even in 2022.
For an 18-year-old student to venture into the topic of porn consumption, sexual identity and the way we treat women as a result of it was a real highlight out of this project.
Travel is a lost rite of passage
The pandemic affected everyone's travel plans, so this story was relevant to many of us.
Pippa Salmon was lucky enough to get away during lockdown. Her love of the outdoors and analysis of future travel options now that borders have reopened is inspiring for all generations.
TikTok can't replace live music
Abbey Wiltshire is passionate about music. But when the pandemic hit and everyone headed indoors, the excitement and anticipation of seeing her favourite bands were taken away from her.
She certainly wasn't alone.
As Abbey explains, many Australians have felt this loss, only to discover there is an alternative of sorts in TIkTok. While it can't replace the sweaty joy of a live gig, it has helped young people feel connected to the music scene amid isolation.
We've forgotten kindness in our quest for connection
For Lauren Gallina, dating during a pandemic was both complicated and rewarding.
You don't have to be a Gen Z-er to feel the impact of isolation and loneliness. But for a younger generation, navigating love, sex and dating can be very confusing.
So, where to from here?
Not only was the ABC fortunate to have been able to access important stories by young people, but the students themselves said they were incredibly grateful for the support and learning opportunities given to them by our organisation.
It's clear to the 50:50 Equality team that there is value in collaborating with and sharing the perspectives of Australians from all walks of life and we're looking forward to continuing on this path this year.
If you're interested in learning more about the project, you can find out about our strategy here.
