Passionate? Write a letter!
Is there an issue you are passionate about? Want something to change in your community or even the whole of Australia but don't know what to do about it?
Whether you want a new skate park in your town, disagree with a new law or wish people knew more about environmental issues, letter writing is a great way to get your message out there! Even though you may be too young to vote, your opinions can still have a lot of impact.
But who do I write letters to?
Who do you write your letter or email to? This depends on the particular issue you are concerned about.
Write to a local policitian
If you want something to happen in your local area then you could write to your local council. You could ask them to provide more activities for young people or let them know if you thought there was a problem in your region.
Councils provide services and make some laws in their particular area. There are over 70 different councils in Victoria so to find out which one is yours go to the Find your Local Council website (new window).
Write to a state or Federal politician
If what you are concerned about relates to a Victorian issue, then it is best to write to the Victorian State Government. However, if the issue is relevant to the whole of Australia then you can contact the Federal Government. Different members of these governments have different jobs. So try and find out which Minister looks after the particular area that your letter relates to.
You can find out more about who does what in the Victorian Government at Victoria Online's Government Contacts page (new window) For example, if you want more services for young people in Victoria you could contact the Victorian Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs!
To find out who does what in the Federal Government, check out the Parliament of Australia Who's Who (new window).
Write to the papers
Another great option is sending a letter to the editor into a newspaper. You can do this through the mail or over the internet. Often the larger newspapers like the Age or Herald Sun have a section just for letters from young people! If what you are writing about is a local concern then you can always write to your local newspaper as well.
Are there any rules?
Although what you are saying is more important than how you write your letter, there are a few things that you must be sure to do, and a few you should never do.
Get their name right
Always make sure you call the person you are sending your letter to by the right name! Finding out how to address politicians can be tricky because you have to look up there proper 'title'.
If their website calls them "The Honourable Robert Smith" then it's a good idea to call them this and not write "Hey Robbo!" Sometimes it is easier to just write "Dear Minister". This is a sign of respect and makes sure that you don't offend the person before they even read what you have to say.
Be formal
Keep your writing style fairly formal, even if you are just sending a quick email. This sends the message that what you are talking about is very important.
Get to the point
Clearly state what you are talking about and what your opinion is early on in the letter or email. You don't want the person being confused about what you are actually saying.
Don't be rude
Never use aggressive language or swear in your letter or email! Even though you may be very passionate about the issue, you don't want to anger or offend the reader. This will not persuade them about your point of view at all. They will be more likely to agree with you if you are polite.
Some formatting tips
Here's a few basics about the formatting of your letter or email:
- DON'T USE ALL CAPITALS - no one likes to be yelled at!
- And too many exclamation marks can be a little scary!!!!!!
- So can pReTTy bUt HaRd tO ReaD writing like tHiS.
Don't get discouraged
Often young people feel that they have no influence over the decisions that governments make. But remember, it will only be a few years before WE are the ones politicians want to vote for them. This means they take your concerns and opinions seriously.
If you have an issue with a government decision or law, or you would just like to ask a question, it's a great idea to contact a member of parliament. It's surprising how often they actually write back!
If the person you wrote to does not reply or your letter to the editor does not get published, don't take it to heart. Sometimes people are so busy that they can't reply to every letter or email, but they still take notice of those they receive, so you are still making a big difference!
For some great tips on writing letters and emails visit the Electronic Frontiers Australia's page on how to get politicians' attention (new windowl)
Go on then!
If there is anything you want to change in your community, in Victoria or across the whole of Australia, writing letters and emails is a really effective way to go about it! A wise man by the name of Edward Bulwer-Lytton once said "The pen is mightier than the sword." Of course, today this applies to your keyboard as well!
So give letter-writing a go. You may be amazed at the results.
Articles Written by Eliza
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